Title: General Manager of Intraocular Lens Manufacturing
Company: Alcon
Location: Winfield, West Virginia, United States
Candace M. Childers, MBA, general manager of intraocular lens manufacturing at Alcon, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in manufacturing.
Ms. Childers has built a successful manufacturing career, excelling as the general manager of Intraocular Lens Manufacturing at Alcon, a role she has held since 2024. Her duties include overseeing s a manufacturing site in Huntington, West Virginia, with about 700 employees, where she is responsible for the profit and loss of the site and ensures that productivity goals are met. Prior to this, she held various roles at the same company. She was the quality head from 2021 to 2024 and senior manufacturing manager from 2019 to 2012. She also worked in Ireland with Alcon as a senior quality engineering manager from 2018 to 2019, and quality operations manager from 2017 to 2018. Additionally, she worked at the company’s site in Texas as a manufacturing production supervisor from 2015 to 2017.
Concurrently, Ms. Childers served in the US Navy as a communications officer from 2006 to 2008, reactor controls division manager for the USS Lincoln from 2009 to 2011, lieutenant commander and surface warfare officer from 2005 to 2015, and operations manager of the USS Chaffee from 2013 to 2015.
Before embarking on her professional path, Ms. Childers pursued an education at the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in computer science in 2005. Following this, she earned a Master of Science in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2006. She went on to earn a master’s degree in engineering and industrial management from Old Dominion University in 2014, and a Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin in 2017. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in legal studies at Cornell University. Furthering her expertise in the field, she is a certified project management professional and certified manager of quality and organizational excellence.
In addition to these accomplishments, Ms. Childers was on the board of directors for the Vision Resource Center of Berks County from 2022 to 2024 and a volunteer with Midshipman Action Group from 2001 to 2005. In addition, she maintains a membership with the American Society for Quality.
In light of her impressive undertakings, Ms. Childers has gained various accolades throughout her career. She was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal by the Commander Navy Recruiting Command in 2012, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her role as commanding officer of the USS Lincoln in 2011, and the Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal for her role as a commanding officer on the USS Hopper in 2007 and 2008.
Reflecting on her career, Ms. Childers says that when she left the Navy, she was unsure about what to do. At the time, Alcon had a rotational leadership program that would allow her to work in quality and manufacturing, so she jumped at the opportunity. She was attracted to the company’s mission of “helping people see brilliantly.” She sees her role with the company as a way to serve the country in a different way.
Ms. Childers says a standout moment during her tenure with Alcon was leading a notable project to implement a more risk-based approach, successfully executing a two-year initiative to eliminate redundancies and achieving impressive annual savings. She attributes her success to her ambition, drive, and thirst for knowledge. Looking ahead, she aims to take on more challenging roles, aspiring to become a plant general manager or supervisor of various plants. Currently, she is dedicated to contributing her expertise in the medical device field with Alcon.
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