This has been a very busy advocacy season, with much of OAO’s focus being on legislation and keeping an eye on issues that may affect our members. 

On April 17th, I met with Ohio State Representative David Thomas. Dave Thomas is a rep in my district, and one I had yet to meet. We discussed the importance of licensure for opticians in Ohio, especially in urban and rural areas where Medicaid providers are not as available. 

On May 25th, I attended the NFIB Small Business Day, where I was able to meet with Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel. We discussed the importance of apprenticeships, especially in the field of opticianry, as we no longer have a 2-year college program in Ohio. 

At the same event, I heard House Rep. Matt Huffman and President of the Ohio Senate, Sen. Rob McColley, give a legislative update on current small business legislation being considered. This was important because, if you recall, Rep. Huffman was president of the Workforce Committee when our license came under attack, so we want to listen closely to what he says. 

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We had the pleasure of speaking with Gwen Cooper, Executive Director of the UOA. In our conversation, she shared valuable insights into the organization’s mission and what drives her passion for advocacy.

Gwen, as you step into this position, how do you envision UOA evolving, especially in its support of state associations, independent opticians, and advocacy for licensed opticians?  

As I step into this role, I see UOA becoming the go-to place for all things opticianry — a national hub that brings together state associations, independent opticians, and future professionals under one strong, united voice. 

We’re here to back up the people doing the real work on the ground — offering support, sharing tools and ideas, and pushing for policies that reflect what opticians and the patients you serve, need. Our big goals? Agreeing on minimal competencies in education and advocating for licensure in every single state, so standards are strong and consistent across the board. At the end of the day, it’s about growing the profession, supporting each other, and showing the nation how critical and important opticians are. 

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This year’s Leadership Conference was a very historic event. This marked the 40th Leadership Conference and the beginning of a new era of opticianry. Today, I would like to share my experience with all of you, but before that, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Keenan Anderson. I am a licensed optician currently working for Eyenstein’s Optical in Lakewood, Ohio. I am newly licensed having attained my license in November of 2024. This year’s leadership conference is the second one I have been to. Having said that, I think I will have some valuable insight for students, apprentices, and newly licensed opticians about going to leadership for the first time, as I was in the same position as many of you only a year ago. 

2025’s Leadership Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky. I am not that well travelled outside the state of Ohio, so the location was very new to me. I decided to drive to the city due to it being only 5 hours from my home in Cleveland. I was lucky enough to win the UOA/HOYA grant for the conference (which I highly recommend doing if you are a student, apprentice, or newly licensed optician) which was very beneficial and a lovely idea for the UOA to sponsor newcomers. The grant essentially paid for my whole stay there. The costs associated with booking the room to registration and even if you required a flight to the city were all paid for through the grant.  

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Let your voices be heard! 

OAO is looking to update its educational offerings to its members, and your help is needed.  Below is a link to a quick survey that we need every member to complete.  The information we gather will help us create educational events that provide relevant content as well as deliver it in a manner that works for you.

The best part is you could win a one-year OAO membership for completing the survey! 

Take the survey here

As an OAO member, tracking your Continuing Education hours is easy and convenient!

Here’s how to find your completed CE hours anytime:

1. Go to www.oao.org and click "Member Login" and then "Member Dashboard" at the top right corner.

2. Log in using your member credentials.

3. Click on "View CE History" on the left to view your completed hours.

You’ll see a detailed list of all CE hours you've completed through the OAO — perfect for staying on top of your licensing requirements!

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