In the Blink of an Eye: The Vision Council’s 2023 Year in Review

Executive Summit

From January 9 - 11, The Vision Council hosted their annual member conference, the Executive Summit, in hot and sunny Austin, Texas. The event included the confirmation of new members to the Board of Directors, a keynote discussion from former Amazon executives, the release of industry-disrupting market research, and a dazzling musical performance.

Government and Regulatory Affairs

In 2023, The Vision Council’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team deepened relationships with members of Congress and the Administration to not only bring industry concerns to their attention but also develop practical and actionable steps towards solutions. Among these steps included a letter to the United States Trade Representative from the powerful House Ways and Means Committee asking specifically for eyewear products to be excused from the ongoing China 301 tariffs. Additionally, interested members had the opportunity to meet with their Congressional representatives and, in some cases, opened their doors to visits from government officials to see first-hand the effects of policies on the industry. 

Membership

This year, The Vision Council welcomed 28 new members and implemented new ways to engage divisions and members with in-person and virtual content, including the addition of an in-person and virtual Fashion Trends Presentation, a new Lab eLearning series and the enhancement of several existing programs.

eLearning Labs Series

In 2023, the Lab Division hosted three e-learning webinars. Each webinar covered a specific topic geared towards certain departments in the lab space, such as, Rx labs and safety protectors, OSHA inspections and hazardous waste management in optical laboratories.

Emerging Optical Leaders (EOL) Committee

The Emerging Optical Leaders (EOL) Committee, which exists to identify and develop the next generation of optical industry leaders, enhanced the development of committee members with great participation in seven in-person and virtual events including the first EOL exclusive retreat to visit Europa Eyewear outside of Chicago. The mentorship program enriched the knowledge of more than 20 emerging leaders by pairing them with exceptional leaders in the optical industry.