Lab Leadership Forum 2026

September 16, 2026, 9am - September 18, 2026, 1pm PDT (12 - 4pm EDT)

M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas (Henderson), Nevada

Register now for the 2026 Lab Leadership Forum, a premier event hosted by The Vision Council and designed specifically for our lab members.

Join us for two days of insightful discussions, networking, and collaboration with colleagues in the independent optical lab network.

Jump to Registration Below

Cost

Member - $300
Non-Member - $600

Agenda

You will not want to miss our packed schedule aimed at fostering professional growth, innovation, and collaboration among independent optical lab leaders.

Wednesday 09/16	Arrivals and LLF Golf Tournament
12:00pm – 5:00pm	Lab Leadership Forum Golf Tournament – Revere Golf Club, Concord Course
Thursday 09/17	Panel Discussions (All panels to be held in the Molise Meeting Room)
8:00am – 9:00am	Networking Breakfast (to be held on the VDS Terrace)
9:00am – 10:30am	Equipment – Kurt Atchison, Schneider / Rich Hughes, Satisloh / Roy Rosales, MEI / Robert Kohn, A&R Optical Machinery / Jason Frank, Coburn Technologies
10:30am – 11:00am	Networking Break
11:00am – 12:30pm	Lens Design – Marcos Garcia, IOT / Albert Pogorschelske, Horizons / Alan Mayo, Novar / Steve Jones, Shamir / Brent McCardle, ZEISS / Michael Gatti, HOYA Vision
12:30pm – 1:30pm	Networking Lunch (to be held on the VDS Terrace)
1:30pm – 3:00pm	Lab Management Systems – Steven Shanbaum, Ocuco / John Keane, DVI & Olivier Bonini with OLSS/EssilorLuxottica
3:30pm – 4:30pm	Open Networking Time
5:30pm – 6:30pm	Welcome Reception
6:30pm – 8:30pm	Goodfellow Award Presentation and Dinner (to be held at LUX on the 16th Floor of the Casino Tower)
Friday 09/18	Programming (All programming to be held in the Molise Meeting Room)
7:00am – 8:00am	Networking Breakfast (to be held on the VDS Terrace)
8:00am – 8:15am	Opening Comments
8:15am – 8:30am	LLLPT Division Update – Tina Lahti & Christian Hendricks
8:30am – 9:30am	Guest Speaker – Scott Shapiro, Europa
9:30am – 9:45am	Quick Break
9:45am – 10:00am	Regulatory Issues Update – EPA, PFAS, etc. – Rick Van Arnam, Esq. – Regulatory Affairs Counsel
10:00am – 10:15am	Emerging Optical Leaders (EOL) Introduction and Update – Bonnie Whitfield
10:15am – 10:30am	United Opticians Association (UOA) – Gwen Cooper, Executive Director, Bob Alexander, Director of Education
10:30am – 11:00am	Networking Break
11:00am – 12:00pm	Keynote Speaker – Samantha Toth, Marketing Rockstar – Innereactive
12:00pm – 1:00pm	Open Discussion and Closing Comments

Sponsor The Events

Sponsoring the Lab Leadership Forum and/or our golf tournament provides your company with valuable visibility in front of an engaged audience of decision makers and demonstrates a commitment to the growth and vitality of independent optical laboratories.

Download our Sponsorship Information Sheet

For more information on how to promote your business at this dynamic event, please contact Abigail Crosby, Partnership and Business Development Manager, at acrosby@thevisioncouncil.org.

Accommodations

The Vision Council is excited to host the 2026 Lab Leadership Forum at the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The deadline to book accommodations in our room block has passed. Please book reservations directly with the hotel.

A nightly resort fee of $39.99 (inclusive of tax) applies and includes the following amenities:

Complimentary wireless internet access in guest rooms
Complimentary access to Spa Mio Fitness Center
Complimentary local and 800 phone calls
Complimentary self-parking and valet parking
Complimentary shuttle service to and from Harry Reid International Airport
Complimentary access to Digital PressReader, featuring thousands of newspapers and magazines worldwide

Please note: Room reservations must be booked by August 19 to qualify for the group rate. Reservations made after the cutoff will be based on availability at then current rates.

Golf Tournament (Sold Out)

Arrive early and kick off your Lab Leadership Forum experience by building your network with friendly competition and building connections on the course! Our golf tournament will be hosted on September 16 at 12 pm PT.

Cancellation Policy

For planning purposes, particularly regarding food and beverage contracts with the resort, we are unable to accept cancellation requests after Friday, September 4. We will not be issuing registration refunds after this date. In the event of an emergency requiring cancellation after September 4, please email bwhitfield@thevisioncouncil.org to discuss the best course of action.

Questions?

If you have questions or if we can assist in any way with your plans to attend, please contact Michael Vitale, Vice President; Membership, Government Relations & Technical Affairs, at mvitale@thevisioncouncil.org.

"This annual event is a dynamic gathering of leaders from optical laboratories around the country. The presentations, dialogue, and forum to build connections give this powerful sector of the industry an exclusive opportunity to collaborate and grow."

– Michael C. Vitale, Vice President; Membership, Government Relations & Technical Affairs