Congratulations, Mark Mattison-Shupnick, on a new venture!

I once heard someone in the Jobson office refer to Mark as the “Energizer Bunny.” He continually proves that true as he keeps “going and going” on to new avenues in the optical field. But I can’t quite think of Mark as a “bunny.” I think of him more as Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Ulysses who would “follow knowledge like a sinking star,” with boundless energy and a continued desire to learn. It’s those qualities that make Mark successful at whatever he chooses to do.

As a long-time subscriber, I have used 20/20 as my go-to publication for education, information and innovation in the optical field. As Director of Education, Mark’s impact and vision for 20/20 education are clear in the articles and CEs (print and video). He kept information new, relevant and interesting, and acknowledged his readers as peers. With all we have learned from him, 20/20 will continue to be a leader in educating ECPs.

Looking forward to 2018 and Pro to Pro’s second year, readers can expect to see more variety in topics as we welcome contributing authors from different facets of the business including educators, business owners, industry partners and technicians. And of course, we’ll continue to be your resource for continuing education and keeping current in this ever-evolving field. Your feedback is critical to our success, so let us know what you want to know!

Anticipating a new year with Pro to Pro is exciting, but I’ll miss Mark. It’s been only a few short months since I began working directly with him as Managing Editor for Pro to Pro. Coming from many years in optical retail and management, working in editorial was a big change and challenge for me. Mark’s patience, encouragement and guidance in exploring writing and editing have been invaluable. I love what I do, and friends have told me, “You are where you belong.” Thank you, Mark, for helping me find that place.

• Linda Conlin
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2020mag.com/education