CW- Optigal Consulting came about as a way to address some of the gaps that I saw in the industry that I felt I could fill. My mind thinks a little differently, which I think is common in an industry that combines science and art, and I wanted to create education and business materials that would help opticians and companies of all levels reach their goals.
OAA- Tell us a little bit about your background, Who Is Carrie Wilson? ( and how did YOU discover opticianry?
CW- I fell into opticianry by accident. It was the 90s, I was going to school full-time and was working in a carpet mill. Summer was about to hit and I could not take another summer working in a mill so I answered an ad for Pearle Vision Center and I fell in love. Since then I have worked in ophthalmology, private, corporate, and manufacturing. Now, I am also a rep. I’m proud to say that there is not one aspect of the field that I have not worked in.
OAA- One of the great things about opticianry is that there are so many different facets to the profession. . Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
CW-I hope to grow my company and those I represent into well-known entities in the optical industry in the United States. I have just left a company that I was with for 17 years, and truly loved, but I think that I can do more to strengthen the industry independently and with these organizations.
OAA- You are emerging as a strong voice of opticianry. Do you have any interests in leadership? If so, any thoughts where?
CW- Thank you for your kind words! This is a hard question, not because I shy away from leadership but because I don’t consciously plan where I seek my leadership opportunities. I don’t believe that I am an accidental leader but what usually occurs is that I see a need or an area that I feel my strengths can help, and I jump in. Well, usually I jump but sometimes I’ve been pushed lol.
OAA- What do you think our profession is lacking and what can we do about it?
CW-The ultimate goal, and what we ultimately need, is a formal education requirement. Until then we have to promote certification as a minimum independent work requirement in non-licensed states. This is done by working across all opticianry organizations, with optometrists, and with state organizations. Since state organizations are not in every non-licensed state, this is a crucial step that can involve every optician in the country. If your state does not have an organization, reach out to the OAA for their assistance.
Thank YOU!
