Diane F Drake
LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FNAO

With over 40 years in the Optical business, Mrs. Drake is an approved speaker for ABO and NCLE as well as an advanced course approved speaker and lectures both locally, nationally and internationally. She was president and owner of ALL ABOUT EYES VISION CENTER in Griffin, Georgia for over 19 years.

She is a licensed optician in Georgia, advanced certified by both the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners and also has received her Masters in Ophthalmic Optics Certification by the ABO and Masters in Contact Lens Technology from the National Contact Lens Examiners. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Opticianry. She is a past President for the National Academy of Opticianry and currently serves as Vice President. She was the recipient of the first ever Optician of the South by the Southeastern Council of Optometry in 2024. She co-authored the COA Evaluators' Workshop. She has authored numerous articles for various publications as well. She co-authored the Advanced Opticians Tutorial which was commissioned by the American Board of Opticianry and was updated in 2024 as well as courses for the National Academy of Opticianry. She co-authored the Basic Opticians Tutorial for the National Academy of Opticianry. She authored "Beginning Your Life as a Contact Lens Technician" which is a review book for the NCLE, now in its second edition. She most recently authored a question/answer/explanation study guide for Contact Lenses titled "Contact Lens Review Book". She regularly guest lectures for high schools, colleges and universities in her area. She is also active in her local community with local charities.

Melissa Aplin
ABOC

Melissa has over 24 years of experience in the optical industry. She has worked in multiple settings like Private Practice, Retail Optical, Inside a Lab, Lab Sales and currently a Brand Specialist with Essilor. She has been ABO certified since 2013 and with Essilor was fortunate enough to win Presidents Club in 2023. She loves this industry and helping people see better and feel more confident in great glasses.

Amer Mourad
ABOC

Amer Mourad is an ABO-certified optician and graduate of the opticianry program at the American Career College in Southern California, where he was head of his class and valedictorian. Amer joined IOT in 2016 and has held several technical roles, including quality control technician, clinical trial assistant, and technical services manager. Amer is currently IOT's regional sales manager for the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean Islands. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and a master's degree in science in vision sciences.

Jerry Himes

Jerry has 50 years of experience in all phases of the optical industry. For the past 26 years, she has been employed by Carl Zeiss Vision. Currently she is the territory manager for AR, MS, TN, MO, KY and IL. She is the director for the Optician's Association of Arkansas, Secretary of the Arkansasa State Board of Opticians and President of NCSORB.

Matthew O'Gara

Matthew O'Gara is a dedicated Technical Trainer at Silhouette Group with over 20 years of experience in the optical industry. Specializing in product mounting, adjustments, and sales strategies, he has successfully enrolled over 1,000 professionals into the Silhouette Group Academy, driving engagement and knowledge acquisition. With hands-on coaching and personalized training sessions, Matthew addresses technical challenges and enhances team performance. His expertise extends to creating impactful training content and fostering collaboration.

Glenn Batteiger
Channel Sales Manager, Transitions Optical

Glenn Batteiger is a strategic sales leader with extensive expertise in solution selling, channel partnerships, strategic account management, and category development across the optical industry. He is recognized for accelerating business growth, influencing senior leadership, and driving high-impact training and commercial initiatives that strengthen brand presence and partner success.

Glenn excels at building strong, trust-based relationships with stakeholders at every level. He is known for aligning programs, education, and sales strategies that elevate the patient experience while delivering measurable business outcomes. His strengths include co-op budget management, comprehensive business planning, and leading teams through change with clarity and confidence.

Committed to fostering sustainable results, Glenn consistently advances market expansion, enhances partner engagement, and supports practices in delivering personalized visual solutions that benefit patients and drive profitability

Elliot Reshard
Transitions Optical

Elliott Reshard is a seasoned commercial leader and dynamic keynote speaker with more than 30 years of experience driving brand growth, strategic partnerships, and channel development in the optical industry. As Senior Manager of Strategic Partners at Transitions Optical, he leads alliance strategy and works closely with independent wholesale labs and iECP groups to elevate adoption and market momentum. An ABO-approved educator, Elliott is known for delivering energizing, practical, and forward-looking presentations that inspire audiences and connect brand purpose with partner opportunity.

Barb Malobabich
ABOC

I am an ABO-certified optician with a passion for education and industry support. Certified in 1999 and an ABO-approved speaker since 2000, I focus on sharing knowledge and fostering growth. In 2018, I joined JOT as Northeast and Midwest Regional Sales Manager, supporting independent labs and exploring innovative strategies. Currently, I am the Professional Education Manager for the US, Canada, and the English-speaking Caribbean, creating educational content for ABO/NCLE, IOT partners, sales teams, and customers. I also collaborate with state optician associations and optometry societies. Previously, I worked in sales and marketing at SOLA, Vision-Ease, and Hoya, and own ECP Consulting. I speak at events for POF, NYSSO, and OAN). sharing my passion for optics. I hold a BSBA in Marketing and Management from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, where I live with my husband, daughter, and our cat Max.