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Join us for our largest in-person event of the year!

This incredible event is happening at the Monarch in Black Hawk for a Saturday of education, networking, and fun! Empower your employees to stay educated to better your office's work environment, business practices & profitability. Bring your whole office for a team bonding day! We would be thrilled to have each & every one of you.

• 6 hours of ABO CE Courses - Sponsored by IOT and Younger Optics
• ABO Exam Prep Course - Taught by professor of opticianry from the National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS)
• NEW! Business Development Workshops
• Networking Opportunities with other Optical Professionals
• Vendor Exhibit hall with prize giveaway
• Professionals Round-Table Discussion
• Breakfast, Lunch, and Happy Hour

Scroll down for all the event details!

General Registration 3/01/23 - 4/22/23. Late & At-the-Door Registration is available from 4/23/23 through the day of the convention for an additional $50 fee. All registrations are Non-refundable after 3/31/23

Questions? Email us at admin@oacolorado.org

488 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422

 Schedule of Events Friday April 28th OAC Annual Meeting 

6-6:30pmOAC Business Meeting

The annual OAC member meeting reviews the status of the Association, entertains nominations for Directors of the Board, and votes for Executive Committee assignments. If you are interested in volunteering and becoming involved with the Board, let us know!

6:30-8pmOAC Membership Cocktail Party

Following the meeting is a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres social hour reception to thank current members, introduce new members, and kick-off the convention weekend. All members are invited, so join the OAC now and then join the party!

The OAC Meeting is free to current members of the OAC. Non-member guests may join the reception for a fee.

RSVP or buy tickets for the OAC Meeting. Saturday, April 29th Convention 

7:30am-7:50amRegistration and Breakfast

Check in at the registration table to collect your badge and conference materials. Badges are necessary for conference events, so keep them handy. Grab coffee and some breakfast.

7:50am-8amOrientation

Please get checked in and grab breakfast early enough to be seated for welcoming announcements and instructions starting at 7:50am.

8am-11amAM Courses

ABO CE courses, ABO Exam prep class, and Business Development Workshops held concurrently in separate rooms. See below for course descriptions.

11am-1pmLunch, Exhibit Hall, Raffle & Prizes

Enjoy a buffet lunch and visit with all our supportive vendors. Vendor Bingo is in effect again! Visit each vendor representative to have them initial your bingo sheet, then turn it in to the OAC booth. Completed sheets will be entered into the raffle, and prizes will be given away starting 12:30.

1pm-4pmPM Courses

ABO CE courses, ABO Exam prep class, and Business Development Workshops held concurrently in separate rooms. See below for course descriptions.

4pm-5:30pmProfessionals Round-Table Discussion

Gather around for one of our most popular events! The Round Table features a panel of optical professionals and industry veterans who will field your questions and dispense expert advice. Whatever challenges you experience in your optical work, these pros have dealt with it before. Find out how the experts do it.

5:30pm-7pmHappy Hour!

Conference is concluded. We've had a long day and our brains are full. How about a drink? Mocktails also available! Mingle with your reps, our speakers, and the OAC board, enjoy complimentary light hors d'oeuvres and a drink at our self pay bar. Then head out for an evening in Black Hawk, or a responsible trip back to the city.

 Sunday April 30th 

9 AM - 11 AMTeam Bonding Hike Sunday Morning

What better yet to use this destination to our advantage & get outside and enjoy this beautiful region that surrounds us? Join OAC leaders in the 1st ever OAC Convention hike! This a very easy hike called Maryland Mountain Hidden Treasure Trailhead, which is a 3 minute drive from Monarch's front door! Plan to be out for about 2 hours or less. We are starting this annual hike to better everyone's mental well-being, overall health & to show the importance of team bonding!

 Speakers Karla Maxson ABOC

Karla Maxson is an ABO certified optician, and a general and technical level 2 approved speaker. She joined IOT in 2014 and was as one of the first to join IOT’s dynamic US sales and marketing team. She currently serves as a West, Regional Sales Manager for IOT. Karla is equipped with 17 years of experience in the optical industry and loves working with independent ECP’s. Karla Graduated from GCU University with a BSBA in Business. She also has lived in a couple of states over the years, including, Denver Colorado, and now currently, Phoenix, AZ.

 Barb Malobabich ABOC

Barb is an ABO-certified optician, and a general and technical level 2 approved speaker. She has been with IOT since 2018 and is the Northeast Regional Manager. Over the past 25 years, she

has worked with several large optical companies in sales and marketing roles and is also the Principal Owner of ECPro Consulting. She holds a BSBA in Marketing and Management from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, PA.

 Jody Parmer 

Jody is a Younger Optics Transitions brand ambassador, and helps eye-care practices increase Transitions lens sales through training, information and easy-to-use materials. She is an expert staff trainer with 15+ years of optical experience, 10+ years of Practice Management and Retail Management, and 7+ years of Wholesale Lab experience.

 Thomas Neff LDO, ABO-AC

Thomas Neff is a graduate of the Hillsborough Community College A.S. in Opticianry Program and a Board Certified Optician in Florida. He holds an Advance Certification from the ABO and NCLE, He has a Bachelors in Technical Education and Industry Training from the University of Central Florida, is finishing a Master’s Degree in Career and Technical Education also at UCF. He is presently Faculty Instructor at Hillsborough Community Colleges Opticianry Program. Thomas is a part of the National Federation of Opticianry Schools and Commission on Opticianry Accreditation.

 ABO Course Descriptions 

8-9am ABO 1 hourUnderstanding the Importance of POW Measurements

This one-hour presentation will explain why position-of-wear measurements are important for digital lenses and how they can impact the patient’s visual experience. The most technical section of the course will be explaining the different types of POW measurements, how to properly take those measurements, and understanding which measurements are the most important. This course is meant to inspire confidence when taking POW measurements and inspecting compensated lenses.

9-10am ABO 1 hourCamber™ Technology

Camber Technology combines complex curves on both surfaces of the lens using a variable base curve lens blank to provide excellent vision correction. This one-hour presentation discusses the importance of the power to base curve relationship and how poorly-matched power and base curve can negatively affect vision. It also identifies the factors that contribute to high performance progressive lenses, which are most important, and why.

10-11am ABO 1 hourWhat Your Lab Wishes You Knew

This two-hour course offers in-depth education on the details of the information needed for a successful relationship between an eyecare practice and their laboratory. It is designed to help opticians and other eyecare office staff understand what information is vital for processing a job and why. Additionally, this course will provide information and the tools to help an ECP build a solid relationship with their single most important supplier, their ophthalmic lens lab.

1-2pm ABO 1 hourLeveling up your customer service and dispensing game

The one thing that can destroy your office and it’s reputation faster than doing a bait and switch or or not having the right frame mix and an incompetent staff who’s customer service is sub par. Customer service is the pillar that your success or failure is built upon. It is that first , second and last impression and interaction that shapes a customer experience and loyalty to your business.

2-3pm ABO 1 hourThick of Thin, What Really Matters When It Comes to Lens Thickness

Maximum thickness for a completed pair of eyeglasses depends on many factors including, center thickness, decentration, material index, base curve and digital lens design. New processing techniques like digital lenticularization can be utilized to further control lens thickness but there can be trade-offs. This one-hour course will explain all factors giving opticians a better understanding of the importance of each factor and how tools at their disposal can be combined to create the most ideal lens for high Rx patients.

3-4pm ABO 1 hourInnovation for Everyone

In this one-hour presentation, you will learn how to integrate the advanced technology of today’s single vision and anti-fatigue lenses into your independent eyecare business and how to assist your patients in understanding and relating to this advanced technology. By the end of the presentation, you will have a better idea of how to develop strategy that is specific to your business and the demographic you serve.

 Business Development Workshops 

8-9:30amMultiple Pairs and the “Eyewear Plan”

Every eye care patient truly needs multiple pairs of eyewear. Learn all the multiple pair needs of customers, how to prescribe and explain them, and how to develop a long term eye care plan to help your customers fulfill their 3, 4, or 5+ pair needs.

9:30-11amHow to Hire for your business needs - Human Resources & Hiring

Are you looking to hire a new optician, tech or receptionist? Do you hire for experience, or do you hire someone you can develop?

1-2:30pmThe Handoff

"The handoff" transfers the ODs authority to their staff through a group conversation with doctor, patient, and optician. It encourages better patient capture and retention, increases both average dollar and multiple pair sales, and improves practice reputation and brand as outstanding health care professionals. Hear how the process has been implemented successfully in practices, and learn how to implement it in your own practice.

2:30-4pmFrame Board Management & Working with your Rep

Let’s make your board management successful with the most profitability & time management.

Monarch Reservations

Due to the Happy Hour at the end of the event & the Hike happening the next morning, we suggest you stay the night at Monarch! We have a very limited number of rooms reserved at the conference rate of $199/night.

Once those are reserved regular room rates apply.

Click link - RESERVE SPECIAL ROOM PRICE HERE

To make a reservation by phone call (800) 723-6500. Reference "Opticians Association of Colorado".

If you aren't staying in Black Hawk and you don't want to drive the mountains at night (you don't), take the Ace Express Coach! Round-trip from Arvada to the door of the Monarch is just $27, and the coach will get you to Black Hawk in plenty of time for convention and let you enjoy yourself until midnight before heading home! Check out their schedules here.