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Women who are “up-and-comers” in their careers and within their companies. Sharp talents on their way toward higher levels of responsibility and influence.

Maristella Brentani
Vice President,
Product Development
Luxottica Group
Port Washington, N.Y.

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“Stella has an incredible product sense and admirable work ethic. She is very in tune to what styles are trendy now and in the future. Hard working, devoted, and steadfast, Stella knows exactly what is needed to not only better our company but the eyewear industry as a whole.”

Brentani began her career in the world of finance but soon realized she’d prefer a field where she could combine her financial background with her marketing education and love of fashion. That meant having to start over from scratch in the optical industry while pursuing her masters degree.

She has now been in the business since 1999 when she started at Sàfilo USA in product development and marketing. Then she became director of accessories for Skagen, supervising the design of their sunwear and travel collection.

In 2006, Brentani joined Luxottica’s U.S. wholesale division as vice president of product development, overseeing all collections for the North American market. She wanted to embody a new way of interpreting product in the industry, so her first order of business was building a stronger and refocused product team to revamp the company’s designs across their entire portfolio to better meet the North American market’s needs.

She considers herself lucky to be a part of Luxottica’s team because she feels the company has always recognized women’s potential. She cites several women colleagues in leadership positions that proves women no longer represent the minority but a strong and growing reality.

SHE SAYS...“I think I would give the same advice anyone would give to any woman trying to gain ground within her career: be motivated, driven, persistent, and always realize your potential. You can do anything that you set your mind to; it is all about hard work and dedication.”

Laura Dyer
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Events/Community Relations
Davis Vision
Plainview, NY

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“Her dedicated community outreach efforts to make vision care more available to the uninsured, underinsured and less fortunate make a difference in the many lives she touches.”

Dyer started working at Davis Vision in 1992 as a college intern. Since then, she has progressed through various marketing and community relations positions at Davis. In her current role as assistant vice president, strategic events/community relations, Dyer spearheads key programs that promote the importance of regular routine vision care in one’s overall health.

“The best part of my job is seeing firsthand that my work and the support from my company have resulted in positive outcomes in the lives of those who need us,” said Dyer. She coordinates vision screening clinics for hundreds of children whose families have little or no health insurance. “Ninety nine percent of what I do here is with children,” she noted.

Dyer has organized fundraising activities to support such organizations as Mercy First, a non-profit, non-sectarian agency that cares for abused, neglected or troubled children and families in crisis. She also develops corporate sponsorships of children’s literacy programs through relationships with local and national professional sports organizations, and arranges for professional athletes to serve as inspirational speakers for a variety of organizations.

SHE SAYS...“As a working mom in this industry, I have learned that women can do anything they set their minds to.”

Lisa Fawcett
VP of Marketing, Contact Lenses
Bausch & Lomb
Rochester, N.Y.

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“She’s calm under pressure, understands how sales and marketing complement each other, and is highly innovative in developing new training methods. That skill can be seen in the explosive growth she was able to gain for MultiFocal lenses, and her ability to bring PureVision lenses back into the U.S. market.”

You could say that Lisa Fawcett’s ‘star’ has been rising ever since she joined Bausch & Lomb in 1996 as she seamlessly made the transition from pharmaceutical sales rep to product management at B&L. Today, she manages a team of 14 people responsible for growing revenues for B&L’s multibillion dollar soft CL business throughout the U.S. Since being named VP of marketing in 2005, Fawcett has helped strengthen B&L’s strong share in the specialty business and spearheaded the efforts to make the company a market leader in the multifocal business. In short, she’s launched and reinvorgated all PureVision brands and the majority of the SoftLens Speciality brands for B&L since being named to the VP position. Fawcett’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by B&L executives. She was selected and completed the company’s management training courses known as the B&L University “in-residence” programs, a five-year course that took her from Rochester, N.Y. to Normandie, France. She described the experience as a way to learn about herself as a leader and figure out how to move an organization and get things done. “If you are going to be a leader, you need to remember to look behind to see if anyone is following you.”

Fawcett is a firm believer in assembling a team that’s cross-disciplined in an effort to get the message out about B&L’s brands to consumers and ECPS alike. “I try to lead by example and be truly collaborative. Everyone brings strengths to the ‘party’ and being able to tap into those strengths and bring strategic ideas to the forefront is the most powerful process to be in.”

SHE SAYS...“Although it’s a challenge, it is also stimulating to work in such a dynamic marketplace. This industry has seen the evolution of truly innovative products but has also suffered from intense scrutiny over the past few years. The latest challenge is also the latest opportunity to truly have an impact on the market.”

Darcy Kemp
Director Trade Marketing
CooperVision
Fairport, N.Y.

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“Darcy has taken CooperVision’s trade marketing to a world class level. Her contribution to CooperVision accounts has been invaluable to them as they establish brands, develop promotions, create consumer demand and provide education to their OD’s. She is viewed within the organization as a professional who will make tremendous contributions and leadership in years to come.”

Darcy Kemp’s career has indeed been on the fast track ever since she joined CooperVision nearly three years ago. Having worked in the healthcare industry for 13 years, Kemp has spent the last four years in the optical world, starting out in an advertising agency with clients in the medical device and optical business. She then moved on to the field of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals before joining CooperVision in 2005.

Today, she is currently responsible for overseeing the commercialization of CooperVision’s contact lens products for all U.S. optical retail customers, buying groups and multiple door locations. She is responsible for pricing, distribution, branding and promotions. This year, Kemp’s trade marketing efforts helped launch CooperVision’s silicone hydrogels and new modalities. “The product mix is always changing because of new materials and designs. My greatest challenge is having the time to do everything that I think about.”

Not only does she work with product managers when it comes to pricing and distribution, she has also been known to accompany area sales managers as they visit ECPs to educate and inform them about the company’s products. CooperVision is known for their toric and multi-focal lenses and fitting the patient is the greatest challenge for most ECPs, Kemp said. That and convincing patients that the cost and convenience factor of CLs is worth it.

“I bring fresh ideas to the table. I motivate people to think differently and always keep a positive attitude. Within the optical business we sometimes need to defy convention and go where our own vision takes us. Who said you can’t color outside the lines?”

SHE SAYS...“Throughout my careers, I have been blessed to work with people who are great teachers, motivators and have acknowledged my accomplishments. This combination has allowed me to learn, grow and blossom. Now it’s time I do the same for others.”

Jennifer Ma
Channel Marketing Manager
Hoya Vision Care, North America
Carrollton, Texas

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“She has created and implemented a variety of programs and materials that have helped grow Hoya’s new distributor network.”

Arriving at Hoya two years ago, Jennifer Ma quickly put her sales and marketing experience to good use. Having previously worked at Essilor and at a Dallas ad agency, Ma brought new ideas and fresh energy to Hoya’s distributor sales team. She was the driving force behind two of Hoya’s most successful National Promotions “My Big Fat Greek Hoya Getaway” and “Go for the Green.”

“My Big Fat Greek Hoya Getaway” was Hoya’s biggest national promotion to date and garnered Hoya both increased name recognition and additional sales. More than 120 travelers, including eyecare practitioners, distributors, Hoya representatives and guests, enjoyed a nine-day getaway to Greece.

“Marketing is a lot of fun, because you can put your creative touch on things,” she said. “Developing promotional materials, sales aids and travel incentives is a reflection of yourself.”

Ma spends about 30 percent of her time on the road, working with Hoya’s corporate labs, Hoya distributors and eyecare professionals. She is also responsible for Hoyanet, a Web portal giving users access to a range of personalized information and tools.

“I love my job because I can put my hands in all different buckets and learn different things,” Ma remarked.

SHE SAYS...“I think I can make a difference in this industry, especially when it comes to developing new ways to market products. I want to change our way of thinking about educating patients and doctors.”

Laurinda Mackenzie
Executive Vice President/General Manager, Vision
UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits
Portland, Ore.

CHOSEN BECAUSE... “While managing and directing an organization of 900 people, she has created an exciting work environment that is making a difference in the future of healthy vision.”

Laurinda Mackenzie is relatively new to the vision care field, but she brings extensive experience in general healthcare.

In May 2007, Mackenzie became executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits’ vision operation, with responsibility for strategic sales, product development, network, and retail stores for the vision segment, which includes the company’s managed vision operation (formerly Spectera) as well as UnitedHealthcare’s 37-store United Optical chain.

Prior to this assignment, Mackenzie was senior vice president of vendor relations with UnitedHealth’s Specialized Care Services operation. She has also served as chief executive officer of LifeEra, a UnitedHealth Group company, and held senior executive positions at Working Solutions and ACCESS Clinical Consulting.

Mackenzie also has a retailing background--she went through Dayton Hudson’s executive training program early in her career--in addition to her past experience in the medical-related field.

One element of her new responsibility is spearheading the company’s move toward positioning eyecare as a key component of maintaining consumers’ overall health and well-being. Mackenzie sees her role as “an opportunity to make a big difference in people’s lives, and to let them know about the value of primary eyecare in catching health challenges at an early stage.”

SHE SAYS...“The eyecare field offers a great range of opportunity for women in terms of range of career options and the wide range of skill sets that can be utilized to drive success. I would encourage the building of a professional network to offer visibility to all of the options for women beginning their eyecare career.”

Beverly Marquez
Essilor Laboratories of America
Region Vice President Southwest Region
San Diego, Calif.

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“Her drive to develop a strong relationship between sales and lab operations teams has helped ensure Essilor’s success and ability to meet its customers’ needs.”

Beverly Marquez joined Essilor Laboratories of America in 2006 as Southwest region vice president after a 20-year sales career in the clinical laboratory field. Under her leadership, the Southwest region earned Essilor’s District of the Year in 2007.

Marquez has earned the respect of Essilor’s customers by understanding their needs and aligning resources to meet those needs. “I’m very hands-on,” she said. “I cold call at least once a month, working closely with the sales and operations teams.”

Marquez stays in close contact with team members, spending about half of her day speaking with them by phone. She has initiated a mentoring program in which each person on her staff coaches someone within the ELOA labs they service.

The program includes monthly lunch meetings and sharing educational materials. A key goal of the program is to spread knowledge within the lab and develop continuity as the lab personnel changes over time. “It’s like building the bench on a football team,” Marquez said.

SHE SAYS...“Anybody can become a leader as long as they have the initiative and willingness to develop their skills.”


Eve Zartman-Ball
Senior Director, Public Affairs & Advocacy
The Vision Council
Alexandria, Va.

CHOSEN BECAUSE...“Eve oversees all aspects of the Vision Council’s advocacy and professional relations efforts as well as its governance. Her passion for advocacy has been lifelong on the campaign and social advocacy fronts. She is also involved in various organizations in the community including many years on the Board of My Sister’s Place (MSP), a domestic violence shelter and currently as president of the board of the St. Alban’s Early Childhood Center (SAECC).”

Eve Zartman-Ball has always considered herself an advocate which is why she left the for-profit world of the stock market and came to the Vision Council (then known as VICA) in 1999. Zartman-Ball became interested in the optical field because of its mission of helping people see.

“I know that if we do it right [at the Vision Council] we can help people get the vision care products and services they need. Working in a field where outcome is tangible and achieveable is a great field for anyone.”

Before coming to Vision Council, Zartman-Ball laid her ‘social advocacy’ foundation working on health care and social welfare issues for N.Y. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and then on to public relations firm Hill & Knowlton where she handled a variety of healthcare and social marketing, media and government relations.

Today, she is tasked with overseeing all of the government and professional relations for the Vision Council and her accomplishments there over the past nine years include promoting the children’s vision care legislation, building 50 state vision resources and analysis, and helping to reshape the Better Vision Institute and make the Vision Summit a reality.

Her greatest challenge? “Not allowing the organization to go backward but live up to its mission and purpose. I am excited about the new focus afoot not only within the Vision Council but within the industry to focus on common objectives, aligning resources and ensuring that we all work toward the bigger picture. It just seems like a light bulb is finally coming on and people are really “getting it” and it is an exciting challenge and time to see in our industry.”

SHE SAYS...“All of my mentors have redefined/pushed some boundaries, but they were found in time to have been leaders in crises by having pushed those envelopes...What inspires me every day is to try and live beyond myself and use all of my talents every day for the betterment of the world in some way. Every day is a gift and I am constantly driven and inspired to do better tomorrow.” ■