Optical Women’s Association Recognizes Leadership in Optical Industry

A resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, Carene Kunkler has established an award-winning career in the marketing industry for 44 years, including serving as product vice president at LensCrafter, the eyewear corporation. Carene Kunkler received the Optical Women’s Association (OWA) Pleiades in 2003.

OWA’s Pleiades Award annually recognizes women in the optical industry who exhibit exceptional leadership. The award derives its name from the star clusters within the Taurus constellation. The Pleiades are the seven brightest stars, often referred to as the seven sisters.

Greek mythology states that the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas, and Zeus turned Atlas’s daughters into stars. In astrology, the stars combined illuminate the brightest in the northern hemisphere.

The OWA believes the Pleiades represent their work because they accomplish more together than individually. In 2023, Karen Roberts won the Pleiades Award for her passion for creating quality eye care and her vision that has driven the industry’s transformation.