NEW YORK—Futurist Michael Rogers, an award-winning journalist known for his reporting in The New York Times and MSNBC, will bring his entertaining and common-sense vision of change for business and individuals to Vision Monday’s upcoming 9th Global Leadership Summit, the event’s organizers announced today.

Known as “The Practical Futurist,” Rogers combines extensive business experience with a deep technology background, the storytelling skills of a novelist, plus 30 years of professional speaking experience.

In addition to Rogers, experts in augmented reality, connected contact lenses, and cutting edge retail concepts have also joined the Summit’s roster of speakers. In total, 15 speakers from outside and within the industry will discuss technology’s latest wave, “Connectivity and the Internet of Things,” its implications for business leaders’ decision-making and other major trends impacting the optical industry.

The VM Global Leadership Summit is a day-long event which will be held March 18 at The Times Center here. Geared to senior-level executives and influential thought leaders in the optical industry and vision care space, it is designed to provoke discussion, illustrate new developments and provide unique, face-to-face networking opportunities for attendees.

Rogers’ presentation will lead off a new Summit session that will explore how smart technologies are reshaping the patient experience. Joining him are Paul Karpecki, OD, a noted vision care authority who is clinical editor for Review of Optometry and Yaopeng Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Smart Vision Labs, which has developed smartphone-based technology that can benefit doctors who want to increase revenue as well as clinicians who perform eye exams outside of the office.

The other new additions to the Summit program represent a diverse mix of companies and organizations. Brian Markwalter, senior vice president of research & standards, Consumer Electronics Association, will participate in the Summit’s opening session about the Internet of Things. He will analyze this fast-emerging platform, which melds technology and real-world interactions in new ways. The session will also feature a keynote presentation by Michael Bell, head of the New Devices Group, at Intel, and a talk by Andrew Ranson, FPOV (Future Point of View) which works with decision makers to manage the impact of digital change on their organizations.

David Kepron, creative director of the Retail Experience Studio for Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, one of the world’s largest retail design/architecture firms, will share his insights about how retailers can engage tech-savvy customers.

The Summit’s Eye2 session, which will examine how sensor-equipped contact lenses, augmented reality glasses and bionic eyes will help us see the future, has been expanded with the addition of three new speakers.

Ashish Ahuja, product manager for Meta, will showcase his company’s exciting new augmented reality eyewear, which have been hailed as the best looking AR glasses on the market by Forbes Magazine and is the winner of the 2014 CES Best in Show Award. Jerry Legerton, OD, co-founder and director of Innovega, will present a futuristic look at “wired” contact lenses and the new benefits they can offer wearers.

Also participating in the session will be Assistant Professor Michael McAlpine of Princeton University who leads a team that is expanding the boundaries of 3D printing of biomaterials, and Professor Steven Prawer of Melbourne University, head of materials development for Bionic Vision Australia.

Edward Beiner, principal, Edward Beiner Group, will add his perspective and join other leading optical retailers in a discussion about “Connecting with Customers/Coping with Technology Change.” The others are Michael Devlyn, EVP retail of the Devlyn Optical Group of Mexico, Central America and the U.S. and Antoine Amiel, vice chairman of Canada’s New Look Eyewear group. They will also answer questions moderated by FPOV’s Ranson about technology decision-making at their companies.

A special session, “Leadership in the Era of Connectivity,” will feature James Ledbetter, editor of the award-winning INC Magazine, the multi-platform “source of inspiration, education and connection for owners of growing businesses.”

The Premier sponsors of the 2015 VM Global Leadership Summit are Adlens, Essilor and Luxottica; Signature sponsor, VSP Global; and Supporting Sponsors Alcon, CareCredit, DAC Vision and International Vision Expo.

The Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit is sold out. Click here www.VisionMonday.com/Summit to add your name to a waiting list.