01/09/2025

President's Message

I recently had a conversation with someone, and in the course of the exchange, this person said, “I have to tell you, you said something last year that really struck a chord with me, I’ve put it into practice, and it’s really changed my life.”

I’m not sure what it was that I said to this person, as it was so benign to me, that I didn’t recall even having said it. Even after they told me what I said, I can’t remember it today. Hearing this feedback however, had a profound effect on me, and caused me to reflect on the impact we have on others lives, and often, when we are not even aware of it.

How often has someone done or said something that made an impact in your life? I have been fortunate to have learned from many mentors in my life, and although most of them, such as my parents, my wife, and my siblings might be expected to be on the list, there are many whom I have learned volumes from, who have also inspired me.

This list people include folks in leadership positions, such as Shirley Earley, Executive Director of the OAO, and Scott Shapiro, CEO of Europa Eyewear. Shirley having been involved at both the national and state level, has mentored scores of people, by being an advocate for not only opticians, but people in general. Her steady and unwavering leadership has helped many people be the best version of themselves they can be. Scott took over a business run by his family and turned it into a business that is family. He turned a frame distribution company into an American manufacturing company, which was no small feat.

I have also been inspired and learned much from some of my employees who include the president of our company, Courtney Munn, and one of our managers, Melissa Sutherland. Courtney is a wife, mother, optician, a national level horse pulling competitor, and someone who inspires our employees on a daily basis. Melissa is a manager, an optician, an artist, and someone who take mentorship to a whole different level. She has taken many apprentices from zero to licensure in record times, and goes the extra mile by striving to learn new things to make her a better person, optician, and manager, which she selflessly passes on to those around her.

Of course, there are many people who I have not mentioned who are a continuous source of learning and inspiration, which is why I hesitated to name names. These folks include Clara Osterhage, a Dayton business woman who has built an empire of Great Clips franchises, Ronnie Harbert of the UOA, authors Harry Chilinguerian and Carrie Wilson, entrepreneur Josh Cook, and hundreds, if not thousands of others.

Mentoring does not is not always a one on one relationship, and in many cases, I have been mentored by people who were not even aware of it. However, when we are intentional, and set out to make a difference in someone’s life, the results can be profound.

Is there someone who has made a difference in your life that you have never recognized? Today is a great day to reach out and thank them. On the other hand, if there is someone you know of who could use some guidance, affirmation, or just a hand up, now is a great time to be a difference in someone’s life. Speaker Zig Ziegler once said, “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could"

If you’re a person who makes New Year resolutions, let make 2025 the year you not only improve yourself, but also to help to bring out the best in those around you.