04/14/2025

President's Message

A recent LinkedIn poster posed the question, “How do you plan a business with all this uncertainty and change? I responded that there is never certainty in business, or for that matter, life in general. 

Whether you work for a major corporation, a private practice, or operate your own business, changes will always affect you. Whether it’s tariffs, private equity purchasing your employer’s business, a health situation, or any other number of situations, none of us are exempt from uncertainty. 

However, as opticians, we are often more adept to change than most professions, as we are constantly trouble shooting, looking for the best solutions for our patients, and seeking out innovations to bring the best products and service to the marketplace.  

The OAO has been handed its share of changes, from the threatening of our license and losing the stand-alone contact lens and occultist licenses, to the change to bi-annual renewals, we have been in a constant state of uncertainty.  

Rather than fear the changes and uncertainty we are facing, the OAO is embracing the opportunity to adapt to the ever-changing needs of our members. We have added some new, young, and passionate opticians to the OAO Board of Trustees, and the results of their unique perspectives can be readily seen. From the newsletter they help to publish, to the educational events they help host, and even the products we sell at these events and on our website, the influence of our newer and current members is changing the face of the OAO. And that, is change for the better.