Becoming An Optician: Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLE-AC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Stay focused on the impact you’re able to have on your patients’ quality of life. Why should anyone get certified/licensed? The knowledge necessary to become certified or licensed serves to enable you to provide better service and care to your patients. Also, being certified or licensed increases your credibility in the eyes of your patients, and helps present a high standard of care in your office.
March 2023 Social Media Planner
It’s the last month of the quarter and daylight savings has finally arrived! How are you doing on your posting? Keep in mind that search engines correlate social media activity with websites, and keeping active on social platforms can help your overall online presence. If you’ve already subscribed, click here Subscribe by entering your email address below. Once you click the verification link in your email inbox you will be able to instantly access the monthly planner, which
Becoming An Optician: Lauren Lessley, LDO
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Accept any training someone is willing to give/teach. Those who have been in the industry and have personal experience, will offer some great tips and tricks of the trade. We are all continuously learning and every day we can learn something new!! I love asking other Opticians “what is your trade secret?” So many fellow OptiGeeks have shared some golden nuggets of information and tricks to even
Becoming An Optician: Jason Boldt, LDO, ABOC, NCLE
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? We have an industry that allows us to continuously learn and grow professionally and it’s amazing. Be ready for learning, and multiple learning curves, but trust me it’s a fun ride. The most important thing, and best advice I can give: Ask questions. There are no stupid ones and we are happy to share knowledge. Why should anyone get certified/licensed? Those pieces of paper and letters
February 2023 Social Media Planner
Can you believe January has already passed us by! How did you do on keeping up with posting? Keeping a regular routine for posting has always been helpful to me – I know I need to post, so I plan for it. Search engines correlate social media activity with websites, and keeping active on social platforms can help your “Google juice”. If you’ve already subscribed, click here Subscribe by entering your email address below. Once you click the
Becoming An Optician: Lisa Bourque LDO, ABOC, NCLEC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? If you have a state society join it! You will find that you can learn so much from your fellow opticians. Take courses, read trade magazines, find your passion within the industry! Why should anyone get certified/licensed? If you consider this your profession then you should want to be highly educated and credentialed to show your patients that you are knowledgable! In your experience, what
Apply Now: Four $5,000 Opticianry Student Scholarships
The James Michael Morris Family Scholarship, four $5,000 Opticianry Student Scholarships, is now live on bold.org Key points: Eligibility Requirements: Any Education Level. Major/Career of Interest: Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions. Essay topic: How do you plan to make a positive impact through your career as an Ophthalmic Support Service Professional? Application deadline is May 1, 2023. Winners will be announced on May 29, 2023. APPLY HERE About the James Michael Morris Family James M. Morris’ passion for
Becoming An Optician: Jesse Anderson, ABOC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Make sure you love what you’re learning. Working is so much easier when you enjoy what you’re doing. When I was first put in a position in an eye clinic, I had no medical work history and I was overwhelmed. The negative self talk was flooding my mind but I pushed past it and studied harder for the ABO than any other test I’ve ever taken.
January 2023 Social Media Planner
Happy New Year! Let’s all try to start the new year with a bang on social media! Consider getting ahead of the curve by scheduling your posts out. You can do this directly through Facebook, or you can use a free third party service to do so on other networks such as Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter. If you’ve already subscribed, click here Subscribe by entering your email address below. Once you click the verification link in your email inbox
Four $5,000 Opticianry Student Scholarships – Coming Soon!
The James Michael Morris Family Scholarship, for four $5,000 Opticianry Student Scholarships, will be published on bold.org in mid-January 2023. About the process: All opticianry students interested in applying for the James Michael Morris Family Scholarship must visit www.bold.org before January 15th, 2023, to create an account. The scholarships will be published on bold.org and open for application soon after January 15th (I will send out another email when the application is open) When applying, submit a 400–600-word essay about how
Becoming An Optician: Judy Canty, Licensed Optician
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Listen with an open mind, ask questions and take notes. Seek out educational opportunities where ever they are offered. Why should anyone get certified/licensed? Licensure and/or Certification is more than just a title, it represents a commitment to yourself and your future. It’s the realization that you will be a recognized healthcare and vision care professional by your clients/patients and your peers. In your experience, what
Optician Student Travel Grant to OAA Leadership Conference
The Opticians Association of America is looking to bring deserving students/apprentices to their State Leadership Conference on February 9-11, 2023 in Asheville, NC. If you want to attend the Leadership Conference, this grant can include expenses up to $800 per person for conference admission, food, hotel and airfare. Apply here by December 22, 2022. If you were awarded a grant last year, it is ok to apply again.
Becoming An Optician: Zach Kastner, ABO-AC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Hone your critical thinking skills. Being able to think critically is one of the most important aspects of this career. From being able to adequately troubleshoot a difficult problem to sorting through all the marketing thrown at us every day. Why should anyone get certified/licensed? Besides expanding your knowledge base it all gives your ground to stand on. Having certifications and licensure lends credibility to you
Becoming An Optician: Stacey M. Thompson, LDO, ABOC, NCLEC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Keep working towards your goal! I mentor apprenticing/new opticians who sometimes comment that they can’t believe what they didn’t know. I tell them to get ready, I’m still learning 35 years later! Opticianry is a career field that advances, changes, and challenges me…which I enjoy and find rewarding. If I ever think I know it all, I’m done. Why should anyone get certified/licensed? Becoming a licensed
December 2022 Social Media Planner
I can’t believe it is December! How did you do this year with keeping up on your social media posts? I know everyone is busy this time of year, but take a look at the December planner – not all days are creating a post, some are things you can do quickly behind the scenes to maintain your online presence and health. If you have any suggestions or something specific you’d like to see, feel free to email me anytime.
End of Year Checklist (free download)
We all know how busy everyone in the eyecare industry is during the end of year. We also know that the world doesn’t stop for us. In the hopes that I can help ECP’s navigate through this time, I have prepared and end of the year checklist. This checklist is in an easy to read format and includes actionable items for now and what you need to be thinking about soon. This list has something for everyone – whether you’re
November 2022 Social Media Planner
Can you believe it is November! This time of year can get busier, but don’t forget about your social posts. If you have any suggestions or something specific you’d like to see, feel free to email me anytime. The content ideas in this planner can be used on any platform. If you’re already a subscriber, click here If you’ve not yet subscribed, enter your email below and you will be able to access and download or print the monthly
Interview: Rimmel Eyewear
Since I first saw Rimmel Eyewear on Instagram, I have been in awe of the gorgeous frames they design and create. The colors, shapes, details, layers, inlays, you name it… are all done beautifully. Did I mention the colors! Browse their beautiful eyewear on their website and follow them on Instagram to see what they’re working on next! Rimmel came into the optical scene in mid-2021 – Tell us a little about your background: My polish dad is the biggest
October 2022 Social Media Planner
Q4 has begun and we’re in the home stretch! This time of year can get busier, but don’t forget about your social posts. If you have any suggestions or something specific you’d like to see, feel free to email me anytime. The content ideas in this planner can be used on any platform. If you’re already a subscriber, click here If you’ve not yet subscribed, enter your email below and you will be able to access and download or print
Becoming An Optician: Jonathan Winnegrad, LDO, ABO-AC, NCLE-AC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? It sounds cliche but my advice would be to enjoy the journey. The day will come that you look back with fondness at the time you spent learning your craft. Enjoy the mentorships and friends you acquire on the way. Just today I was telling some of our people at a meeting that we become an amalgamation of many of those we meet on the journey.
September 2022 Social Media Planner
It’s the last month of Q3! You’ve been keeping up on your posts all year, now is no time to slow down. If you have any suggestions or something specific you’d like to see, feel free to email me anytime. The content ideas in this planner can be used on any platform. If you’re already a subscriber, click here If you’ve not yet subscribed, enter your email below and you will be able to access and download or print the
August 2022 Social Media Planner
New to the calendar are several days of non-posting tasks, but instead has actionable items to help you in other ways. If you have any suggestions or something specific you’d like to see, feel free to email me anytime. The content ideas in this planner can be used on any platform. If you’re already a subscriber, click here If you’ve not yet subscribed, enter your email below and you will be able to access and download or print the monthly
Becoming An Optician: Dibby Bartlett, LDO, ABOC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? So Worth IT! Depending on the state you live in, the path to opticianry can be complex and challenging, but let me encourage you all to KEEP Going! You will never be bored, never be without a multiple opportunities and today there are so many paths you can follow. It is a wonderful career! Why should anyone get certified/licensed? Certification and Licensure assures that you are
Becoming An Optician: Bob Faktor, LDO, ABO-AC, NCLE-AC
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician? Read!!! Pick up a textbook, a trade magazine, a marketing flyer from any rep. Just read everything you can find. The next thing is to make mistakes. No one grows by playing it safe. If you progress, you will make mistakes. Learn from them and move on–just be sure not to keep making the same mistakes over and over. Why should anyone get certified/licensed? In states
July 2022 Social Media Planner
Have you been keeping up on your social media posts? This month’s calendar has several days of non-posting days but instead has actionable tasks to help you in other ways. If you have any suggestions or something specific you’d like to see, feel free to email me anytime. The content ideas in this planner can be used on any platform. If you’re already a subscriber, click here If you’ve not yet subscribed, enter your email below and you will be
