Daniel Mannen, OD
VSP Global Names 2016 Chairman of the Board

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—The VSP Global board of directors named Daniel L. Mannen, OD, FAAO, as chairman of the board for a two-year term. Dr. Mannen is the first-ever returning chairman of the board, having served a two-year term previously from 2006 to 2008.

Dr. Mannen has been in private professional practice in Oregon for 30 years. He has been affiliated with VSP Global for 20 years and first joined the company’s board of directors in 1997.

“We are pleased to have Dan lead the VSP Global Board of Directors,” said outgoing board chairman, Randy Lee, OD. “As VSP Global companies continue to develop programs, including the Premier program, Dan will help ensure that the direction includes consideration of both member preferences and professional optometry.”

“As a practicing independent doctor of optometry, I look forward to helping direct and support the efforts of VSP Global that will both strengthen and move our profession forward,” said Dr. Mannen. “In my view, it is all about creating patient care opportunities.”


Karen Gustin
Ameritas’ Karen Gustin Appointed Chair of NAVCP

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Karen M. Gustin, LLIF, executive vice president of the group division for Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. has been named chair of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP). The appointment was made by the group’s board of directors at the annual Specialty Health Summit held here earlier this month. Gustin will assume the two-year term effective immediately, succeeding former NAVCP chair, Aspasia Shappet, president and CEO of MESVision.

Gustin began her career at Ameritas in 1983; in 1995, she was appointed to assistant vice president of marketing and managed care. Since 2001, Gustin has guided Ameritas’ group division in a variety of senior leadership roles, with responsibilities for group communication, advertising, product development, market research, PPO functions and all distribution.

Julian Roberts, NAVCP executive director, added, “Karen Gustin has a proven record effectively leading large, industry-centric membership associations. As chair of NAVCP, she’ll be in even greater position to lend her talents, energy and wealth of industry experience to fulfill our organization’s mission.”