HPU’s Strickland Women’s Leadership Council Welcomes New Leaders and Members
Sue Downes
She was appointed vice-president of the Strickland Women’s Leadership Council. As an inaugural board member, Downes has been an active and dedicated board member since January 2021.
Downes, CEO and Co-Founder of MyEyeDr., had an extensive career in the eye care industry before starting the company and has worked in nearly every area of eye care for over thirty years.
From an office in 2001, she ran the MyEyeDr. brand to add more than 600 locations in twenty-five states and the District of Columbia, with more practices joining each month. In addition to his work at the head of MyEyeDr. team, she has received several prestigious accolades, including the Montgomery County Chamber’s “Spirit of Free Enterprise” award, 2011 Most Influential Woman Award, 2012 Smart CEO Award for Entrepreneurship, ACG Award Corporate Growth Award 2015 and was named the Optical Women’s Association 2016 winner of the Pléiades Prize. In 2018, Sue was named Person of Vision by Prevent Blindness.
Downes has been an active volunteer working with Prevent Blindness and she provides pro bono support to various organizations including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Downes’ proudest accomplishment is raising his two sons. His son, Grant Healey, is a member of High Point University’s Class of 2021. She lives in Northern Virginia with her beloved husband, PJ.
In addition to the installation of the new officers, four new councilors were inducted into the Elizabeth Miller Strickland Women’s Leadership Council.
The new members are:
