We’re kicking off the new month—and half-way point through 2026—with a rundown on a few of the latest executive leadership changes in the eyecare space over the last few weeks.
On the agenda: The Vision Council (TVC), Ocuco, and Optivate.
Where to start?
With CEO news from Optivate (previously known as EyeMD EMR before its rebrand in September 2025).
To refresh: The clinical software solutions company designs specialty-built healthcare technology software and medical billing services for eyecare providers (ECPs).
- See here for a look at its integrated platform of electronic health records (EHRs), practice management (PM), revenue cycle management (RCM), and patent engagement solutions.
And this update?
Brad Caldwell, a healthcare tech executive, is succeeding Optivate’s founder and (now-former) CEO Abidel Marin. Check out his background.
The plan:
- Marin is transitioning to an advisor role and will remain on the company’s Board of Directors
- Caldwell, meanwhile, will focus on three key strategic areas of growth:
- Scaling Optivate’s platform
- Strengthening customer outcomes
- Advancing innovation across its suite of solutions
Next up: TVC.
The nonprofit trade association within the optical industry has named Kris Stevens as its new Vice President of Research.
As a member of TVC since 2022, Stevens previously worked as a data scientist at the Kentucky Center for Statistics.
And what will this new VP role entail?
A major component to the job: heading up the organization’s inSights Research Program and data team.
Some background: Launched in May 2022, the program delivers new reports developed from updated data sources and methodologies based on “insights” from consumers, eyecare providers (ECPs) industry data, and the market.
- Click here to download an overview, and here for an introductory webinar on it.
And speaking of these reports: Check out this one on ECP insights regarding the impact of tariffs and inflation—as well as this one on quarterly optical market consumer trends.
So what’s Stevens’ experience with TVC thus far?
He’s credited with playing an instrumental” role in updating the organization's research systems by:
- Creating a new market model for its annual and quarterly market reports and forecast
- Building interactive tools for TVC members (shout out to the Tariff Dashboard)
- Developing a career exploration tool for the TVC Foundation website
Nice! And the latest news from the organization?
Check out all of our recent coverage.
Arlighty, last up: Ocuco.
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland—with operations across the globe, including the United States—the healthcare technology company specializes in engineering software for the optical and eyecare space.
Among its next-generation optical solutions: practice management (PM) software, electronic health records (EHRs), point-of-sale systems for optical retailers, lab management software, and patient engagement tools.
As for its flagship products, two platforms stand out:
- Acuitas: a cloud-based optical PM and EHR software for independent optical practices
- Innovations LMS: laboratory management software for optical labs
So what’s the leadership update?
A new member is joining Ocuco’s Board of Directors—Scott Jens, OD, FAAO—as part of the company’s continued focus in expanding within the U.S. eyecare market.
Dr. Jens’ current credentials:
- CEO of Sandbox Spaces, an executive business coaching and advisory firm for eyecare businesses
- Chief Medical Officer at Deya, a specialized tele-eyecare platform enabling ECPs to remotely manage eye conditions via a smartphone app
And previously?
Aside from a career as a private practice clinical optometrist, Dr. Jens is best known for co-founding Revolution EHR, a cloud-based comprehensive optometry PM and EHR platform, in 2006.
While serving as CEO, he is credited with the platform becoming “the largest (software-as-a-service) SaaS optometry EHR in North America,” according to Ocuco.
- Related: Check out Revolution EHR’s 2025 partnership with Alcon on its MARLO contact lens ordering application.
So what’s the intent behind his appointment?
As we mentioned: Given his experience in the SaaS space, the company intends to utilize Dr. Jens’ expertise as it targets an operational footprint expansion into the United States and—specifically—the independent EHR market.
Key to this expansion: Acuitas 3, the third, next-gen iteration of its original Acuitas PM platform, designed to “support integrated clinical records, appointment booking, retail workflows and proactive patient engagement.”
- Read up on this product here.