NAPERVILLE, Ill.--Expert Optics hosted its annual day of education, "Optical Preview," on March 16. The Chicagoland-based wholesale lab treated the 170 attendees, representing 72 offices, to a full day of education, knowledge and relationship building. The event consisted of four ABO credited hours, four Illinois Optometric Association-approved continuing education credited hours, 25 exhibitors and dinner. ABO- and CE-certified speakers offered presentations, including Signet Armorlite's Jeff LaPlante, who spoke about "How to Successfully Achieve Incremental Increases in PAL Revenue."

From left: Greg Ruden and Tom Culley of Expert Optics, grand prize winner Dottie Van Auken of James Sanderson, OD's office in Orland Park, Ill. and Leslie Pelton (Transitions Optical).

"We have always believed that education plays an important role in any profession, and is a key ingredient to the success of every business," stated Expert Optics' president, Greg Ruden.

Sales representatives for many vendors also participated in the event. "Every year Optical Preview gets better, but this year was outstanding," said Velvet Richardson-Hawkins, regional territory manager for AO/SOLA. "The attendance was larger than ever and extremely responsive. It's a wonderful way to reach many people in a high energy event."

The evening was capped by a prize drawing for a trip for two to Las Vegas for Vision Expo West in conjunction with a Transitions V promotion. The grand prize was won by Dottie Van Auken, a dispensing optician with the office of James Sanderson, OD in Orland Park, Ill.