National View on Opticianry | July 2026
- United Opticians Association
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
The Momentum Continues
The conversations that began in Chicago continue to shape the future of opticianry.
From celebrating outstanding members and welcoming new leadership to advancing education, certification, and innovation, this month's National View highlights the people and initiatives moving our profession forward.
One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Conference Highlights
Nearly 250 opticians, educators, students, industry partners, and association leaders gathered in Chicago for the 2026 One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Leadership Conference.
From hands-on technology demonstrations and educator collaboration to leadership elections, advocacy discussions, the Eye on Impact Awards, and the launch of the Get Certified, Stay Certified. initiative, the conference reflected the momentum building across the profession.
Whether you joined us in Chicago or couldn't attend, explore the highlights, photos, and key announcements from this year's conference.
From Jewelry Repair to College Bowl Champion: Katherine Nunn's Journey
Career changes can be intimidating, but sometimes they lead exactly where you're meant to be.
After spending more than a decade in her family's jewelry business, Katherine Nunn found herself searching for a new career path. Less than two years after entering the optical profession, she stood on stage as the 2026 UOA College Bowl Champion at Vision Expo in Orlando, FL.
Her story is one of resilience, lifelong learning, and discovering that skills developed in one profession can create success in another. Along the way, she found mentors, a supportive educational community, and a career dedicated to helping people see better every day.
Introducing the FY27 Executive Committee & New Board Members
Please join us in congratulating the FY27 Executive Committee and welcoming the newest members of the UOA Board of Directors. We are grateful for the volunteers who continue to dedicate their time, expertise, and leadership to advancing the opticianry profession.
FY27 Executive Committee
Dr. Aarlan Aceto – President
Sandy Brown – Vice President
Phernell Walker – Treasurer
Judy Lew – Secretary
Ronnie Harbert – Past President
Gwen Cooper – Executive Director
New Board Members
Bob Russo – Education Pillar
John Bruening – ABO Pillar
Mike Gzik – NCLE Pillar
Lisa Bourque – Membership Pillar
Together, this leadership team will help guide UOA's work in education, advocacy, workforce development, and member engagement as we continue building a stronger future for opticianry.
The Learning Lab: Education & Professional Growth
NEW: Read EyeWitness Magazine
We're pleased to share the latest complimentary issue of EyeWitness!
This edition takes a comprehensive look at soft contact lenses from every angle: clinical, historical, practical, and patient-facing. Whether you are troubleshooting dropout, navigating a challenging fit, or looking to sharpen your team's approach to contact lens conversations, there is something here for you.
Listen & Learn with Mission:Optician
Thanks to listeners across the profession, Mission:Optician has surpassed 1,000 downloads since launching this spring. Here are two recent episodes to add to your playlist.
Dr. Monica Jong | EssilorLuxottica
Why are childhood myopia rates increasing, and what role can opticians play?
Dr. Monica Jong discusses the growing global impact of myopia, emerging treatment options including the Essilor® Stellest® lens, and why early intervention and patient education have never been more important.
Charlie Saccarelli | Chadwick Optical
What happens when the prescription is correct, but the patient still can't see comfortably?
Charlie Saccarelli explores specialty opticianry, low vision care, customized visual solutions, and the critical role opticians play in improving real-world patient outcomes.
Continue Your Professional Development
Whether you're preparing for certification, maintaining your credentials, or expanding your expertise, UOA offers comprehensive education resources, study materials, textbooks, and online learning opportunities designed to support every stage of your career.
Get Certified, Stay Certified.
As opticianry continues to evolve, professional certification remains one of the strongest ways to demonstrate competency, build public trust, and deliver high-quality patient care.
UOA's Get Certified, Stay Certified. initiative encourages both aspiring and experienced opticians to pursue and maintain certification as a commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence.
As Executive Director Gwen Cooper shared:
"Certification isn't just a credential. It's a commitment to excellence. A certified workforce strengthens our profession, elevates patient care, and builds the future of opticianry as a profession."
Upcoming Events
Save the Date: 2027 UOA Conference
Mark your calendar for the 2027 UOA Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 24–26. We look forward to bringing the opticianry community together once again for education, collaboration, and leadership.
Share Your Event with the UOA Community
Hosting an opticianry-related conference, workshop, continuing education program, or networking event? Add it to the UOA Events Calendar so opticians across the country can discover your event.
Support Vision of Hope & Optical Heritage Museum
Thanks to the generosity of conference attendees, more than $20,000 was raised during the One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Leadership Conference to benefit the Vision of Hope Foundation and the Optical Heritage Museum. A special thank you to the Professional Opticians of Florida, whose spirited bidding contributed an incredible $6,000. The Vision of Hope Foundation supports opticianry education, develops future leaders, and funds vision mission work in communities around the world. The Optical Heritage Museum preserves the history of our profession, ensuring the innovations, milestones, and people who shaped opticianry continue to educate and inspire future generations. The fundraising campaign has been extended through July 31, giving everyone an opportunity to help strengthen the future of opticianry while preserving its rich history. |
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