Monthly Archives: December 2024

I was honored to be a Co-Chair at the Chemical Marketing & Economics STEM Leadership Awards and sponsor of Hubert Sagnières of Essilor Luxottica.  Established in 2012, the CME STEM Leadership Awards are the highest honor given by the Chemical, Marketing, and Economics Inc to outstanding leaders of society for harnessing the transforming power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for the benefit of humanity.

Hubert Sagnières is widely recognized as a transformative force in the optical care industries and a leading scholar and contributor to exploration. Serving as the Chair and CEO of Essilor International, and later as the Executive Vice Chair of Essilor Luxottica, He has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission of improving lives through better vision—a mission deeply rooted in societal impact and innovation.

Under his leadership, Essilor Luxottica has become a global leader in eye care solutions. His work has resulted in groundbreaking innovations, strategic mergers, acquisitions, an unwavering commitment to sustainable development, and a vision to eradicate uncorrected poor vision on a global scale. As a result, Hubert has been instrumental in bringing vision care to millions of people in underserved communities around the globe.

He is also a distinguished explorer. In 2023 he followed in the footsteps of great French Explorers documenting their achievements. He then published the updates in, Daring French Explorations 1714-1854, Trailblazing adventures around the world. The book is a series of extracts and illustrations from the travel journals of the French explorers and current observations.

Honorees from left to right:
hashtag#GeorgeRodriguez, hashtag#LeonardLevie, hashtag#RichardWiese, hashtag#HubertSagnières, hashtag#JanetWalsh, hashtag#WilburRoss, hashtag#RichardGarriott, hashtag#SurabhiVarshney, hashtag#ShahKarim, hashtag#KseniaTakhistova, and hashtag#EdwardGrebow

Birchtree Global, LLC and Birchtree Performance HR are pleased to announce Dr. Janet L. Walsh has been elected the 2025 president of the Irish Business Organization in New York (IBO). Founded in 1973, the IBO is a leading organization for business networking. For five decades the IBO has created vibrant networks across the tri-state area supporting, guiding, and enlightening waves of Irish and Irish American business leaders.

Dr. Walsh succeeds Paul Finnegan, who has held the post since 2022. She will be joined by Karen Colligan, First Vice President and Loretta Bricchi Lee, Second Vice President, and a number of outstanding Irish Business Leaders. Janet and her team will be focusing on continuing the work of the IBO, expanding and deepening business to business relationships, its partnership with Irish Government representatives in the United States and bi-lateral chambers, and supportive programs for the J-1 Visa Program for students, the community’s newest business members.

Dr. Walsh is the CEO and President of Birchtree Global, LLC, which specializes in globalizing business and HR strategies, operations, and workforce integration. She has established operations in 86 countries and all 50 U.S. states, leading cross-functional teams of legal, financial, tax, and HR experts. Previously, Janet held senior leadership roles, including Vice President and Director of Global HR for multibillion-dollar multinationals. She holds a BA in Economics from Bucknell University, an MBA from Loyola University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on Foreign Direct Investment in Cuba from University of Phoenix.

A recognized thought leader in global market entry, HR, and financial strategy, Janet’s board service includes Chair of Ethics and Governance for The Explorers Club, the Human Resources Certification Institute, and the D’Oyly Carte Foundation. As an adjunct professor and lecturer at top universities, including Columbia, Fairfield, Stony Brook, and Manhattanville, she works to bridge academia and practice.

Beyond business, Janet is a division-winning equestrian, award-winning watercolorist, and amateur archaeologist.

https://www.ibonewyork.org/