Gene is an optometrist by training with significant operational and business development experience. He brings deep expertise in clinical operations, managed care contracting, provider network strategy, and health system navigation.
He earned his Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, his Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and his Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry (Dipl. ABO).
He has built and acquired optometry practices, scaling a startup location to over $1 million in revenue within two years. His 15+ years of experience spans private practice, corporate optometry, and ophthalmology settings, including approximately nine years in managed care as a Medical Director for a national ophthalmic insurance company, focusing on claims management, prior authorization medical review, and provider credentialing.