(L to R) Summit speakers include Sydney Stinson Ferguson, Davitha Tiller, David Reitnauer, Lisa Sun and John Carroll.
 
NEW YORK—An influential retail observer who will outline new ways that stores are becoming media channels to connect with shoppers, an innovative marketing expert who will talk about how retailers can connect and build relationships with consumers' new priorities, a noted entrepreneur, McKinsey advisor and brand creator, an expert communications and social media trend expert and a prominent healthcare executive for a major national retailer are among the initial roster of speakers who will be enlivening the unique and high-impact program at Vision Monday's upcoming Leadership Summit to be held live and in person at The Times Center, on Wednesday, March 30, just prior to the start of Vision Expo East.
 
Themed "Discover & Recalibrate! Trends, Ideas and Tactics for Confronting Radical Change," the exclusive and influential event will examine the dizzying pace of megatrends, shaped by the global pandemic, that are transforming retail and healthcare right now.
 
Registration is open and details are posted here. The day's program will feature voices from outside and within the business to offer glimpses of the near future, where disruption remains constant, and consumers are one step ahead. Summit attendees will learn about the new purpose of a store, how brands are being built, how the tech titans are targeting vision and innovators are creating new pathways to patient-centric care.
 
Among those set to appear at the VM Leadership Summit:
 
  • John Carroll, head of North America Advisory for Coresight Research, one of the most influential retail and economic trend firms in the world. Part of the "Retail is the New Media Channel" session, Carroll will share insights and perspective on Coresight's unique and proprietary work on social commerce and live streaming, both of which are becoming an important element furthering the blur between click and brick and redefining what experiential retail can be.
     
  • Sydney Stinson Ferguson, vice president, marketing for Sunglass Hut North America, who will address today's changing consumer attitudes and priorities and what this means for retailers and brand owners. A seasoned marketing executive who has developed and executed memorable marketing and brand strategies across the retail, entertainment, fashion, and food and beverage industries. In September 2021, she was recognized by Essence Magazine as one of the Top Black Creatives in Fashion. Under Sydney’s leadership, Sunglass Hut’s “Don’t Stop the Feeling” Summer Skate Activation was recently awarded BizBash’s 2021 Award for Best Guerrilla Marketing Campaign. Prior to Sunglass Hut, Sydney held senior roles at global companies including Pandora, where she was vice president of marketing, and Chico's FAS, Inc., which includes Chico’s, White House Black Market and Soma.

  • Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, is also a former associate principal at McKinsey & Co. She has launched a unique shapewear business for women and has been featured in O, The Oprah magazine, PEOPLE, and The TODAY Show in the same month, and appeared in many other major media as well. She will draw on her McKinsey experience to explore the shifts we're seeing all around us, how to grow a successful business, how to pay attention to the right indicators, and understand niche consumers, differentiating your brand for both incumbent and emerging businesses. 

  • Davitha Tiller is executive vice president at Red Havas, part of one of the world's leading media agencies and communications experts. Having led and worked as part of social media teams within creative, digital, media, social and integrated communications agencies with brands across a wide multitude of categories, Tiller’s understanding of social media as a marketing channel spans all areas of this exciting and ever-evolving landscape. As part of the "Brand Building, Rewired" session of the VM Summit, Tiller will examine key communication trends business leaders need to pay attention to in 2022 as well as identifying emerging and important social media content platforms and their growing influence with consumers. She is a regular social media speaker and lecturer at industry conferences such as Social Media Week, Communications Week and Meltwater Summit, as well as co-authoring the first ever government accredited social media diploma in partnership with online education provider Social Media College.

  • David Reitnauer is vice president, Health & Wellness Specialized Services at Walmart, Inc. In this role,  Reitnauer leads Walmart’s Optical and Audiology business including retail sales, lab manufacturing, doctor of optometry  relationships, and business development for audiology. He started his 29-year Walmart career as a pharmacy intern,  progressing in responsibility through the pharmacy leadership team until transitioning into store innovation. From there he was promoted into store operations and VP, regional general manager, VP Health and Wellness Operations - Sam’s Club, VP for H&W Central Operations, and now his current role leading Specialized Services focused on Optical and Audiology. Reitnauer is a part of the VM Leadership Summit session examining "New Access Points and Routes to Care."
Additional speakers for the exclusive VM Leadership Summit will be announced soon.
 
For 15 years, the Vision Monday Leadership Summit has attracted senior industry executives, optical retailers, leading eyecare professionals, suppliers and key opinion leaders from the worldwide optical industry. It has become the place for face-to-face networking, a dynamic exchange of ideas and thought-provoking discussion.

For the 2022 VM Leadership Summit, Platinum Sponsors include: EssilorLuxottica, HEA + PECAA, and VSP Global Premier. Gold Sponsors include: CareCredit, Ocuco, Sunbit and The Vision Council. Silver Sponsors include: Alcon and Dr. Contact Lens.