The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) announced their 2026 OWA award honourees:
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Susy Yu Susy Yu, OD, Vision Services Administrator for Kaiser Permanente, will receive the Pleiades Award, recognizing her exceptional dedication and support in advancing the leadership role of women in the optical industry.
- Liz Friedfeld, Head of Business Development for ClearVision Optical, is the Pyxis Awardhonouree, acknowledging her service and commitment to growing the OWA and promoting it throughout the optical industry.
- Cathy Firman, Senior Director of Customer Success for GPN Technologies, will receive the Emerging Leader Award, given to rising stars within the optical industry who display exemplary leadership qualities.
Liz Friedfeld - Alessandra Senici, Executive Leader at EssilorLuxottica, will be the first recipient of the OWA’s new Polaris Award, honouring her work in promoting the mission of the OWA globally.
President’s Statement
Megan Molony, OWA President, had this to say: “The Optical Women’s Association is proud to honour four extraordinary women whose leadership, vision, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our industry.
Their achievements inspire all of us to continue breaking barriers and shaping a future where innovation, curiosity and inclusivity thrive. I have the pleasure of knowing all these winners, and they are not only amazing women, they are experienced professionals, thought leaders, and shining examples of advocacy for women in our industry. A heartfelt congratulations to Susy, Liz, Cathy, and Alessandra. As we celebrate their contributions, we reaffirm OWA’s mission to empower, connect, and elevate women across the optical industry—creating opportunities that drive progress for generations to come.”
The award recipients will be honoured at the OWA’s annual Champagne Breakfast on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, during International Vision Expo. Sponsored by EssilorLuxottica and the OWA, this event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. For more information, click here.
