Cleinman Connect Podcast

Owning and running a private optometry practice is challenging—but help is here! The Cleinman Connect Podcast offers valuable insights from independent optometrists/practice owners, practice managers, and industry experts. Each episode features top performers or industry experts who share their success strategies for navigating common business and operational hurdles to grow and enhance practices. From marketing tips and team management to succession planning and financial strategies, our experienced guests provide actionable advice tailored to private optometry practices. Tune in for a new episode on the 1st Wednesday of each month and stay ahead of the curve! Subscribe to the Cl...

[Ownership] Proactive Planning in Your Practice for Software, Medical Niches, and the Community

<p>Dr. Kevin Gee is the President of Gee Eye Care, a full-service optometric practice based in Missouri City, Texas that provides comprehensive eye care to the community. Since establishing the practice in 2007, he has grown alongside the area’s expanding population while maintaining a strong focus on patient care and community involvement. Dr. Gee is a former President of the Texas Optometric Association and is known for his leadership and commitment to advancing both the clinical and business aspects of optometry.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>Success in a growing practice rarely comes from reacting to what’s in f...

25 min

2026 April 22

[Optometrist Unleashed] Healing the Ocular Surface

<p>Dr. Julian Prosia is the CEO of Ophthalogix Canada, a company specializing in advanced treatments for dry eye and ocular surface disease. As a leading innovator in amniotic membrane therapy, Dr. Prosia has introduced Canada’s first doctor-owned amniotic membrane company and has personally performed over 2,000 amniotic membrane procedures while managing more than 50,000 dry eye cases nationwide. Beyond his clinical expertise, Dr. Prosia is a respected educator and speaker, known for training fellow optometrists and their staff in integrating regenerative medicine into everyday practice, and he is currently involved in pioneering research on nerve regeneration for ocular pain.</p><h2...

27 min

2026 April 22

4TheRecord Feature - How To Build a Strong Brand Patients Remember

<p>Kevin Wilhelm is the CEO of Marketing4ECPs, a marketing agency that helps independent eye care practices grow through strategic branding, digital marketing, and patient acquisition. With extensive experience in the optometry industry, Kevin works closely with practice owners to develop strong brand identities that differentiate them in competitive markets. He is also an Amazon best-selling author of Click: Transform Your Business Through Digital Marketing.</p><p>Sarah Nwaerondu is the VP of Marketing and Communications at Calgary Wild FC, the city’s professional women’s soccer team in the National Soccer League. Sarah’s background spans sports marketing with t...

53 min

2026 April 22

[Ownership] Choosing Partners Over Chasing Prices

<p>Michele Schenley is a Senior Account Executive and Dennis Holloway is the Managing Director at E-Dr., a leading contact lens distributor serving eyecare professionals across the United States. Under their leadership, E-Dr. has built a reputation for pioneering internet-based ordering in the vision care industry since its launch in 1998. Michele brings over a decade of experience in optical supply chain management, while Dennis, an accomplished IT executive, played a key role in building the company’s digital infrastructure and data-driven operations. Together, they are dedicated to making contact lens distribution seamless and accessible, and are advocates for integrating technology an...

36 min

2026 April 22

[Marketing] Metamorphosis in Eyeware: Fashion, Function, and Flexibility

<p>Sarah Vinson is the Owner and CEO of Lunette USA, a woman-owned company that imports and distributes luxury eyewear exclusively to independent optical boutiques across the US. She emphasizes building genuine partnerships with these independent opticians and helping them distinguish their practices. Sarah brings considerable experience in small-business operations to her leadership role. Under her direction, Lunette USA curates exclusive frames and supports its partners with competitive pricing, bespoke service, and designs not widely available locally.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>Style has always been personal, and now it can shift as easily as your day does. Wh...

33 min

2026 April 22

[Growth] Creating the Ideal Patient Experience

<p>Jenn Denham is the Chief Growth Officer at Aloha, a Healthcare SaaS company that helps private practices grow by automating patient communication, boosting retention, and capturing more revenue through technology-driven solutions. Under Jenn’s leadership, Aloha has supported thousands of healthcare practices nationwide, driving staff efficiency and delivering a modern, seamless patient experience with impressive adoption of AI-powered tools. Jenn is also a national keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, known for her focus on tech stack efficiency and data-driven growth strategies in healthcare.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>A great patient experience rarely starts in the exam room...

40 min

2026 April 22

[Optometrist Unleashed] Myopia Management and Going Beyond the Blur

<p>Dr. Marie Bodack is Chief of Pediatric Primary Care at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, a leading institution dedicated to training future optometrists and advancing eye care, particularly in pediatric and myopia management. Internationally recognized for her expertise, Dr. Bodack lectures around the world, contributes to research, and plays a key role in integrating emerging myopia control strategies into optometric education and clinical practice.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>For decades, clearer vision meant getting a stronger pair of glasses every year. However, shouldn’t the overall goal not be just correcting blur, but slowing the eye’...

28 min

2026 April 22

[Ownership] Streamlining Processes and Reducing Operational Friction

<p>Anne Chong is the President and CEO of Visual-Eyes, a leading provider of comprehensive practice management software solutions for the eyecare industry. Under Anne's leadership, Visual-Eyes has grown steadily for over 30 years, now integrating with nearly 200 types of ophthalmic equipment and offering more than 300 customizable reports to help clinics optimize their operations. A University of Toronto Engineering Science graduate from a family of engineers, Anne focuses on systems optimization and attention to detail in Visual-Eyes’ user-centric approach.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>Operational friction rarely shows up as a crisis. It hides in extra clicks, double entries, miss...

21 min

2026 April 22

[Ownership] Elevating Your Practice Through Virtual Team Members

<p>Cory Pinegar is the Founder of Teem, a company that revolutionizes hiring by connecting optometric, dental, and veterinary practices with top-tier virtual assistants and remote staff from around the world. Under Cory’s leadership, Teem has grown to a global team of over 1,000 employees across 10-plus countries, and his previous company, CallForce, was named one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the US by Inc. 500. Cory strives to solve real-world business problems with practical, often unsexy solutions, and is also a board member for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Verrific.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>Running a mode...

21 min

2026 April 22

[Marketing] How Digital Awareness Ads Can Influence Your Patients of Tomorrow

<p>Tyler Kemp is an Account Manager at Marketing4ECPs, a marketing agency that specializes in helping eye care practices grow with customized branding and patient-focused strategies. Over his six years with Marketing4ECPs, Tyler has helped numerous optometry businesses clarify their messaging and stand out in a crowded market, and his expertise has led him to speak at Vision Expo for the past four years. Driven by a love of storytelling and the ever-evolving marketing landscape, Tyler recently launched his video podcast, 4theRecord, where he shares industry insights and innovations.</p><h2>In this episode…</h2><p>The practices th...

24 min

2026 April 22