Jan. 3, 2024 — The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced the 2024 OWA award recipients—four women who will be honored at the OWA’s annual champagne breakfast on Thursday, March 14, during Vision Expo East. 

• Receiving the Pleiades Award is Rebecca Giefer, CEO of Modo Eyewear, for her dedication to advancing leadership roles for women in the optical industry. Before becoming CEO of Modo Eyewear in 2020, she served as manager of customer service, director of operations, vice president of operations, and chief operating officer. Additionally, she served on The Vision Council (TVC) Board of Directors for six years, was part of TVC’s emerging optical leaders committee, chaired TVC’s marketing committee, and participated in TVC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion task force. She was honored as one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in 2016 in the Executive Suite category and again in 2023 in the Above and Beyond category.

• Receiving the Pyxis Award is Trudi Charest, president of Total Focus Consulting and cofounder of Marketing4ECPs, for her commitment to promoting the OWA throughout the optical industry. Charest leads the OWA’s digital marketing committee, a team of 17 women, and was honored as one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in 2019. Additionally, she is the author of “The Digital Sales Rep,” a guide to social and digital sales techniques and personal online branding.

• Receiving the Emerging Leader Award is Reagan Colpitts, senior business development manager at Safilo, in recognition of her exemplary leadership qualities and “rising star” potential within the optical industry. She was honored as one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in 2022 and earned an OWA Leadership Scholarship in 2023.

• Receiving the second-ever Lifetime Achievement Award is founding OWA board member Marge Axelrad, senior vice president and editorial director for Vision Monday/VMAIL. She was honored with the OWA Pleiades Award in 2013, followed by her recognition as “Person of Vision” by Prevent Blindness. Additionally, she was recognized by the Accessories Council with its “Hall of Frame” award and was honored by SUNY’s Optometric Foundation in 2011.

“On behalf of the entire OWA Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate our 2024 awardees. Each year at the highly anticipated Vision Expo East Champagne Breakfast, we honor select women who have had a meaningful impact on their peers, companies, the OWA membership, and our beloved industry,” says OWA president Lorie Lippiatt, O.D. “Rebecca, Trudi, Reagan, and Marge have all made impressive contributions over the course of their respective careers. They share in common the passion and desire to see women excel in leadership roles…I am inspired by each of their stories, the intense dedication they have for our industry, and the support and direction they have provided to so many. I invite you all to join me in celebrating with them in March.”

Sponsored by EssilorLuxottica, the annual champagne breakfast will be held at Gotham Hall in New York City. More information is available here.