SCENE + HEARD Thousands Attend SECO 2015, the 92nd Annual Meeting for ECPs in Atlanta By John Sailer Tuesday, March 17, 2015 12:00 PM ATLANTA—More than 100 speakers presenting over 250 continuing education courses, an exhibit hall featuring over 200 exhibitors, and more than 50 social and affiliate events attracted more than 7,000 optometry professionals to SECO 2015, held March 4-8 in Atlanta. View the SECO 2015 slideshow here to see many of the industry leaders, honored guests, award winners and many other eyecare professionals in attendance at the 92nd annual meeting. 1/22 SECO dignitaries cut the ribbon to open the exhibit hall at SECO 2015. Immediate past president, James Herman, OD, (l) passed the mantle to incoming president Stan Dickerson, OD. During the House of Delegates meeting, Richard Phillips, OD, FAAO, was named Optometrist of the South, SECO’s highest honor. Rob Pate, OD, received SECO’s Young Optometrist of the South award. Caroline Riggins, CPO, was named Paraoptometric of the South. Jimmy Bartlett, OD, DOS, ScD, FAAO, (center) was honored with Review of Optometry’s Visionary Award by Paul Karpecki, OD, (l) and Frank Fontana, OD. Hoya’s Greg Hicks, OD, (l) interviewed Tom Sullivan, past recipient of the AOA’s Apollo Award, about his many accomplishments as a blind man. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care introduced Vistakon’s new 1-Day Acuvue Define enhanced lenses during a luncheon presentation. Matt Geller, OD, founder of NewGradOptometry.com, presented a VSP-sponsored session about Millennials. (L-R) Essilor’s Brendan Sullivan and GPN’s Jay Binkowitz met with PERC’s Cristin Hollis and David Golden at the optometric alliance’s reception. (L-R) Maya Rao, MPH, presented the CDC’s Healthy Contact Lens Wear and Care Program at a special Alcon media event, where she shared the presentation with Alcon’s Eric Bruno and Rick Weisbarth, OD, FAAO. Gary Gerber, OD, (r) hosted a special Power Hour broadcast live from the SECO exhibition floor with guest, SECO’s Alan Kabat, OD. The Optometric Society’s president, Bryan Wolynski, OD, welcomed attendees at the organization’s booth in the exhibit hall. Optometrists Roxanne Achong-Cohen, OD, and Steve Rosinksi, OD, discussed their use of CooperVision’s Clariti multifocal silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Allergan’s Dave Gibson (l) and Julian Gangolli (r) talked business with The Vision Council’s Mike Daley (center) at the Review of Optometry dinner. (L-R) Allergan’s Aziz Mottiwala, Transitions’ Pete Kehoe, OD, and Illinois College of Optometry’s Michael Chaglasian, OD, attended the Review of Optometry dinner. Bausch + Lomb’s contingent at the Review of Optometry dinner included (l-r) Dan Gates, Ray Larwood, Jill Saxon and Guy Guglielmino. (L-R) TearLab’s Patty Horsch and Duane Morrison with independent Tracy Puckett at the Review of Optometry dinner. Virginia Eye Consultants Walt Whitley, OD, (l) met with Minnesota Eye Consultants’ Scott Hauswirth, OD, at the Review of Optometry dinner. The SECO exhibit hall featured more than 200 exhibitors. (L-R) SECO’s Bonny Fripp and Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABOC, CCA, attended the Allied Ophthalmic Professionals reception with speaker Kris Kerestan Garbig, OD. Next year’s 93rd annual event, SECO 2016, will again be held in Atlanta, Feb. 24-28, 2016.