LAS VEGAS—The Management & Business Academy (MBA), created by CIBA Vision and Essilor, will expand to a new venue next spring as the program comes to International Vision Expo East 2011. Utilizing the same quality content and dynamic speakers, the highly acclaimed program will now be available to all eyecare professionals—and their staff –at the show.

“The MBA is the premier business education program for independent optometrists and their staff,” said Dwight Akerman, OD, FAAO, director of professional affairs and programs for CIBA Vision. “CIBA Vision is excited to work with International Vision Expo on this initiative which will allow us to bring this best-in-class program to a wider audience.”

Endorsed by the American Optometric Association and The Vision Council, the MBA provides continuing education on topics including staff management, practice performance measurement, practice growth strategies, utilizing market research and more.

“Eyecare professionals who attend the MBA get real-world advice from experts who have built highly successful practices,” said Rodney Tahran, OD, FAAO, vice president of professional relations/clinical affairs for Essilor. “The focus is on practical, easy-to-implement ideas that have been field tested and proven to increase financial return.”

With the addition of the MBA program, the International Vision Expo conference program will now open on Wednesday, March 16 for afternoon sessions. The program will continue on Thursday, March 17 as the International Vision Expo conference begins as previously scheduled.

“We are thrilled to add the MBA to our conference program at next year's International Vision Expo East and West,” said Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “Our research shows that conferees value the continuing education program because of our extensive practice management and business education offerings.The MBA will take the program to the next level and strengthen it even more.”

Jobson's Practice Advancement Associates (PAA) division partners with Essilor and CIBA Vision to manage the MBA program, develop content for the MBA and deliver communications to MBA graduates and attendees.

The International Vision Expo East conference program will be held March 16-20, 2011; the exhibit hall will open March 18-20. For more information, visit www.visionexpoeast.com.