Prevent Blindness America Elects Two New Members To National Board of Directors
Marge Axelrad and James Murphy Join National Organization to Help Save Sight
CHICAGO (Aug. 6, 2009) – Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, has announced that Marge Axelrad, senior vice president and editorial director of Jobson Medical Information, LLC, and James Murphy, vice president and general manager, consumer products division of Alcon Laboratories, Inc., have been elected to the Prevent Blindness America Board of Directors. The vote was held on July 25 at the 2009 Summer Board Meeting in Chicago.

Axelrad has more than 20 years of experience working with the optical industry. She joined Jobson in 1988 as editor-in-chief of Vision Monday and is now the editorial director of both Vision Monday and 20/20. Axelrad is a founding board member of the Optical Women’s Association and was recently honored by the Accessories Council with its “Hall of Fame” award. She also currently serves on the Prevent Blindness America Marketing and Development Committee where she provides council and guidance in areas including strategic marketing, donor-centric fundraising, marketing sponsorship development and by fostering relationships with companies in the vision industry.

At Alcon, Murphy is responsible for the consumer product brands, specifically OPTI-FREE REPLENISH multi-purpose contact lens disinfecting solutions, SYSTANE lubricant eye drops and ICAPS ocular vitamins. Before being named vice president and general manager, he managed marketing operations for Alcon in Asia for more than three years where he was responsible for building and executing Alcon’s global marketing operations. Prior to that, he was a sales director in the pharmaceutical division and was in equipment and IOL sales for its surgical division. He has served Alcon for more than 14 years and will also serve on the Prevent Blindness America Marketing and Development Committee.

“The Prevent Blindness America Board of Directors is an integral part of the success of our organization. This group of esteemed individuals provides expert council and leadership that helps us to achieve our mission of preserving the gift of sight,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “By Ms. Axelrad and Mr. Murphy joining our board of directors, we look forward to their valued contributions as we look to expand our efforts to advocate and provide public programs that stress the importance of healthy vision.”