ATLANTA--This year's SECO International--described by outgoing SECO president Richard Phillips, OD, as "the most diverse, most enjoyable and most educational SECO we've ever had," wrapped up late last month with overall attendance projected to wind up about level with the 2004 event, at around 7,000, when all registrations were tallied.

Offering more than 400 hours of continuing education courses plus a sold-out exhibit hall, SECO 2005 attracted just under 2,000 optometrists along with other attendees, organizers said.

During the event, Lowell Gilbert, OD, of Colonial Heights, Va., was installed as the new president of SECO International, succeeding Phillips. Jonathan Shrewbury, OD, joined the SECO council as secretary. Sidney Stern, OD, is SECO's president-elect; Doug Clark, OD, was elected vice president; and Wilburn Lord, OD, is treasurer.

At the annual SECO House of Delegates meeting, three annual awards were presented.

Jerald Combs, OD (r), receives this year's SECO Optometrist of the South award from outgoing president Richard Phillips, OD
Incoming SECO president Lowell Gilbert, OD (l), is congratulated by outgoing president Richard Phillips, OD.
SECO presented the President's Award posthumously to W. David Sullins, Jr., OD, who died last month. Outgoing president Richard Phillips, OD (l), presented the award to Sullins? sons, William 'Troy' Sullins III, OD (c) and Stuart.

Jerald Combs, OD, of Kentucky, was named 2005 Optometrist of the South, SECO's highest honor. Susan Henry, patient-care manager for Richard Katz, OD, at Optometric Eyecare Associates in Virginia, was honored as 2005 Paraoptometric of the South.

SECO awarded Tennessee state representative Gary Odom the Legislator of the Year award, an honor not presented since 1977. Odom, executive director of the Tennessee Optometric Association since 1981, began his political career in 1984.

In addition, SECO presented the President's Award posthumously to

W. David Sullins, Jr., OD, who died in early February. Sullins' family attended the presentation to accept the award.

This year's SECO International also included a salute to the U.S. Armed Forces and several new educational tracks including a new Academic All-Star track sponsored by VM's sister publication, Review of Optometry.

The SECO exhibit area featured 285 exhibits, at which 222 companies showed off their latest products and programs for the eyecare industry.

A new feature of this year's SECO exhibit hall was "Ask the Experts," offering attendees a "second opinion" on issues or questions they had in the areas of finance, taxes, human resources, personnel management, law, real estate, Medicare, marketing and promotion. During exhibit hall hours, attendees could make an appointment with one of five professionals on the Ask the Experts panel, each considered an expert in his or her respective field. Panel members provided 20 to 30 minutes of advice in one-on-one confidential sessions. --Cathy Ciccolella