San Diego, Calif.—Independence, innovation and intensity were the three elements that comprised OneVision, the central theme of the Vision Source North American Meeting held here earlier this month. More than 1,000 member optometrists attended the annual meeting held from Feb. 25 to March 1, which consisted of practice management sessions for doctors and key office staff, as well as vendor presentations and displays from 90 exhibitors in the exhibit hall. Many of the presentations focused on improving efficiency, profitability and patient satisfaction in a troubling economy.
Vision Source president and CEO Glenn Ellisor, OD, welcomed the group by marveling at the extent to which his vision, a strong and competitive network of independent optometrists, had been realized. Ellisor was one of the founders of Vision Source in 1991. Today, it has grown to include more than 1,900 practices in the U.S. and Canada. “Vision Source has been created by everyone in this room, but it has become more encompassing than I imagined,” Ellisor said in his opening remarks.
Three practices received special recognition at the meeting. Elizabeth McMunn, OD, East Lyme, Conn., had the largest volume percent increase in business last year compared to the previous year. The practice of Robert Anderson, OD, Donald Bogue, OD, Nathaniel Robinson, OD, and Keith Hancock, OD, all of Lufkin, Texas, showed the largest dollar volume increase. And the Albuquerque, N.M., practice of Frank Chinisci, OD, David Magnus, OD, Kay Puro, OD, and William Fite OD, was recognized for achieving the highest overall increase for both percentage and dollar increase.
Practice management training included two sessions from the Management & Business Academy on Metrics-Based Management and Leading Staff to Excellence. In addition, there were sessions on The Power of Branding, The Art of Persuasion, and Preparing, Positioning and Selling Your Practice. Two office manager special sessions focused on The Golden Rule of Training and Managed Care.
The closing night gala was held at the Miramar Air Station, made famous in the movie Top Gun. Bad Habits, the Eye Docs of Rock, entertained the group during this high-energy ending to the meeting.
Attendees take a break from the action out on the balcony.
Attendees gathered in the exhibit hall at the Essilor booth.
Randy Brooks, OD, AOA president-elect addresses the group.
A full conference room during one of the sessions.
CooperVision’s Ron Domingo was joined on stage by the University of California San Diego cheerleaders during his company’s presentation.
Vision Source president and CEO Glenn Ellisor, OD.
