Mary Walker was honored to be named one of Vision Monday’s 2016 Most Influential Women in Optical!    Vision Monday says the winners were “selected based upon their accomplishments and their impact on colleagues, customers and, in some instances, the entire optical industry. They come from the worlds of vision care, retailing, manufacturing, distribution, dispensing and designing.”

As Vision Associates Executive Director, Mary is a part of the Executive Suite category, which are women who hold positions such as president, VP, CEO, CFO, CMO, CIO or COO that guide their companies forward, inspire leadership among their teams and peers and achieve high performance.

Mary Walker, COE

Executive Director, COO
Vision Associates
Warren, New Jersey

CHOSEN BECAUSE… “Over her five-year tenure, she has been instrumental in reorganizing Vision Associates and doubling sales.”

In 1989, Mary Walker, an ABO optician, joined the ophthalmology practice of Dr. Alan Hefner who ran an optical dispensary as a convenience for patients and hoped, at best, not to lose money operating it. Over the course of 19 years, Walker turned that single location dispensary, which was barely breaking even, into a highly profitable, multi-location optical profit center. In 2011, she earned her Certified Ophthalmic Executive (COE) designation and with Dr. Hefner’s blessing, moved on to bigger challenges.

Today, Walker is executive director of Vision Associates, a firm that provides a complete comprehensive management program and consulting services for over 100 ophthalmologist owned dispensaries nationwide. Although ophthalmology dispensing was once viewed as a small player in the optical market, noted Walker, today some of the most successful dispensaries reside in ophthalmology offices. “I strive to drive ophthalmology dispensing to the levels I know can be achieved,” said Walker, whose business successes reflect that goal.

Walker believes that careers in optical “offer an amazing blend of medical and hands-on technical work, and the ability to have an incredible daily impact on people’s lives.” The key to success, is to “stay current, keep your optical foundation solid, continue to learn and most importantly, align yourself with people who share your core values.”

SHE SAYS… “Never lose sight of why we all do what we do, to provide the best possible eye-care and visual solutions to every person.”

Read the full article here.