KINGWOOD, Texas—Vision Source, the optometric alliance based here, has announced the retirement of Tracy Moody effective Dec. 31. Moody has held various positions within the organization since 2000, including, most recently, the position of president and chief growth officer. The company said that a search for Moody’s replacement will occur in the coming weeks.

Vision Source noted that the announcement comes at the end of the organization’s most successful year in its 21-year history. “Tracy is well respected within the eyecare industry and has played a large role in preserving independent optometry,” said Vision Source CEO and co-founder, Glenn Ellisor, OD. “Tracy has been a key part of the executive team at Vision Source since he joined 12 years ago, and although his leadership and tenacity will be missed, we wish him the very best through his new journey into retirement,” he added. “Tracy has been a great colleague and friend to many of us, and we are all very happy for him and his decision to spend more time with his family.”

Prior to his employment at Vision Source, Moody was the director of professional relations at Alcon Laboratories. He joined Vision Source as the VP of growth and development in 2000 and became the senior VP of growth and development before taking on the role of COO then president and chief growth officer. Moody will continue to have a significant ownership stake and connection to the organization.

“My family and I are excited to travel, see the world together and spend more time with one another,” says Moody. “I will miss the vision care industry and Vision Source family tremendously as it has been a large part of my life for many years,” he adds. “I will stay close and will check in on all of our many friends from time to time.”

Founded in 1991, Vision Source is North America’s largest network of private practice optometrists with more than 2,800 offices and 5,300 members in the U.S. and Canada. Through leveraging the network’s collective power, Vision Source delivers practice and professional development tools, marketing expertise and services, and purchasing power.