VM REPORTS: Influential Women in Optical #WONDERWOMEN By Staff Monday, December 15, 2014 12:10 AM RELATED CONTENT Executive Suite Rising Stars Mentors Innovators Methodology Twelve Years of Honors Previous Years' Influential Women Reports Alphabetical List of Honorees 2003-2014 View #WONDERWOMEN PDF View an Alphabetical List of Honorees from 2003 to 2014 NEW YORK—In keeping with the theme of this year’s Special Report, we think the group of honorees for 2014 are all “Wonder Women” in their own way, showing signs of strength and courage while always looking out for those in need. This year’s list of Influential Women is as varied as the optical industry itself, spanning the worlds of vision care, retailing, manufacturing, distribution, dispensing and designing. What is it about the optical industry that attracts so many successful and talented women? Some of this year’s Most Influential Women shed some light on that question: Mary Anne Stangby, VP and GM for Sears Optical summed it up saying, “This industry is about helping the world see—every interaction I have with people confirms that this is a unique blend of our business and our calling.” Stephanie Johnson-Brown, OD, executive director of the Plano Development Center in Chicago credits her success to her Dad’s example and says “the passion I have for what I do and what I believe” is key to her success. This year’s Influential Women were chosen from a large pool of nominees named by VM readers and in the following pages we profile their accomplishments in these roles: Executive Suite: Candidates are women who hold positions such as president, VP, CEO, CFO, CMO, CIO or COO that guide their companies forward, inspire leadership among their teams and peers and achieve high performance. Rising Stars: Candidates are women who are “up-and-comers” in their careers and within their companies or arenas within the industry; sharp talents who are on their way toward higher levels of responsibility and influence. Mentors: Candidates are women who are team builders, developers of talent, who via example or education and training successfully influence others to learn and to grow in their business or professional acumen. Innovators: Candidates are women who have initiated new product developments or special programs in the arena of marketing, technology or retail, who have spearheaded innovative business ideas or enterprises. As you read through these profiles, we hope you’ll learn something about each of these “Wonder Women” and come to know why we’ve honored them. They join a distinguished group of more than 400 Influential Women whom we’ve profiled since 2003. Join the conversation about these Influential Women and other industry standouts you may know using the hashtag #WonderWomen. Please visit www.visionmonday.com to review an alphabetical listing of past years’ honorees and to read prior years’ Special Reports. –The Editors