Committees
OWL committees advise and report to the Board of Directors on their areas of responsibility. If you're interested in volunteering for a committee, please contact our Membership Coordinator, Marja Ernst.
OWL gratefully acknowledges the work of our dedicated committee members!
Membership Committee
*Laurie Brown (Drs. Fine, Hoffman & Sims, LLC) – Chair
This committee lead's OWL efforts to grow membership and deepen engagement.
Membership Outreach Subcommittee
- Erin Schallhorn (Alcon) - Chair
- *Beth Marsh (Aciex Therapeutics)
- *Annamarie Hastings (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
Members of this subcommittee work to develop and cultivate membership prospects, considers ways to recognize members for their service to the organization, contacts lapsed members, and strategies around connecting members through networking.
Membership Marketing Subcommittee
- Tamara Evans (Ceatus Media Group) - Chair
- Isabella Crawford (TearScience)
- Tracy Keniff (Eye & LASIK Center)
- Sherri Boston (Allergan)
This subcommittee develops marketing messages around membership and works in partnership with OWL's Marketing/Communications Committee to make sure membership marketing messages are included effectively on OWL's website, in OWL publications, in advertising and public relations, at OWL events and in social media. This subcommittee is also responsible for supporting the development of collateral materials (such as membership applications and membership promotion brochures).
- Diane Houtman (Akorn) - Chair
This subcommittee works to recruit members interested in serving as volunteers. When a volunteer is needed -- to work a shift at the registration desk at an event or to write an article for a newsletter, for example -- the Volunteers Subcommittee chair sends a job description to the volunteer list or otherwise matches a volunteer to the position. The Volunteers Subcommittee chair liaises with OWL committee leaders as needed to meet volunteer needs.
Industry Partnerships Subcommittee
- *Julie Speed (Alcon) - Chair
- Erin Schallhorn (Alcon)
- *Marsha Link (Link Consulting)
Members of this subcommittee serve as internal champions within industry companies (especially larger companies) to internally promote membership in OWL and identify key women within their companies to target for membership cultivation. Subcommittee members serve as ambassadors for members joining from their respective companies. They also work closely with the OWL executive director and Development Committee chair to develop fundraising strategies and partnership opportunities with their companies.
Ambassador Program Subcommittee
- Marja Ernst (OWL) - Chair
- *Laurie Brown (Drs. Fine, Hoffman & Sims, LLC)
- Tamara Evans (Ceatus Media Group) - Chair
- *Annamarie Hastings (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Diane Houtman (Akorn)
- Erin Schallhorn (Alcon)
- *Julie Speed (Alcon)
Members of this subcommittee serve as ambassadors in the Ambassador Program, emailing or calling new members throughout their first year and serving as a point of contact for the members.
Programs Committee
- *Heather Ready (AcuFocus) - Chair
- *Susan Benton (Bausch + Lomb) - Chair, Executive Roundtable Program Subcommittee
- Barbara Fant (Clinical Research Consultants, Inc.)
- *Marsha Link (Link Consulting)
- *Beth Marsh (Aciex Therapeutics, Inc.)
This committee develops and implements an annual calendar of educational programs to benefit OWL's membership. The work of this committee includes programming in conjunction with the ASCRS and AAO annual meetings, as well as online programs (webinars) and the Coaching & Mentoring Program.
Development Committee
- *Beth Marsh (Aciex Therapeutics, Inc.)
- *Jan Beiting (Wordsmith Consulting)
- *Marsha Link (Link Consulting)
- Susan Moreira (Beaver-Visitec International, Inc.)
- *Georgette Pascale (Pascale Communications)
- Kathi Terlizzese (Tissue Banks International)
- *Ellen Troyer (Biosyntrx)
This committee leads OWL's fundraising initiatives, including sponsorships for programs and events, corporate foundation charitable giving, annual silent auction and individual donations.
Marketing/Communications Committee
This committee leads OWL's member and external communications, including branding and messaging, the OWL website, newsletters and social media.
Public Relations Subcommittee
- *Georgette Pascale (Pascale Communications) - Chair
- Michael Elofer (Pascale Communications)
- Allison Potter (Pascale Communications)
This subcommittee seeks opportunities to promote OWL, our programs and advancement of women in eye care. Members of this committee lead media relations/outreach, donated advertising and editorial opportunities.
Publications Subcommittee
- *Sheryl Stevenson (Ophthalmology Times) - Chair
- Michelle Dalton (Dalton & Associates)
- *Marsha Link (Link Consulting)
- Brad McCorkle (Local Eye Site)
- Adrianne Resek (Pascale Communications)
This committee is responsible for the publication of OWL's quarterly electronic publication, Ophthalmic Women Magazine.
Recognition Committee
- *Beth Marsh (Aciex Therapeutics, Inc.)
- *Georgette Pascale (Pascale Communications)
- *Julie Speed (Alcon)
- *Sheryl Stevenson (Ophthalmology Times)
This committee leads OWL's efforts to recognize outstanding leadership among ophthalmic women, including the annual Visionary Woman, Rising Star and Catalyst awards.
Southern California Chapter Steering Committee
- *Jane Rady (Abbott Medical Optics) - Chair
- Regina Boore (Progressive Surgical Solutions, LLC)
- Tammy Evans (Ceatus Media Group)
- Doral Fredericks (Bausch and Lomb)
- *Marsha Link (Link Consulting)
- Yari Mitchell (AcuFocus)
- Christina Psalms (SightLife)
- *Heather Ready (AcuFocus)
- Kara Stephens (AcuFocus)
- Shelley Thunen (Endrologix)
- Tina Williams (WaveTec Vision)
This committee organizes quarterly programs for OWL's Southern California chapter, as well as guides the chapter's membership development, communications and funding.
* OWL Board Members