Robert Patton, CEO of FirstSight Vision Services, Joins ABL Organization

Orange, CA — July 23, 2009 — Robb Patton, President and CEO of FirstSight Vision Services, Inc., has joined the Adaptive Business Leaders Organization (ABL). As part of California’s leading vertical-industry Chief Executives’ Organization, ABL Members provide one another with executive leadership coaching through its confidential, professionally-facilitated, peer-CEO Advisory Board Round Tables, executive learning workshops, network of CEO peers, and expert resources

FirstSight Vision Services, Inc. is a Knox-Keene licensed specialized vision care health plan, with offices located inside Wal-Marts, Sam's Clubs, and Vision Center stores throughout California. FirstSight contracts with, and employs, optometrists in over 250 locations, providing 200,000 plan members convenience and accessibility throughout the state. FirstSight's parent company, National Vision Inc., of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is the nation's fourth-largest optical company in terms of its nearly 500 locations and five separate retail divisions offering a variety of products and services for eye care and eyewear.

Prior to joining FirstSight in 2002, Robb was a health plan expert, serving as a consultant in establishing a  Knox-Keene specialty licensed plan, and helping a web-based, employee benefits distributor build a strategic sales planning process, replicable sales, distribution and call center. Earlier, Robb was a Regional Vice President of Sales and Market Development in the late 1990s with UnitedHealthCare; a VP and General Manager with Aetna Health Plans in the mid-'90s; and Regional Director of Massachusetts Mutual, for Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, from 1986 until 1994.  Robb began his career with Great-West Life Assurance Company, in sales and sales management positions selling group welfare and pension products; later he moved to Harbor Administrators, a Third Party Administrator, as VP of Marketing Services; before transitioning to William M. Mercer, where he managed the health and welfare consulting relationships for major clients.

Robb earned his BA degree from Azusa Pacific University, and is delighted he chose healthcare instead of a career in real estate or finance. Robb enjoys reading, international relations and history.

About the Adaptive Business Leaders (ABL) Organization
ABL supports the needs of its Member CEOs by providing a place for top-level executives to draw on the experience, knowledge and skill sets of their peers in a vertical industry, personal advisory board – “multi-coach approach” – setting.

The core component of the CEO Membership experience is the group Round Table meeting. Members meet once a month for a half-day with a group of peer CEOs, Presidents, COOs and Division General Managers from non-competing companies, all from the same industry (healthcare, technology or life sciences), in a trusted and confidential board room-like setting, which allows ABL Members to tackle topics and enhance their decision making and business performance. Topics include: developing and honing new business strategies and best practices, new lines of business, “A-players” on the management team, and an effective board of directors, as well as understanding trends in new markets, mergers and acquisitions, compensation, and other “hot” topics brought to the Round Tables by the Members themselves.

ABL Members also gather several times a year at workshops and conferences to exchange ideas and connect with other chief executives beyond their own CEO peer groups. In effect, ABL Members serve as one another’s business coaches within the Round Tables and are encouraged to connect and leverage their co-Member peers’ particular skills and expertise for additional leadership coaching, one-on-one, outside of their monthly group meeting. In addition, each Round Table’s facilitator also serves as an objective business advisor, offering executive and industry insights and advice.

 ABL's Chief Executive Leadership Development Round Table program is currently offered in California's Greater Los Angeles, Orange and San Francisco County areas. More information about the ABL Organization can be found at http://www.abl.org .