Illinois Opticians Association Spring Education

Join us for seven hours of education via Zoom by registering today! Meet our amazing speakers and see our full schedule below.

$ 75.00 Member Registration
$ 120.00 Non-Member Registration
$ 150.00 Join ILOA & Seminar Registration ** Membership includes discounted rates and free CE’s in 2024!

Want to become a part of the ILOA board? Click here to download our nomination form and email it to oaillinois@gmail.com

Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA

Andrew Bruce is a licensed Washington State Dispensing Optician and contact lens fitting specialist with over 25 years-experience in the industry. He holds a Masters in both Ophthalmic Optics and Contact Lens Technology, and is a nationally recognized, advanced level speaker (ABO/NCLE) and industry consultant. Most recently, he became a Fellow of The Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA), and was recognized as a 2023 and 2024 Contact Lens Institute Visionary. Beyond his extensive experience and training, Andrew is a prolific writer, having published numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, he has also served as Contributing Author and Executive Editor for two academic textbooks published by the Contact Lens Society of America. Andrew serves as an Industry Expert on three sub-committees for ANSI Z80 Accredited Standards Committee for Ophthalmic Optics and, in the past, he has served on the Washington State Dispensing Optician Examination Committee, as well as the Board of Directors for the Contact Lens Society of America. He continues to serve as a Technical Education Advisor for CLSA’s “EyeWitness” magazine, and as an advisor and proctor on their Fellow Examination Committee. Andrew is also an adjunct instructor at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon, for their Optician Assistant Program. In 2017, he established his company, ASB Opticianry Education Services, with a mission to provide consulting and learning experiences that cultivate independent growth, development, and success. His training programs have helped many gain their ABO/NCLE certification, and Washington State dispensing optician license. 

STEVE ALEXANDER

Steve Alexander has been in the eye care industry for over 20 years and has worn many hats including optician, ophthalmic tech, lab tech, practice manager, regional manager, operations consultant, CE certified speaker, and other roles in both private and corporate eye care settings. Over the last 10 years, he has been consulting with practices to find ways to better understand their patients, the ecosystems in which they work, and how to create a practice of which they can be proud. For the last three years, Steve has been head of growth at Anagram, an industry-leading tech platform driving change in eye care with the explicit focus of increasing price transparency, private pay business, and improving the lives of patients and the people who serve them.

Karen Michaelson

She is the owner of KARE Consulting, LLC where she coaches, consults, and trains eye care professionals and businesses for maximum growth professionally, in practice and personally.  She is an ABO technical, NCLE and COPE speaker.

Karen’s passion to give back, mentor and support the eye care industry has spanned well over 40 years.  In December of 2024 her vision of starting an all-inclusive eye care professional group in Minnesota became a reality. Optical Professionals of Minnesota is based on a vision that includes value in education, inclusivity, standards of excellence, innovation and advancement, opportunities, and networking.  She currently serves as the 2^nd Vice President and chair of the education and events committee.  She recently accepted a board position on Vision of Hope and will focus on bringing clearer vision to those that do not have it with local missions and industry support.

Karen lives in Wyoming, MN with her husband and 2 kitties.  She has 2 grown children, 2 grand kiddos and 2 adorable grand pups.  Karen volunteers for the American Council of the Blind, Optical Women’s Association, writing for the trade, volunteering for a neo natal kitten rescue and with folks with dementia.

“I love what I do because I do what I love!” – K

CARRIE WILSON

Carrie Wilson is the president of Optigal Consulting and has over 20 years in the optical industry. During this time, she has worked in many diverse roles, from dispensing to manufacturing and from private practice to corporate optical. She is a member of the Optical Women’s Association, Opticians Association of America, ANSI, and its Lens Technical Committee.