Mississippi Association of Dispensing OPticians
16383 South Swan Rd.
Gulfport, MS 39503
Diane Drake has over 40 years experience in the optical business and is an approved speaker for ABO-NCLE up to advanced level and for paraoptometrics and JCAHPO. She has served as president for the National Academy of Opticianry, the Southeastern Opticians and the Opticians Association fo Georgia, receiving recognition and awards from all of these organizations. She is the author of several books.
Raised in Mississippi, Barry spent 20 years in retail management and Sales and Service policy review and training. Then he accidentally ended up in the optical industry and found his passion. For the next 20 years he practiced as an optician throughout the South -- ABO Certified and licensed in two states. He has worked in labs, office and optical supervision, patient care, accounting, and has managed or worked in every aspect of an optometric practice. For the past three and a half years he has worked as an Account Executive for Essilor Labs of America -- but if anyone asks him what he does, he usually answers "I'm an optician."
Tara Brown is the Kodak brand representative covering Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and northern Alabama. She has been the top seller in the country for Kodak lens for the past 5 years. Tara's experience as a business owner has allowed her the opportunity to utilize this brand in the market to help patients see better and practices be more profitable. Tara is married to Tim Brown. They have four daughters and four grandchildren. They also have a dachsund, Raiford Jackson Brown.
David Laing has been a New York State licensed Optician for 35 years. He has worked in many areas of the industry including private practice, retail management and wholesale lab sales and production. He is an ABO certified technical speaker. Since 2015, David has worked at Silhouette Optical Ltd in Green Island NY as Technical Liaison for the US market where he supports/trains both internal and external Silhouette staff as well as eyecare professionals, labs and other industry partners on all technical aspects of Silhouette frames and lenses.
Shannon has been involved in theoptical industry for almost two decades now with experience in insurance filing, optical dispensing, and lens fabrication. Her journeys through the profession have included stops in dispensaries, full service labs, and, currently, with IOT America helping labs create freeform lens designs. She loves helping independent labs produce unique, state-of-the-art lenses with the latest technology.
