A special bonus episode of the podcast with some exciting news we're thrilled to share with you.

Tune in to get the inside scoop and learn what's ahead. Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this is one episode you won't want to miss!

Thank you for being part of our community. We're excited to share this next chapter with you.

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From Optician to Industry Leader: Creating Your Own Career Path. Katie Lauver and Cathy Firman share their journeys from working in optical practices to leading teams and driving innovation on the corporate side of the industry. Tune in as they discuss career growth, leadership, mentorship, and why some of the most rewarding opportunities in optical may be the ones you never expected.

About the guests:

Katie Lauver, ABOC, FNAO, is a business strategist, executive leader, and mindset and health coach with more than 14 years in the optical industry. Throughout her career, she's helped independent practices, doctors, and industry partners unlock growth by transforming data into actionable business strategies, blending analytics with a people-first approach to leadership. A recognized leader in optometry, Katie has been honored as one of Vision Monday's Most Influential Women in Optical and received the Optical Women's Association Emerging Leader Award. She is also an active OWA board member and passionate advocate for advancing women in the profession.
Outside of the industry, Katie coaches entrepreneurs and professionals to elevate both their mindset and well-being, believing that sustainable success starts from within. She and her husband are raising their two children, Silas and Isla, in the Appalachian Mountains alongside their two dogs. Whether they're camping, canoeing, fishing, or hiking, you'll usually find the Lauver family exploring the outdoors and embracing every adventure nature has to offer.

Cathy Firman's optical care journey began over 20 years ago as a paraoptometric. She went on to serve as both Practice and Optical Manager, earning her credentials as a Certified Paraoptometric Technician and ABO Certified professional along the way.
In 2018, Cathy joined GPN Technologies, where she now serves as Senior Director of Customer Success, helping practices drive growth and strengthen operations through business analytics.
A dedicated leader within the optical community, Cathy currently co-chairs the OWA Events Committee which she's been involved with for several years and was recently honored with the OWA Emerging Leader Award. She's also a longtime advocate for paraoptometric certification, currently serving on the AOA-CPC Item Writing & Test Review Committee following nine years on the AOA's Commission on Paraoptometric Certification.
Cathy lives in Florida's Space Coast with her family and several "fur babies." In her spare time, she enjoys exploring and seeing the world through her camera lens.

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Beyond the Lens: Creating Experiences That Keep Patients Coming Back. Kelly Rosemann joins OWA Talks to share insights from her 28-year career in optical—exploring how practices can move beyond transactions to create memorable, experience-driven care that keeps patients coming back.

About the guest:

Kelly Rosemann is a seasoned optical industry professional with more than 28 years of experience spanning independent practice, lab partnerships, and global lens manufacturing. She began her career in an optical shop in St. Louis, Missouri, where she developed a deep understanding of what drives both patient satisfaction and business success at the ground level.

Kelly later joined Hoya, where she progressed from lens sales into technical marketing and education. Now at Horizons Optical, Kelly reinforces the company’s commitment to strengthening professional education and strategic partnerships with Eye Care Professionals (ECPs) across the United States. Over the years, she became known for her ability to translate complex optical concepts into practical, real-world strategies for eye care professionals. She has developed and delivered ABO-accredited training programs focused on profitability, managed vision care, and delivering better patient experiences.

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Purti Kanodia Talks Real-World AI Applications. On this episode of OWA Talks, Purti shares a practical, no-hype approach to building AI fluency. Join us as we get beyond the ‘theory’ and talk implementation. If you’re curious about AI but overwhelmed, this one’s for you.

About the guest:
Purti Kanodia is a fractional AI transformation leader and founder of Clarity Prompts, an AI consulting firm and weekly newsletter that helps executives and senior leaders build AI fluency and lead practical, responsible AI adoption across their organizations.

With nearly two decades of experience across optical retail, employer healthcare, management consulting, and biopharma, Purti has worked with companies including National Vision, Crossover Health, Slalom Consulting, and Genentech, always at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and human change. At National Vision, she led the launch of Toku BioAge, the first AI-based retinal imaging wellness product in US optical retail. Earlier at Slalom Consulting, she spent two years in Ophthalmology designing product strategy for AI/ML clinical decision support tools.

What sets Purti apart is her whole-picture lens on technology adoption. She starts with the problem, not the technology, and believes that testing without measurement rarely survives the pilot. Getting to real scale means thinking through people, process, and organizational readiness together, not as an afterthought.

She has mentored startups through Singularity University Labs, the UCSF Entrepreneurship Center, and HealthTech Capital. Purti holds a Master of Science in Biotechnology from Georgetown University and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Change shapes us in unexpected ways. For this episode, Shannon Talbo joins OWA Talks to reflect on navigating change — whether it is leadership changes, consolidation, career evolution or even personal changes.

About the guest:

Shannon Talbo is the Vice President of Sales, Core Channel West at Kering Eyewear. With a career that began in event production at a young age, Shannon developed an early passion for bringing people together and creating meaningful experiences, a foundation that still shapes her leadership style today.

Before joining Kering Eyewear, Shannon built her career with LINDBERG, a Danish eyewear brand known for its craftsmanship and innovation. Following Kering’s acquisition of LINDBERG, she successfully navigated the transition into a global luxury organization, quickly advancing from Sales Representative to Sales Director, and now to Vice President of Sales for the West for all Kering Eyewear brands.

Shannon is known for her ability to balance high performance with authentic leadership, leading teams through growth, change, and transformation. She is passionate about developing people, driving results, and creating alignment across brands and teams.

Outside of work, Shannon is a mother of three daughters, a lifelong music lover, and someone who believes that the most meaningful growth often comes from stepping into the unknown.

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Join us for an honest conversation with Jackie Janiec about the seasons of life. We talk about leadership, perimenopause, motherhood, and how emotional intelligence has guided her both at home and in the optical industry.

About the guest:

Jackie Janiec is a marketing leader, brand strategist, and coach with a career built on turning complexity into clarity. As SVP of Marketing at Zyloware, she's leading the integration of two iconic American eyewear companies — aligning teams, unifying brands, and raising the bar for what great marketing looks like in the optical industry.

A proud member of OWA, Jackie is committed to advancing women in the optical field — championing mentorship, visibility, and the kind of leadership that opens doors for the next generation. Her coaching work reflects that same belief: that when women are supported and seen, the whole industry rises.

Known for her direct style, strategic instincts, and genuine passion for the eyecare community, Jackie brings both vision and accountability to everything she touches.

A native New Yorker and devoted mom to a beautiful autistic little girl — she brings that same fierce advocacy home every day.

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The Future of the Industry and Innovation at Vision Expo 2026. In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, to explore the innovations, trends, and big‑picture forces shaping the industry and how to see it all at Vision Expo 2026.

About the guest:
Ashley brings over 20 years of progressive trade association management, marketing and leadership experience to The Vision Council. Ashley returned to The Vision Council as the vice president of trade shows & meetings in January 2016 after serving as The Vision Council's director of marketing & shows from 2003-2006. A graduate of The University of Maryland, Ashley lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her two children, husband and dog.

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What does it take to transform a family business into a powerhouse for independent eyewear? And why would a former comedian be the one to do it? In this episode, Scott Shapiro shares his journey from the stage to the boardroom.

About the guest:

Scott Harris Shapiro is the Executive Director of Europa Eyewear, a company founded by his parents in 1977, where he grew up in the business and now leads its growth, including pioneering American luxury eyewear manufacturing with brands like State Optical Co., American Optical (AO) Eyewear, and serving as the Immediate Past Chair of The Vision Council. He transitioned from a career as a radio personality and comedian, bringing communication skills back to the family business after his father's passing, focusing on supporting independent optometry and high-quality, U.S.-made frames.

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New Year, New President: Ring in 2026 with ‘OWA Talks’ and Megan Molony! It’s a new Year and OWA Talks is kicking 2026 off with a bang! Listen to this episode as we sit down with new OWA President Megan Molony to hear about her vision for the future of the organization.

About the guest:

As CEO of Europa Eyewear, Megan Molony oversees the full Europa platform, including Europa Eyewear and eyebobs, as well as future acquisitions, while working closely with the board of directors to set and execute the company’s long-term strategic vision. Molony has nearly 30 years of optical industry experience, with a strong track record in merchandising, customer experience, managed care, operations, and innovation. Most recently, she served as chief merchandising and managed vision care officer at National Vision, Inc., and has held key leadership roles at Essilor of America and Luxottica North America, gaining deep expertise across both retail and wholesale environments. Molony also serves as President of the Optical Women’s Association for the 2025-2027 term.

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Amanda Frugé joins us to talk smart eyewear and leadership. From Ray-Ban Meta to coaching top-performing teams, she shares insights on innovation, growth, and empowering women in optical. 

About the guest:
With 25 years of sales experience, Amanda Frugé joined the EssilorLuxottica team in 2014 as a Ray-Ban sales consultant. She quickly rose within the company, and was named Vice President of Sales, Ray-Ban. She has received several honors during her tenure with EssilorLuxottica, including president’s circle and regional sales manager of the year in 2020.

"I am inspired by the people I am honored to work alongside every day. My teammates, direct reports, and sales leaders have taught me so much. Each day, we work together to perfect our craft. I love that our company mission is to ‘See More, Be More,’” she said. "It is never lost on me that our frames hold the lenses that change the way people see the world.”

Frugé said she strives daily to maintain a positive mindset, positive energy and lead by example, keeping her perspective and passion at the forefront every day. She said, "I believe these two traits go hand-in-hand, solidifying trust and relationships. I coach my team on doing hard things.”

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