Our vision for 2026 is full of excitement for the future, while reflecting on the lessons learned. We're already planning for our 2026 SNAPP Meeting. Save the date to join us September 20-22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. We can't wait to meet with you again next year!

This year, we welcomed an evolution of our meeting format, held separately from other industry events. We focused our sessions on what’s ahead and being prepared for when we get there. That forward-thinking approach makes us think of Ryan Parker, OD, our featured speaker at our 2025 Clearwater meeting.

Dr. Parker detailed the landscape of the optical industry today and what tomorrow looks like. He tapped into business pressures and operational challenges that we face, along with the changes occurring in an expanding medical role in optometry. Dr. Parker sees our evolving profession as an opportunity to make positive change. There are 73 million aging Baby Boomers, and the number of Americans over 65 will nearly double by 2040. The global myopia rate is 50%, and there are now 8 billion daily screen users. The potential in the optometry and optical industries is huge.

It’s time to overhaul our traditional routine with a modern approach. Dr. Parker suggested several “future-ready” practice models, including medical service centers, tech-integrated retail, membership models and collaborative networks. With every change you make, remember to keep the patient in mind first. These concepts prioritize patients, innovating to deliver exceptional outcomes and experiences, Dr. Parker said.

Hear more about Dr. Parker’s presentation from SNAPP Group member Komal Kumar, who shares her impressions of his session at her first full SNAPP meeting experience.

We wish you and yours a happy holiday! Like you, we are already planning for the ways we can grow and enhance the value in your SNAPP membership in 2026.

Stay tuned on snappgroup.org and in this newsletter as we release additional details for 2026.

Komal Kumar, (pictured at right above) owner of five Pearle Vision EyeCare Centers across Orange County, California, had the SNAPP Group annual meeting on her radar for years. She had attended a few sessions in the past but splitting time between Vision Expo and SNAPP in Las Vegas never quite allowed her to dive all in.

A Meeting Worth The Wait

Things changed when Kumar joined the National Franchise Advisory Council (NFAC) in 2023 and was appointed Chair in 2024. Conversations with fellow NFAC peers, many of whom are top-performing franchisees nationwide, convinced her to give SNAPP her undivided attention.

“They told me it was eye-opening: the speakers, the strategies and the networking,” she recalls. “And since Clearwater was separate from Expo this year, I finally decided to do it right.”

The experience exceeded expectations. Free from Vegas’ chaos, Kumar immersed herself fully in the Clearwater sessions and left with pages of actionable insights. “I learned something from every session, from large keynotes to small group discussions, but the best part was connecting with other business owners who just get it.”

Vision Rooted in Legacy

Kumar’s story in eye care spans three generations. Her grandfather ran a wholesale lens and frame business in Burma (now Myanmar), and her father introduced digital eye exams to the region. “This industry is truly beautiful,” she says. “We get to protect something priceless—people’s vision—while blending medical, fashion and compassion.”

She opened California’s first Pearle Vision in Irvine in 2018 and has since grown to five locations, most recently acquiring two in 2024. But what sets her apart isn’t just expansion, it’s how she leads with purpose and people-first innovation.

From Inspiration to Implementation

She cites the session by featured speaker Ryan Parker, OD, senior director of medical and professional affairs at EssilorLuxottica, “The Landscape of the Optical Business: Today & Tomorrow,” as a defining moment. “He said something that hit hard: if you stay still, you’ll be behind for years. It reminded me that the future doesn’t wait. You have to move with it.”

Dr. Parker’s framework—Reignite. Reimagine. Redefine.—became Komal’s personal post-SNAPP mantra:

Reignite: Rekindle passion for why we started—restoring sight and improving lives.

Reimagine: Challenge old systems. Adopt technology, teleoptometry and fresh patient experiences.

Redefine: Measure success not just by numbers, but by impact, fulfillment and legacy.

She came home ready to act. “I used to be hesitant about teleoptometry,” Kumar says. “But after hearing success stories and seeing how it expands access, I’m now exploring the best platform to launch across our practices.”

Another key initiative: outsourcing phone operations. “We met a vendor at SNAPP who specializes in call management and recalls,” she explains. “That’s time back for our teams, to focus on patients, not ringing phones.”

Translating Lessons Into Leadership

What stood out most for Kumar was how aligned Dr. Parker’s message felt with her own leadership philosophy. “He talked about how the future of optometry isn’t something that happens to us—it happens through us,” she says. “That’s exactly how I lead my teams: every associate and every manager has the power to shape our future if they take ownership.”

Eyes on the Future

For Kumar, SNAPP was more than a meeting, it was a recharge. “It reminded me that passion and progress go hand in hand. You can’t get comfortable in this industry. Patients are evolving, technology is evolving and so should we.”

“SNAPP kept it fun, energizing and real,” she says. “I came home fired up, ready to reignite, reimagine and redefine what eye care in California can look like.”

Photo credits—Meeting photos: SNAPP Group | Getty Images: what's new: ababil12; contact lens: Alessandro de Leo