VisionServe Alliance 2026 Annual Award Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VisionServe Alliance Announces its 2026 Annual Award Recipients
Celebrating Industry Excellence and Innovation
VisionServe Alliance is honored to recognize exceptional leaders in the BVI field who distinguish themselves through their creativity, commitment, and dedication to improving the lives of people with blindness and low vision.
“Award recipients represent innovators in our field who inspire change and advance our unified efforts to transform lives,” said Lee Nasehi, President and CEO of VisionServe Alliance. “We are thrilled to congratulate these remarkable leaders and present their awards at our upcoming conference in May.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
Selected by VisionServe Alliance’s Board of Directors in recognition of exceptional lifetime contributions in service to individuals who are blind or visually impaired:
- Dr. Craig Meador, President & CEO, American Printing House
Excellence in Leadership Award
Recognizes exemplary leadership demonstrated by an Executive Director, President, or CEO of a member organization. Award recipients are listed on a print and braille plaque in the Hall of Fame – Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field located at the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY.
- Reinhard Mabry, President & CEO, Alphapointe
- Diane Nelson, Executive Director, VIPS
- Dr. Janet Szlyk, President & CEO, The Chicago Lighthouse
Cathy Holden Excellence in Managerial Leadership Award
Honors a senior team member of a VSA member organization who has made an impact on, contributed to, or led staff in the pursuit of organizational excellence.
- Carol Brady-Simmons, Chief Program Officer, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
- Anisio Correia, Vision Rehabilitation Consultant
Roxann Mayros Organizational Champion Award
Recognizes a member of senior management whose cultivation of structure, systems, and best practices advances the efforts of an organization, distinguishing itself in the field of blindness and low vision.
- Dr. Kara Crumbliss, Chief Compliance Officer & SVP Clinical Services Enterprise, The Chicago Lighthouse
- Jenna Dhayer, President, The Lighthouse of Houston
- Ryan Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Alphapointe
Awards will be commemorated at the Envision and VisionServe Alliance 2026 Conference in Columbus, OH. The Cathy Holden Excellence in Managerial Leadership Awards and Roxann Mayros Organizational Champion Awards will be commemorated during lunch on Thursday, May 28, and the Excellence in Leadership Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award will be commemorated during lunch on Friday, May 29.
Learn more about our Annual Awards, including past winners and register for our annual conference by March 31, 2025.
About VisionServe Alliance
VisionServe leads an alliance of more than 130 organizations that vastly improve the lives of people with blindness and low vision. VisionServe Alliance collaborates with leaders to enhance the health of the vision service field addressing strategic issues, cultivating leadership, strengthening management systems, sharing best practices, increasing capacity-building and sustainability, informing public policy, and maximizing awareness of life-changing vision rehabilitation training. For more information, visit VisionServeAlliance.org.
About VisionServe Alliance Annual Awards and Annual Conference
VisionServe Alliance bestows its Annual Awards on leaders and innovators in the BVI field. Leaders receive Annual Awards in several categories at our annual conference.
Press inquiries may be directed to SDraddy@VisionServeAlliance.org