Brad Williams, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Founder, President & CEO
Brad Williams earned his degree from Illinois College of Optometry. Early in his career, he served five years as a Marketing Director for a national contact lens company. He then spent over three decades in private practice and has been a practice management consultant since 1986. Dr. Williams is a past president of the Nebraska Optometric Association and a past recipient of both Optometrist of the Year and Distinguished Service Award from that association. He was also a Benedict Professor of Practice Management and Administration with the Houston College of Optometry in 1995-1996. Brad has consulted with hundreds of practitioners and staff in all areas of human resource, marketing, financial and patient management. He has published a variety of practice management articles and continues to lecture both nationally and internationally on this topic.
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. Since joining Williams Group in 1986, 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 also published numerous management/marketing texts and articles, and is Editor of “Operations Management Review,” a newsletter for private practice owners. 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 Nolan is a graduate of Creighton University and studied Accounting and Finance at St. Louis University and Marquette University. He has been in practice management consulting with Williams Group since 1989. Bill is a well-known lecturer in the industry, and has presented at all of the major optometric venues in the United States, Canada, and Australia on staff management, optometric business finance, and organizational management. He has also published a variety of articles on each of these subjects in national optometric journals.
Kirk R. Kastens
Senior Consultant
Kirk Kastens graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where he earned his B.S. in Business Administration. He has seven years of experience as an administrator for a private practice, helping it achieve excellence in management, staff training, and dispensary performance through the Williams Group FastTrack program. Kirk has been in management consulting with Williams Group since 2005. He is also a board certified optician. As a Senior Consultant, Kirk is responsible for the implementation of consulting programs with Williams Group clients worldwide.
Sheila Hayes
Senior Consultant
Sheila Hayes has been a part of the Client Services Division of Williams Group since 2001. Her career has included experiences in operations, budgeting, marketing, human resources and staff training, as well as marketing and customer service lectures for Williams Group. 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 serves as Director of Williams Group FastStart Division preparing clients for ownership success.
Bess Ogden
Senior Consultant
Bess Ogden graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree 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 with 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 in 2006. 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 Group clients in achieving their own successes.
Rick Guinotte
Senior Consultant
Rick Guinotte brings with him over twenty years of experience in the optical industry. He has managed eighteen offices, and was responsible for developing and implementing new operational procedures as well as tracking and managing statistics. Rick’s responsibilities included human resource issues, hiring, training, developing, and motivating team members. He has been recognized with numerous awards for staff development, employee retention, budgeting, and controlling cost of goods. Rick joined Williams Group in 2009 and is responsible for working with practices as they execute the FastTrack Program.
Shelli Rine
Senior Consultant & Director of Partnership Programs
Shelli Rine joined Williams Group in 2000 and currently serves as a Senior Project Consultant. Shelli coordinates projects, reports, and other critical information for clients. Additionally, she is involved in the coordination of all appraisal, partnership, and exit programs to ensure client needs are being met. Shelli also has a variety of responsibilities that enhance the education and development of Williams Group clients. In particular, her expertise in time management, extra-organizational awareness, and process operations keep FastTrack clients focused and motivated.
Michele Korth
Senior Project Consultant
Michele Korth graduated with an Associate’s degree in Business with an emphasis on Marketing from Southeast Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Management of Human Resources from Bellevue University. She joined the Williams Group consulting team in 2005 as an assistant consultant. She has helped numerous clients through her exceptional organizational and communication skills. Michele now serves as a Senior Project Consultant, taking care of numerous aspects related to the FastTrack and FastStart programs.
Megan Johnson
Marketing Consultant
Megan Johnson graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Consumer Science and Advertising. She joined Williams Group in 2009 and assists Williams Group clients in coordinating and implementing marketing plans. Megan has several years experience in marketing and print production, and develops concepts and materials to promote optometric practices of all types and sizes.
Bill Eckstrom
Workshop Trainer
Bill Eckstrom has been involved with Williams Group since 1997, spending four years as Vice President of Sales for Williams Group and working with practitioners on a variety of operations management issues. Currently, he is President/CEO of the EcSELL Institute, an organization that provides training and development for sales managers and executives. As a member of the Williams Group Speakers Network, Bill brings a practical and refreshing approach to finance, marketing, and organizational management issues that optometric practices are facing every day. 
Chuck Brownlow, O.D.
Industry Consultant
Chuck Brownlow practiced for eighteen years and has served as Executive Vice President of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) since 1990. Dr. Brownlow has volunteered extensively within the industry, serving as president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association in 1981-82 and the North Central States Optometric Council in 1984. He also served as public relations chairman 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 industry public relations, especially with respect to healthcare reform. He is a frequent author and speaker on the future of healthcare and often assists citizen groups in better understanding complex health care issues. 
Karen McIntosh
Client Relations Coordinator
Karen McIntosh graduated from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, NE with a degree in Fine Arts and Communication. Her professional experience includes eleven years in business-to-business marketing and sales for several industries, including architecture, engineering, advertising, and pharmaceuticals. Karen joined Williams Group in 2010, and provides exceptional client support and services.
Chris Botruff
Client Relations Coordinator
Chris Botruff graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He has since accumulated 8 years of experience in small business management and spent several years as a franchise business consultant helping business owners achieve better success. Chris joined Williams Group in 2011, bringing with him a passion for refining processes and building exceptional customer experiences. He works with many of our alumni practices to help them identify ways that they can promote their practice further through the continued support and resources that Williams Group provides.
Katie Ulrich
Marketing Director
Katie joined the Williams Group team in January of 2008, bringing with her several years of experience managing sales/marketing divisions for retail and financial industries. Graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Katie has continued to pursue additional educational opportunities related to sales and marketing in order to stay abreast of changes and opportunities within the field. Her skills in writing and communications along with her creativity and strategic business management experience help her continue to advance Williams Group and its clients in her role as Marketing Director.
Kelsey Murphy
Marketing Coordinator
Kelsey Murphy graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Business Administration. She joined the Williams Group in 2008, and assists in developing, coordinating, and implementing marketing projects in support of the Williams Group brand promise.
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