Company: CooperVision, San Ramon, CA
Nomination Submitted by: McDougall Communications
Company Description: CooperVision is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses, offering the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric, and multifocal products available to address the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and irregular corneas. Through innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company creates real advantages for customers.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Executive of the Year – Consumer Products –More Than 2,500 Employees
 Nomination Title: Michele Andrews, Vice President, Marketing and Professional Affairs, Americas
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 235 words used.
Dr. Andrews has been integral to changing attitudes and behaviors among the eye care community and consumers alike when it comes to myopia. [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]
In the past two years alone, Dr. Andrews has led cross-functional teams to develop and execute large-scale strategic initiatives to enhance professional education, raise public awareness, provide resources and services, and reduce health inequities.
This includes four consecutive years of unprecedented professional and consumer education campaigns that equip parents with information to correct their children’s myopia and help slow progression—with the latest iteration launching to acclaim in August 2024.
In December 2023, Dr. Andrews led the establishment of Generation Sight, a trailblazing initiative that bridges myopia management access disparities among under-resourced children.
In April 2024, Dr. Andrews spearheaded the creation of The Myopia Collective, a groundbreaking partnership with the American Optometric Association to rally the profession to elevate the myopia standard of care, shifting focus from solely vision correction to embracing comprehensive treatment.
In parallel, support has blossomed for CooperVision MiSight 1 day contact lenses, which received FDA approval as the first soft contact lens designed to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment.
Dr. Andrews is now one of the most influential and in-demand authorities on myopia interventions in the U.S., owing to her industry leadership, relationship development, and deep understanding of professional and parent needs.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 73 words used.
The CooperVision myopia initiatives brought to market under Dr. Andrews’s leadership garner notable attention in the optometric industry through widespread professional / ocular health media coverage and at in-person educational events and conferences.
Included in the supporting materials are several feature stories covering the launches and updates associated with these initiatives, which keeps myopia control—and CooperVision’s leadership in this area—consistently in front of eye care professionals, driving adoption of MiSight 1 day contact lenses.
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2022 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 198 words used.
Over her decades-long career, Dr. Michele Andrews has distinguished herself through her unwavering dedication to optometry, winning the constant admiration of her peers. Now, she sets the pace to overcome one of the greatest threats to eyesight in generations: childhood myopia.
She currently serves as Vice President, Marketing and Professional Affairs, Americas, at CooperVision—a global leader in contact lenses—where she drives innovative campaigns and strategic initiatives that have significantly enhanced CooperVision’s brand presence and engagement across the Americas. Since joining the company in 2015, she has built a vibrant cross-functional professional and academic affairs team dedicated to supporting eye care professionals, optometry students, and educators across North America, as well as advocating for optometry on Capitol Hill.
Dr. Andrews had been named a Most Influential Woman in Optical (2018), the American Optometric Association’s Dr. Rodger Kame Awardee (2018), a Theia Award of Excellence honoree (2019), and the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year recipient (2022).
Previously, Dr. Andrews held leadership roles in eye care as a clinician and executive. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from ICO and is a current member of the American Optometric Association and the Illinois Optometric Association.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
To understand the true impact of Dr. Andrews’s work requires an understanding that myopia (commonly referred to as nearsightedness) is more than just an inconvenience requiring glasses or contact lenses. Children with myopia can experience difficulty engaging in the activities they love, and that difficultly can increase as they grow and their prescription gets worse. [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]
[REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]
Until recently, myopia was addressed by giving children stronger glasses—an approach that helped them see, but which did not help protect their eyes from getting worse. Thanks in large part to Dr. Andrews’s visionary leadership, that tide is turning.
Through the numerous strategic initiatives overseen by Dr. Andrews, [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] eye care professionals are receiving certification and training opportunities on myopia control best practices, and CooperVision is collecting and disseminating data to inform clinical practice and public health efforts, ensuring they are equipped to provide the highest quality care to their young patients. Her work to raise public awareness of the dangers of childhood myopia has led more parents to choose life-changing myopia control treatments for their children. And by addressing geographic disparities in myopia management and advocating for under-resourced children, Dr. Andrews and CooperVision are working to reduce health inequities and ensure equitable access to vision care for all children.
| Attachments/Videos/Links: |
|---|
|
