Interview Snapshot: Defocus Media and Ashley Mills
Last night, Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, sat down with Dr. Darryl Glover, Defocus Media and Scott Shapiro, CEO of Europa Eyewear and Chair of The Vision Council’s Show Committee, to discuss what to expect at Vision Expo East 2022, scheduled to take place at the Javits Center in New York City from March 31–April 3.
Interview highlights are included below. To watch the full interview, visit Defocus Media’s Facebook or LinkedIn.
Mills spoke to The Vision Council’s role in the optical industry and Vision Expo East:
“The Vision Council represents the entire optical industry and our goal is promote vision. Vision is everything. We’re here to promote growth in the industry.”
Shapiro discussed what draws his company to the Show each year:
“The show is a rare opportunity to meet our customers, meet our colleagues in person, show them what we’ve been working on….also we look at it as doing our part to support the industry. The Vision Council does a lot of great work for all of us—eyecare professionals, vendors. By taking a booth, we’re doing a lot to help The Vision Council and our industry as a whole.” – Scott Shapiro
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know The Vision Council did so much!” – Dr. Darryl Glover
The interview also highlighted everyone’s favorite “off-campus” Vision Expo event:
“The OWA champagne breakfast recognizing women in leadership in the optical industry. It is early in the morning, you have to wake up extra early…and you walk in and the entire industry has gotten up early to show their support for professional women and their careers and promoting their careers in the industry. It is so celebratory!” – Ashley Mills
On Vision Expo’s new NOW by Vision Expo eyewear trends showcase, Shapiro noted:
“It’s a nice reflection of one of the benefits that Expo offers, which is to give a structured presentation about what’s going on. So many people come to Expo because they want to see trends in fashion and technology. NOW will be a nice microcosm of that.”
Mills spoke to Vision Expo East’s education program:
“We have a tremendous program assembled for everyone this year…230 hours of CE and 9 specialized tracks that get into everything ranging from systemic disease and medical issues relevant to optometry…and then also we’re thrilled on the other side of the program to welcome back our partners at OptiCon who are delivering an opticianry and contact lens program and that’s really for any professional who’s working in the office.”
The interview also touched on the new health and safety requirements at Vision Expo East:
“We follow state and city guidance on everything. We waited for New York, we waited for New York City and we waited for the Javits. The Javits has recently stated that vaccination status and face coverings are no longer required to enter. While Javits employees will be masked, it is no longer be required for Vision Expo attendees to show proof of vaccination or wear masks. Which means we will see smiles, we will see everyone’s smiling faces!” – Ashley Mills
The conversation closed with Mills’ and Shapiro’s take on what sets Vision Expo East apart and why it’s worth attending:
“We are so fortunate in this industry to have an event like Expo where people are standing there waiting to talk to you about your career…we’re still in many ways a family industry and this community is so unique. The best way to celebrate it is by being in the same place and getting to know these people.” – Scott Shapiro
“It is a tremendous event, it’s great for your career, it’s great for your business and also in a very big way it’s helping to lift the entire optical industry. Showing up to Vision Expo means that The Vision Council can advocate on capitol hill for vision and vision care and everyone’s access to vision. It means The Vision Council can do research that can help you in your business and your practice. Come, have fun, learn, see products…know that by doing that you’re enabling us to do all these other things for the greater good of the industry.” – Ashley Mills