Without a doubt, the greatest attribute of Williams Group™ is its people. Optometrists. MBAs. CPAs. Human resources specialists. Public relations and marketing experts. All under one roof. All working for eyecare practice owners. Nowhere else on the planet will you find a more diversified group of specialists.

Brad Williams, O.D., F.A.A.O. - Founder, President & C.E.O.
Brad earned his degree from Illinois College of Optometry in 1965. In addition to nearly three decades in private practice and 16 years as a renowned practice management consultant, Brad is former Marketing Director for the American Optical Contact Lens Division, past President of the Nebraska Optometric Association, former Optometrist of the Year, Consultant of the Year and 1995-96 Benedict Professor of Practice Management and Administration by the University of Houston College of Optometry. He has consulted with hundreds of practitioners in all areas of organizational management, staff management, financial management, internal marketing and external marketing. Brad is a renowned worldwide lecturer on all issues of practice management and marketing.

Tom Bowen - Vice President
Earning his B.S. in Marketing and Advertising from the University of Nebraska, Tom is former Marketing Director for Williams Group and has been involved with strategic business and marketing programming at many levels of the healthcare industry. He has spent fifteen years consulting with private practitioners and the industry at large in all areas of organizational management, strategic planning, internal marketing, and external marketing. Tom has published numerous management/marketing texts and articles, and is Editor of “Operations Management Review,” a newsletter for private practice owners. Having served as Creative Director for WG clients, Tom created, wrote and produced hundreds of successful internal and external promotional campaigns. He is a member of the Academy for Health Care Marketing and a renowned lecturer worldwide on organizational management, team building and communication, internal and external marketing, consumer behavior, and greater personal achievement.

Bill Nolan - Vice President
Bill is a graduate of Creighton University and studied accounting and finance at St. Louis University and Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He joined Williams Group in 1989. Bill has lectured at most all major optometric venues in the United States, Canada and Australia on such subjects as staff management, optometric business finance and organizational management. He has published several articles on each of these subjects in several national optometric journals.

Brad Rourke, C.P.A. - Vice President
Brad is an experienced financial manager and brings 15 years of financial and operating experience to the Williams Group. Prior to joining the Williams Group, Brad held the position of Interim President and CEO of Nexmedia Technologies, Inc., a publicly listed software development Company in Vancouver Canada. In this role he was involved with the development, commercialization and financing of the Company’s software products. Prior to his tenure with Nexmedia Brad was with Conor Pacific Environmental Technologies and with one of the big four accounting firms KPMG. His combined experience in these roles enabled him to gain expertise in financial & operations management, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate tax. Brad graduated from University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada and received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1992 while with KPMG. Brad recently obtained his CPA designation after immigrating to the USA during 2003.

Eric George - Senior Consultant
Eric’s educational background is medically focused in the genetics field. However, having run a very successful, multi-doctor optometric practice, he now uses both his scientific knowledge and practice management background to help hundreds of Williams Group clients reach their goals. Eric was a Williams client before becoming a senior consultant and so he identifies with new clients’ concerns regarding change while at the same time he can testify to the results of their efforts. Eric is now responsible for guiding clients through customized implementation of consulting programs, traveling to client offices, public speaking engagements in the US and Canada and many facets of the monthly client training sessions in Lincoln. His specialties include human resource management, budgeting, and marketing.

Kirk R. Kastens - Senior Consultant
Kirk graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, were he earned his B.S. in Business Administration. As an office administrator, for 7 years in private practice, he focused most of his time on practice development, practice management, staff training and the dispensary. He assisted in implementing the Williams Group FastTrack program in a successful Nebraska practice. Kirk is also a board certified optician and remains active in the NOA. He is responsible for the implementation of consulting programs for Williams Group clients worldwide.

Bess Ogden - Senior Consultant
Bess Ogden graduated from Dartmouth College, NH with a BA in Psychology and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. After five years as a public school teacher, her interest in business and finance led her to become a financial advisor for a private investment firm. Bess truly found her passion, though, when she began a career in private optometry. She enjoyed eight years as Office Manager of a thriving five-doctor practice in Arcata, CA, before joining Williams Group as a Senior Consultant. Having successfully implemented the Williams Way in the Arcata practice, Bess has experienced the challenges and rewards associated with this process, both for the Doctors and the Staff. She is responsible for assisting Williams Clients to achieve their own successes.

Linda Smith - Senior Consultant
Linda Smith brings diverse experience to Williams Group from her background in public accounting, the corporate environment, and association management. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia with a degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in accounting. Besides her work experience with a number of different types of businesses during her public accounting and corporate career, Linda worked several years for the American Optometric Association (AOA) as an Associate Director of the Information & Member Services Group.  At AOA, she specialized in optometric practice management programs, assisted in development of new practitioner education, and supervised AOA’s Sections (Contact Lens & Cornea, Low Vision & Rehabilitation, Sports Vision & Paraoptometric), Topical Interest Groups, and Optometry’s Career Center© (which serves as the premier national online job and opportunity matching service for optometrists). Linda’s responsibility for the Williams Group is assisting optometric practitioners in reaching their business goals.

Sheila Hayes - Senior Consultant
Sheila has been a part of the Client Services Division of Williams Group since May 2001. Her career has included experiences in operations, budgeting, marketing, human resources, and staff training. Prior to joining the company, Sheila acquired an in-depth knowledge of patient care and operations management by spending nearly two decades in private optometric practices. She is passionate about optometry, and knows first-hand the challenges and rewards associated with running a practice. Sheila is responsible for assisting clients with implementation of consulting programs, as well as marketing and customer service presentations for Williams Group.

Chuck Brownlow, O.D., F.A.A.O. - Consultant
Chuck has served as Executive Vice President of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) since January, 1990. He practiced optometry in Weyauwega (WI) from 1971 through 1989. Dr. Brownlow has volunteered in his profession, serving as president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association in 1981-82, of the North Central States Optometric Council in 1984 and acting as chair of public relations for the American Optometric Association from 1986-1989. For several years, Dr. Brownlow was a member of the AOA Eye Care Benefits Center. In his present position, Dr. Brownlow is very active in legislation, regulation and public relations, especially with respect to health care reform. He is a frequent author and speaker on the future of health care and often helps citizen groups understand the complicated health care issues by referring to the development of the current health system.

Perry Lopez, O.D. - Trainer
Perry earned his doctorate degree from the Indiana University School of Optometry followed by a Residency in Ocular Disease and Contact Lenses from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1985. Perry has extensive experience in both ophthalmology and primary care optometry settings, having had responsibilities for cataract and Laser Correction patients and having served as the original Center Director of TLC Indiana in 1996. He has been in private practice in Indianapolis, IN since 1990, having merged his solo practice in 1995. Perry has been a Williams Group™ client since 1993, which has played a large part in the successes he has enjoyed in all facets of the eyecare industry. In addition to speaking with the Williams Group, he is currently the Indianapolis Metro area Administrator for Vision Source!, a national network of Independent Optometrists.

Paul Durban - Marketing Director
With over 17 years of marketing, branding and design experience, Paul is responsible for promoting Williams Group consulting services as well as EyeMotion multimedia solutions and our sturdy, user-friendly software, Practice Director. Paul oversees the Williams Group marketing strategy including product development, design, positioning, branding and market research. He monitors industry trends and reacts accordingly to better understand the changing needs of today’s independent optometrist. Basically, Paul educates optometrists on how Williams Group can help them reach their full potential and make their successful practices even more successful.

Michelle Korth- Senior Project Consultant
Michele joined the Consulting Team in January 2005 as a Consultant Assistant.  She has helped numerous clients through her exceptional organizational and communication skills.  Since then, she works as a Senior Project Consultant, taking care of numerous aspects of the FastTrack and FastStart programs.  Her attention to detail and love of working with our clients makes her an asset to our team.  She has a degree in Business with an emphasis on Marketing and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management of Human Resources.

Lori Brandl - Project Consultant
Lori joined Williams Group in the spring of 2005 as a Project Consultant for the Consulting Team. She works primarily with first-time private practice owners as well as numerous established private practice owners. Lori’s main focus is on staff training, marketing, and human resource issues as well as many other challenging issues that emerge in a private practice setting every day. The experience Lori has gained working in the medical field has given her the knowledge and understanding of what challenges lie ahead for most private practice owners. She has extensive experience working in the service industry as a manager and staff therefore she relates very well to the needs and challenges that staff and managers face alike.

Diana McPike - Senior Marketing Consultant
Diana joined Williams Group in March 2007 and serves as a Project Consultant for the Consulting Department. Originally from Bloomington, IN, she moved to Nebraska where she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a Project Consultant, Diana coordinates and analyzes data for Fasttrack clients and assists them with implementation of Williams Group concepts. With strong
communication and organizational skills, along with her experience in private practice, Diana has the knowledge and skills necessary to proactively engage our clients.

Shelli Rine - Senior Project Consultant
and Director of Partnership Programs
Shelli has a variety of responsibilities that enhance the education and development of our clients. Her skills in time management, extra-organizational awareness and process operations keep Williams Group clients focused and motivated. Shelli's interpersonal and leadership skills make her a tremendous asset to our team and a valuable resource for our clients.

Stacey Allison - Client Relations Coordinator
Stacey joined the Williams Group team in February of 2006. As the Client Relations Coordinator, she will patiently answer your inquiries and guide you through the registration process to ensure your journey with Williams Group begins successfully. Stacey takes great pride in knowing that Williams Group has the most capable, professional and experienced consultants in the industry and works diligently to earn the trust of eyecare professionals everyday - one optometrist at a time. Stacey has a degree in Communications and Human Services Administration. She has worked with youth and community programs, ministry, and business in public relations, coordinating, and development since 1999.

Lori Moore - Client Relations Coordinator
As one of the Client Relations Coordinators, Lori will help guide you through the beginning of your relationship with Williams Group. Her prior experience in customer service provides her with the knowledge to answer your questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. Lori graduated with a degree in Psychology, with an emphasis on Human Development from Texas Tech University.