The Optical Women's Association (OWA) will host a virtual panel discussion on career advancement and authenticity in the workplace on September 10, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. EST. The event, part of the members-only OWA Dialogue series, will feature Cira Collins of Kaiser Permanente, Kristen Tischler of Advancing Eyecare, and OWA President Megan Molony of Europa Eyewear, with Carissa Dunphy of Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) serving as moderator.

Now in its second year, OWA Dialogue series brings together guest speakers to discuss topics related to personal and professional development. The upcoming program, "Career Advancement Through Authenticity," will address professional growth while maintaining individuality and personal values. Panelists will share practical strategies and personal experiences for professionals at different stages of their careers.

Collins brings 2 decades of experience in corporate and private practice roles, including work as a technician, optician, buyer, vendor, manager, and trainer. She is an American Board of Opticianry Master, and currently serves as an optical trainer for Kaiser Permanente and on the boards of ABO-NCLE and GoodVision USA. She was named an Eyecare Business Game Changer in 2024 and is a finalist for International Optician of the Year, which is scheduled to be awarded at SILMO in late September.

Tischler is chief marketing officer at Advancing Eyecare, where she oversees integrated marketing for ophthalmic equipment companies in North America and the United Kingdom. She has more than 18 years of experience in health care, medtech, financial services, and B2B marketing. She is also active in the OWA, The Vision Council, and Prevent Blindness.

Molony, CEO of Europa Eyewear, has nearly 30 years of optical industry experience in areas including merchandising, customer experience, managed care, operations, and innovation. Her previous roles include chief merchandising and managed vision care officer at National Vision, Inc., as well as leadership positions at Essilor of America and Luxottica North America. She is serving as OWA president for the 2025–2027 term.

Dunphy is an ABO Certified optician with more than 15 years of experience in eye care. A digital marketing associate at PECAA, she also chairs the OWA Communications & Website Committee and has been recognized as an Eyecare Business Game Changer.

Registration for the Zoom event remains open through September 10.