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National Board

Paul G. Howes Takes Over as PBA Board Chair, Torrey DeKeyser and Mike Daley Join Board of National Non-profit Group

Mike Daley - board member, Prevent Blindness America Torrey DeKeyser - board member, Prevent Blindness America Paul Howes - board member, Prevent Blindness America

CHICAGO (Nov. 13, 2013) – Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, has announced that Paul G. Howes has been elected as the new Chairperson of PBA’s National Board of Directors.  Torrey DeKeyser, executive director of the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, and Mike Daley, optical labs division liaison of The Vision Council, were also elected as new members.   The vote was held on Nov. 9 at the 2013 PBA Annual Board Meeting in Chicago.

Paul G. Howes has more than 25 years of commercial strategy, product development and senior management experience in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, including the field of ophthalmology.  Most recently, Howes served as president & CEO of Inotek Pharmaceuticals, a privately-funded company developing a novel medicine for glaucoma. Prior to Inotek, he was president of the Americas Region for Bausch + Lomb with leadership responsibility for Bausch + Lomb’s Vision Care, Surgical and Pharmaceuticals business segments. Prior to Bausch + Lomb, he served in a variety of senior management positions at Merck & Co, Inc., including President of Merck Frosst Canada and president & CEO of the Dupont-Merck Pharmaceutical Company. Howes joined the PBA National Board of Directors in 2004 and has served in various leadership roles over the years, including the Executive Committee.

Torrey DeKeyser joined the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama in 1999, following a 20 year career in university advancement and administration within the University of Alabama system.  She belongs to the National Eye Institute’s VISION Network, and currently is involved with the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and the Priory in the USA of the Order of St. John. In addition to serving on the PBA Government Affairs Committee, DeKeyser has teamed with PBA on a variety of projects over the years, including the current CDC-funded glaucoma education project with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Daley began his career in the vision and optical industry more than 40 years ago. He was president and chief operating officer of Essilor of America's U.S. Lens Division, known as Essilor Lenses.  In 2012, he joined The Vision Council as the optical labs division liaison. From 2003-2006, Daley served on the Prevent Blindness Florida Board of Governors.  He then joined the PBA National Board of Directors in 2006 and served until his term ended.  He is rejoining the National Board as well as serving on the PBA Development Committee.

“Our national Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from all different backgrounds who bring their unique talents and expertise to the table, making our organization as great as it can be.  We look forward to the leadership of our new members and chairperson,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America.  “On behalf of PBA, I also want to thank our outgoing Board Chair, James Anderson, for his dedication and stewardship over the past several years. He was truly instrumental in moving us forward as an organization and helping us grow as a leader in the eye and vision health arena.”

For more information about Prevent Blindness America or general eye health information, please call (800) 331-2020 or visit advocacy.preventblindness.org.

Prevent Blindness America board of directors

Download a copy of the national board member press release.