DALLAS—The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced their 2022 Leadership Scholarship awardees. Recipients are recognized as OWA members who have served the organization with their dedicated committee work, service, and commitment to growing leadership roles for women in the optical industry. The grants, valued at up to $2,000 each, will be used to provide professional mentoring opportunities to each recipient, while continuing to promote OWA's founding principles of connecting, inspiring, and leading women in the optical industry.

The OWA especially thanks its Individual Contributors who make it possible to offer these scholarships; because of their generous donations, three women, selected from the nominations put forth in October 2022, will receive special leadership training. They are:
 
● Carissa Dunphy, OWA Communications & Website Committee (marketing specialist at PECAA)
 
● Kerri Ann Raimo, OWA Digital Marketing Committee (associate editor, Eyecare Business, PentaVision)
 
● Jennifer Trakhtenberg, OWA Connection & Enrichment Committee (head of talent management, ClearVision Optical)
 
An additional eight scholarships will be awarded as the result of a newly added benefit for the OWA’s Platinum Sponsors. Each company was asked to choose an exceptional female employee who shows promise, dedication, and drive to also receive this professional opportunity. The eight women recognized by their companies to be OWA scholarship recipients are:
 
● Shelley Brady, regional manager (Safilo)
 
● Cara Endriss, brand marketing director (National Vision) 
 
● Shweta Gupta, senior marketing director (EssilorLuxottica) 
 
● Sarah Lovallo, sales manager (Essilor Instruments) 
 
● Cheryl Moore, director of human resources (GPN Technologies) 
 
● JaMarie Pfaff, account manager (Zyloware) 
 
● Janie Schwartz, trade marketing coordinator (Thelios)
 
● Tatiana Stewart, senior public relations specialist (VSP Vision)
 
OWA president Deb Bulken, regional vice president, Eastern Region for Luxottica, commented, “2022 has been another landmark year for both the OWA and women throughout the optical industry. Our individual contributors and sponsors continue to demonstrate their belief in our mission, to prepare women for leadership roles at the highest level. The diverse roles and responsibilities held by our talented list of achievers is another shining example of how the OWA, at 25 years young, is for all women in the industry who are passionate about furthering their professional and personal development.
 
Congratulations to this year’s winners—we are all inspired by their contributions to date and look forward to seeing them prosper for years to come!”
 
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022, the Optical Women’s Association was founded in 1997 as a nonprofit, and is committed to supporting and promoting the professional development of women involved in all facets of the optical industry. As the vision of the OWA evolves and expands, it maintains the focus of the OWA’s founding principles and core mission: to enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry through networking, education and peer support.