09/30/2025

President's Message

When was the last time you attended a weekend event that affected how you felt when you went back to work on Monday? The OAO, in conjunction with international agencies and optical companies, is planning for just such an event.  

A few months ago, we received a call from an Italian company that also has a distribution facility and sales force in the United States. They had a dilemma, and asked if we could help with a solution. The issue was that with the end of the two show Vision Expo model, this company needed access to eye care practitioners in the Midwest, specifically; Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.  

The OAO quickly formed a task force to brainstorm ideas on how we could not only address the need to give vendors access to the midwest market, but more importantly, how the OAO could invest and give back to our members.  

Thus, the MIDWEST SPEC FEST was born! This event will be the first of its kind in Ohio, and for many reasons. For ease of reading, I will explain the concept using bullet points:  

At the MIDWEST SPEC FEST...

-The exhibit hall will be FREE to all attendees.  
-All in-person CE credits will be FREE to OAO members.  
-There will be 4 events each year, with events in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo.  
-This event will be open to all staff of opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists.  
-There will be frame, contact lens, accessory, optometric equipment, and other vendors displaying.   

As if that isn’t enough, the MIDWEST SPEC FEST will be offering:  

-A FREE “Taste of Italy” experience.  
-A fashion show of the latest eyewear designs  
-A chance to win an all-expense trip for 2 people to Milan, Italy, in 2027, to take part in the MIDO Eyewear Show!  
-A chance to win an all-expense paid trip for 2 to Vision Expo in Las Vegas.   

As president of the Opticians Association of Ohio, I am an advocate of licensure for opticians in Ohio. However, I also realize that many people in our profession have no need, nor desire to become licensed, due to where they work, or their current life situation. This does not make them any less of an optician, nor any less professional. We want to give our fellow opticians, frame stylists, optometric techs, lab, ODs, MDs and office staff the opportunity to experience the latest in frame, lens, and equipment technology available. 

As I attend trade shows such as Vision Expo in Las Vegas and Mido in Italy, I notice that not many folks are traveling there from Ohio, as distant shows are not only time consuming, but expensive as well. The MIDWEST SPEC FEST will allow local offices to be a part of a regional trade show, that will showcase the latest products, services, and technologies, without having to travel across the country.  

We have a lot of work to do, but the response from the industry has been nothing short of enthusiastic, and we are excited to be able to present this to the entire eye care community. We hope you and your peers will be equally excited and join us at one of the events around Ohio!  

Stay tuned for more details...