Fueling Success Through Peer-to-Peer Conversations

Adding up the Pieces of Your Practice’s Financial Puzzle

Annelies Calnan is the Director of Practice Transitions at Cleinman Performance Partners, a consulting firm that specializes in supporting optometry practices with business growth, ownership transitions, and strategic decision-making. As a CPA with over eight years of experience in healthcare transactions — primarily within optometry — Annelies guides clients through financial analysis, valuations, and deal negotiations, helping practice owners confidently navigate milestones from hiring associates to executing complex exits. IN THIS EPISODE… Some practices seem profitable on the surface, yet struggle when it comes to producing cash flow. Deciphering the numbers that grow profitability in your practice can feel overwhelming at first — so how should you begin? The first step, according to Annelies Calnan, a CPA with extensive experience in healthcare transactions, is to look beyond gross revenue. She explains that EBITDA — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization — shows the operational profit a practice generates if a third party were running it. By removing owner-specific expenses and one-time costs, this metric reveals the true efficiency and financial health of a practice, helping owners make smarter, more informed decisions. In this episode of the Cleinman Connect Podcast, Kim Carson is joined by Annelies Calnan, Director of Practice Transitions at Cleinman Performance Partners, to discuss decoding practice profitability. Annelies explores how EBITDA offers a clearer picture than revenue alone, why balance sheets matter, and common financial blind spots. She also shares tips on preparing to understand your own numbers and confidently manage your practice’s growth.

Practical and Tested: Paid Digital Marketing for Any Budget

Eleanor Knight is the Senior Digital Marketing Strategist at Marketing4ECPs, a digital marketing agency that provides tailored marketing solutions for eye care professionals. With a management degree focused on marketing from the University of Lethbridge, she brings experience from agency, platform, and in-house roles. Eleanor specializes in paid media strategy, audience targeting, and campaign testing, helping eye care practices make smarter decisions across search, social, display, and geolocation advertising. IN THIS EPISODE… Paid digital marketing works best when it is treated less like a guessing game and more like a series of smart, measured choices. When every budget has limits, how do practices know where to invest and what to test? The answer is to align strategy with goals and let the data guide the next move. According to Eleanor Knight, a communications-minded marketing strategist with experience across agency, platform, and in-house roles, paid search often sits closest to driving action and conversions, while display, geolocation, and paid social help build awareness and consideration. She explains that stronger results come from sharper structure, like grouping keywords more thoughtfully, tailoring ad copy to match search intent, and testing one variable at a time, so even small-budget campaigns can produce useful insights. In this episode of the Cleinman Connect Podcast, Kim Carson is joined by Eleanor Knight, Senior Digital Marketing Strategist at Marketing4ECPs, to discuss practical paid digital marketing for any budget. Eleanor covers how paid search, display, geolocation, and social channels fit within the marketing funnel, how audience targeting has evolved, and why testing one variable at a time can make a big difference. She also shares how a display campaign delivered 97 bonus conversions.

Fueling Success Through Peer-to-Peer Conversations

David Spisak is the Director of Peer-to-Peer Programming at Cleinman Performance Partners, a trusted business partner for independent optometry practices for over 35 years. With leadership experience across optometric, orthopedic, urology, and dental group practice operations, David brings an innovative, results-focused approach to healthcare teams. At Cleinman, he helps connect practice owners with shared insight, practical strategies, and trusted support to strengthen teams, foster accountability, and drive sustainable growth. IN THIS EPISODE… Building a successful practice takes more than good instincts and clear goals. When decisions get complex and ownership feels isolating, what helps leaders keep moving forward with confidence? For David Spisak, the key lies in commitment, the right team, and a circle of support that understands the realities of practice ownership. He explains that peer-to-peer conversations work best when members bring an abundance mindset, a willingness to learn, and the generosity to share what has worked and what has not. That combination creates more than a meeting group; it builds a trusted team where practice owners can grow through honest conversation, shared experience, and practical accountability. In this episode of the Cleinman Connect Podcast, Kim Carson is joined by David Spisak, Director of Peer-to-Peer Programming at Cleinman Performance Partners, to discuss how peer-to-peer groups help practice owners grow. David shares insights on what makes practices stand out, how Cleinman matches members for better outcomes, and why vulnerability matters. He also talks about innovation and what practice owners can look forward to next.

[Optometrist Unleashed] Leadership and Authentic Connection in Independent Optometry

Dr. Warren Toews is the Managing Owner at YXE Vision Group, a Saskatchewan optometry group creating innovative, relationship-focused eye care experiences across multiple clinics. A Saskatoon-based optometrist for more than two decades, he leads with humility, trust, and a belief that culture drives impact. Dr. Toews focuses on helping teams deliver meaningful human connections, transformational patient experiences, and purpose-led growth in independent optometry. IN THIS EPISODE… In an independent optometry practice, every interaction with a patient or team member becomes a chance to build trust, create connection, and show what the organization truly values. How can leaders turn those everyday moments into a culture that feels authentic? The answer is to lead with intention, humility, and a genuine commitment to people. Dr. Warren Toews, an optometrist and leadership-focused practice owner, shares how authentic connection shapes patient care, team culture, and long-term growth in independent optometry. From replacing the traditional front desk with a more welcoming concierge-style experience to using “unreasonable hospitality” as a way to create meaningful moments, he offers practical reminders for leaders who want their values to show up every day. Dr. Toews emphasizes that leadership is not reserved for owners or seasoned professionals since every optometrist has an impact through each patient exam and team interaction. His perspective shows that connection is not a soft extra but a powerful leadership tool. In this episode of Cleinman Connect Podcast's Optometrist Unleashed series, Dr. Trevor Miranda chats with Dr. Warren Toews, Managing Owner at YXE Vision Group, about leadership and authentic connection in independent optometry. Dr. Toews shares how to build trust, empower teams, and create meaningful patient experiences. He also touches on concierge-style care, local independence, and the future of optometry.

Breaking the "Non-Creative" Label in Professional Spaces

Jada Mazury is an Account Manager at Marketing4ECPs and SmileShop Dental Marketing. With an MBA from San José State University and a background as a Division I gymnast, she brings a unique perspective to teamwork, creative problem-solving, and client relationship management. Jada helps make marketing feel more approachable for healthcare professionals by showing how creativity, collaboration, and authenticity can support meaningful business growth. IN THIS EPISODE… Creativity often gets treated like a talent you either have or you do not, especially in professional spaces where routines, tasks, and expectations can feel tightly defined. How much creative potential gets lost when people decide they are simply not creative? Drawing from her work helping healthcare professionals navigate marketing and social media, Jada Mazury believes the first step is to stop assuming creativity has to look the same for everyone. She explains that creativity often shows up when people find what energizes them, whether that is talking ideas through with a group, listening to music, moving their body, or simply giving themselves room to try something different. Her perspective is a reminder that creativity is less about being the most imaginative person in the room and more about building the confidence to let ideas surface before they feel completely polished. In this episode of the Cleinman Connect Podcast, Kim Carson is joined by Jada Mazury, Account Manager at Marketing4ECPs and SmileShop Dental Marketing, to discuss breaking the “non-creative” label in professional spaces. Jada offers her perspective on creativity in teams, finding energy that sparks ideas, and building social media content confidence. She also shares advice on creating authentic content that fits your brand.