Marty Bassett, Walman Optical, the new chairman, shared vision and goals for
his tenure.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.—The Vision Council’s annual Executive Summit was in full swing here this week, as industry leaders gathered for executive-level networking, leadership development, and the latest in economic trends and business strategies. The event, taking place at the PGA National Resort and Spa, continues through mid-day today. It has drawn more than 325 high-level executives from the optical industry. During the event, The Vision Council also officially inducted its 2015 officers and board of directors.


Mike Hundert, REM Eyewear, chair, Executive Summit Program Committee, welcomed attendees.

During the Summit’s business meeting portion, it was announced that Marty Bassett, Walman Optical, has been elected as the new chairman of the Board, with Mike Hundert of REM Eyewear tapped as the new vice chairman, and Ken Bradley of Eschenbach Optik of America as the secretary/treasurer. Raanan Naftalovich of Shamir Insight, Inc. is now the immediate past chairman. Also elected were directors-at-large Bob Colucci of Essilor, Glenn Rusk of Safilo, and Holly Rush of Luxottica, each selected for an initial two-year term, and John Corsini of Super Systems Optical was selected for a second two-year term. The complete roster for the 2015 Board of Directors can be found online at thevisioncouncil.org.

In his inaugural presentation as chairman of the board, also during the Summit’s business meeting, Bassett outlined his priorities for his tenure as chairman including strengthening the International Vision Expos, ensuring a consistent and relevant governance process, expanding the organization’s brand, and most importantly, stimulating market growth.


Raanan Naftalovich (r), Shamir, immediate
past chairman, recognized Jamie Shyer, Zyloware, for his time on the Board.

“A key initiative of The Vision Council will continue to be engagement in activities and programs that promote the growth of the market, such as the Think About Your Eyes campaign,” said Bassett. “This campaign is designed to stimulate market growth by driving awareness for the importance of annual eye exams, and has proven to dramatically increase the number of new patients receiving first-time eye exams, as well as decrease the amount of time between eye exams for existing patients. Because of this, The Vision Council will be making it a priority to support these efforts, and integrate these messages into all of our consumer campaigns.”

The 2015 Executive Summit program also showcases presentations from experts in business, economics, and strategy. This morning’s opening keynote featured renowned futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich in a presentation on the latest technology trends that are transforming tomorrow. Tomorrow will be kicked off with a presentation from celebrated author, thinker, advisor and speaker Roger Martin on integrated business thinking and strategy, and will conclude with a conversation with Massimo Renon, global head of sales, Kering Eyewear.


3D Printed Eyewear was a featured breakout session.

“With so many exciting things happening in the optical industry, it’s encouraging to see so many people from the highest level of organizational leadership coming together to discuss common challenges, and working toward a deeper understanding of the trends and opportunities ahead,” said Mike Daley, CEO of The Vision Council. “The Executive Summit continues to be the ideal forum for industry leaders to gain the latest insight into the current optical landscape, helping organizations across the industry chart a course for the future.”

The 2016 Executive Summit will be held Jan. 27 to 29 at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida. To access the annual meeting summary and post event resources from The Vision Council's 2015 Executive Summit, visit thevisioncouncil.org/executivesummit.