Speakers

Optical Summit is excited to announce the following speakers who will be joining us in Calgary on April 28th.

Robert Alexander, LDO, ABOM / NCLE-AC

Bob Alexander is a graduate of Hocking College with an AAS in Opticianry where he became one of only two 2-time President's Lists Award winners and was the Outstanding Graduate of his class. He is a Dual Licensed Optician in OH, holds the certifications of Advanced Contact Lens Technician and Master in Ophthalmic Optics, NCLE Technical Level III and ABO Technical Level III speaker. Bob travels the U.S. and Canada delivering continuing education to state associations and optical societies.

Bob is also active with his state association and currently holds the position of Vice President of the Opticians Association of Ohio.

He began his career as a Licensed Optician in Athens, OH and quickly moved to store manager. In 2013 he moved to the position of Lens Consultant at Vision Ease where in 2016 he earned the inaugural Lens Consultant of the Year award. In 2018 he began his career with Hoya Vision Care as a Territory Sales Manager and currently holds the position of Senior Manager of Education Resources.

Kayla Ashlee

Kayla has become a valued resource in the optical community. In 2005 she stepped into the optical community and has found ways to improve it ever since. From starting as an optician to speaking in the northwest US, to assisting a major lens distribution company, her most recent career step needed to be something big! This is when she joined forces with SPEXY. SPEXY was born with the belief that the independent can do more if they just had access to it. Since uniting with SPEXY she has patented her frame board creation. She has become an international optometric speaker. She has created an online portal for opticals to access her help. And most importantly, she has helped move SPEXY from a small start-up to an eye-world industry disruptor. Want to know more about Kayla? Go ahead: beSPEXY.com/Kayla

Trudi Charest

Trudi Charest is the Co-Founder of 4ECPs, a business resource company for eye care professionals. 4ECPs has six divisions including Training, Marketing, Social Media, Payment, Jobsites & Events. Trudi is well known for designing, developing and facilitating training and marketing programs to Eye Care Professionals across North America.

Trudi is a Licensed Optician with over 25 years of extensive eyecare experience. She also holds a Human Resource Management certificate from the University of Calgary. Her experience includes corporate training in retail optical, territory management for Bausch & Lomb, Clinical Consulting with Optos and VP of Training for Eye Recommend, one of Canada’s leading Optometric buying groups.

She is an international speaker, author, industry consultant and business innovator.

Robert Kloepfer, OD

Robert Kloepfer obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2008. He proceeded to work as an optometric assistant to gain a better understanding of the optometry profession. In 2013, Dr. Kloepfer graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry with his Doctor of Optometry degree.

Currently, Dr. Kloepfer works in rural and urban private practice clinics in Alberta, Canada.

Dr. Kloepfer is a Council member of the Alberta College of Optometrists, Secretary of the Calgary Society of Optometrists, and a member of the Alberta and Canadian Association of Optometrists. He also has a growing social media platform with Instagram (@eyedrkloepfer) focused on eye education.

Don Ross

Don is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker who enjoys providing eye care professionals in Canada with the tools to create positive patient experiences. Don has presented keynote speeches, product seminars, and sessions for optometry buying groups, optician associations, national US optician and optometry groups, as well as at industry supplier events.

Don has been in the optical industry for 25 years, working as a dispenser for a national optical retailer, a local optical chain, an independent optometrist, and a nationally recognized independent Optical Boutique. Don has an award-winning background as an account executive for two international frame manufacturers, and prior to his current role with Essilor, was the Western Canadian Territory Manager for Transitions Optical.

Don has a degree in communications, specializing in public relations, and has held various marketing communications roles with federal and provincial government agencies, as well as a technology provider to the hotel and car rental industry.

Don’s passion is delivering presentations that assist eye care professionals in their work to provide Canadian patients with the best visual solutions.

Don is currently a member of the Essilor Academy Canada team, working as a Training & Development Consultant – Western Provinces.

Charlie Saccarelli

Charlie Saccarelli is the owner and operator of Chadwick Optical, a unique wholesale laboratory in Pennsylvania. He's worked in every aspect of eyeglass manufacturing and dispensing since the late 1980's, and has recently obtained his Master Optician designation in the US.

Outside of optical, he has spent time as a computer programmer, a pizzeria owner, and a senior business analyst. And if you need him to, he can perform a wedding as well. Charlie brings a unique entrepreneurial perspective to opticianry and optical in general.