Suzanne Krauss.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council has announced the appointment of Suzanne Krauss as the organization’s new director of trade shows. Krauss is replacing Sara Bonizio who has left the organization. In her new role, Krauss will collaborate closely with The Vision Council’s strategic partners at RX, who co-organize Vision Expo East and West, with a focus on driving opportunities for growth and development at these events, the announcement said, noting that Krauss brings great expertise to managing this partnership from her previous role as industry relations manager on the Vision Expo RX Global team, where she spent 16 years cultivating relationships with top optometrists and opticians.

Her achievements in this role include nurturing connections with top practices, organizations, buying groups and developing initiatives such as the Career Zone for students and “Vision Expo Visits," in which she toured optical stores nationwide and shared her journey on social media.

Reporting directly to Mitch Barkley, The Vision Council’s vice president of trade shows and events, Krauss is set to take the reins of an exciting new chapter for Vision Expo. As VMAIL reported last week Vision Expo East will move in 2025 to Orlando after nearly 40 years in New York City.

“We are excited to welcome Suzanne in-house to The Vision Council Team,” said Barkley. “Her extensive and unique experience with Vision Expo will bring substantial value as we continue to shape the future of Vision Expo East and West.”

Krauss began her career as a film publicist for The Samuel Goldwyn Company. Afterwards, she transitioned into magazine publishing, working with prominent U.S. titles such as YM and Cosmopolitan, where she held the role of promotion director. Krauss is also a published author of an Amazon bestselling memoir.