The Optical Woman’s Association Honors De Rigo Rem’s Talia Bruno at Champagne Breakfast

Thursday, March 16th, 2023, the optical industry gathered at the Optical Women’s Association’s Champagne breakfast to honor this year’s award winners in the optical industry. Held at the historic Gotham Hall in Manhattan, this annual champagne breakfast honors and celebrates female leaders in the optical industry.

This year the De Rigo Rem team gathered in celebration as one of our own was honored and recognized for her contribution to the industry, Talia Bruno, Senior Director of Key Accounts. Talia won the 2023 Emerging Leader Award from the OWA. Talia’s parents were in attendance along with her two eldest daughters who came to participate in honoring their mother.

Alessandro Baronti, De Rigo Rem CEO & President gave a touching speech about Talia and presented the award to Talia. Her daughters accompanied Alessandro in sharing some information about their mother on stage with the crowd who were delighted by the girl’s charm and adorable authenticity. Alessandro shared many of Talia’s personal and professional accomplishments as he presented this prestigious award.

“Determination. Talia never gives up. I’ve never in my life met someone who is determined as Talia. She has one of those attitudes that everything is possible.”
Alessandro Baronti- President & CEO of De Rigo Rem

Talia rose to accept her award as colleagues and family cheered on. She gave a moving speech where she recognized the fellow female mentors who supported her, and provided guidance through her past fourteen years in the optical industry. Talia also took a moment to recognize her fellow award winners that were honored at the breakfast, in a truly humble and supportive way, thus demonstrating the mission of the OWA, of women in optical supporting fellow women in the optical industry. Talia spoke about her early life and how it shaped who she is today, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Talia shared the following passage.

“Ladies and Gentlemen I am the product of the American dream. I wouldn’t be standing up here with all of you if it wasn’t for my parents. You see, in hindsight, I think that if I wasn’t a child of immigrant parents, raised in the inner city of Brooklyn, presented with the various economic hardships growing up, I would not have been successful.”
Talia Bruno- De Rigo Rem Senior Director Key Accounts, and award recipient

The team at De Rigo Rem could not be more thrilled and honored to call Talia one of our own. We congratulate her on this prestigious award. She is so deserving of the 2023 Emerging Leader Award from the OWA as the rest of the industry is now able to recognize what a truly remarkable woman she is, and the incredible story she lives everyday.