Vision Expo to Host Virtual Career Zone Event on September 22

Alexandria, VA – Aug. 27, 2020 – Vision Expo today announces plans to host the Virtual Career Zone, a virtual networking event designed to connect young professionals and students with prominent optical companies. Set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 11-11:55 a.m. EDT, the virtual event is inspired by Vision Expo’s on-site Career Zone and will include an exclusive panel discussion moderated by Matt Geller, OD, Co-Founder and CEO of CovalentCareers, followed by opportunities for virtual networking with individual company leaders from National Vision, Shopko Optical, MyEyeDr., and Luxottica.

To register for the free event, click here.

“The pandemic has altered many of the fundamental ways we conduct business, which presents new challenges for young professionals and students navigating the early stages of their careers,” said Suzanne Krauss, Vision Expo’s Career Zone Manager. “We recognize that it is more important than ever for the vision community to support the next generation of eyecare providers and vision community leaders by creating opportunities for them to forge meaningful connections and learn from industry leaders. The Virtual Career Zone event will offer an outlet for young people seeking advice and guidance as they plan their future in a continually evolving marketplace.”

The event will begin with a 30-minute panel discussion – “GETTING HIRED! How to be desirable in this market, how to stay relevant, and how to virtually network effectively” – moderated by Dr. Matt Geller. The panel will provide insight into the new challenges associated with searching for a job during a pandemic, with panelists offering actionable tips and career resources designed to help young professionals adapt to the current demands of the job market.

Panelists include:

  • Dr. Bill Werner, National Vision
  • Tracey M. Glendenning, O.D., FCOVD, and Director of Residencies and Externships at MyEyeDr.
  • Dr. Thomas Bobka, Shopko Optical
  • Paul Case, Senior Manager, OD Recruiting at Luxottica
  • Dr. Scott Seaburg, Clinical Director, Luxottica Eye Care

Following the panel, attendees will have the opportunity to join five-minute conversations with the participating companies of interest to them. These break-out conversations will provide valuable opportunities for young professionals and students to ask questions and learn more about specific companies and career paths.

Additionally, the Virtual Career Zone’s Passport Incentive Program will provide attendees with the chance to win prizes. To be eligible to win, participants must attend the entire 55-minute program.

The Virtual Career Zone is part of a comprehensive series of virtual programming that Vision Expo is offering to bring the optical community together in between in-person events.  Hosted on Vision Expo’s Vision Connects webpage, additional virtual offerings include the Virtual EYE2EYE series, a series of virtual panels and interactive conversations inspired by Vision Expo’s EYE2EYE Educational Series; the InFocus video series, a series of four-minute video interviews with some of Vision Expo’s top industry attendees and OPTImum program buyers; and the soon-to-be launched Virtual Vision Series. These virtual offerings are designed for the eyewear and eyecare community to source content, build industry knowledge, facilitate connections and schedule meetings.

The vision community is encouraged to visit Vision Expo’s Vision Connects webpage frequently to stay informed on leading topics and education and engage with other industry professionals in one centralized location.

Companies interested in participating in or sponsoring a future Career Zone should contact Suzanne Krauss at skrauss@reedexpo.com. For more information on Vision Expo, visit visionexpo.com and follow Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.  

About Vision Expo
Vision Expo East in New York City and West in Las Vegas are trade-only conferences and exhibitions for eyecare and eyewear presented by co-owners Reed Exhibitions and The Vision Council. Vision Expo is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, where eyecare meets eyewear, and education, fashion and innovation mingle. In the Vision Expo Exhibit Hall, eyecare providers can discover trends, interact with new technologies and access innovative products and services. The Vision Expo education program is driven by the profession, offering content of the highest quality and relevance to enhance overall patient care. For more information, visit VisionExpo.com and follow Vision Expo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About The Vision Council
As the vision care leader enabling better vision for better lives, The Vision Council positions its members for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through education, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and industry forums. Furthermore, through a partnership with Think About Your Eyes, The Vision Council supports consumer education around eyewear and eyecare.