Leadership
Michael Toups, O.D.
President, Co-Founder
Dr. Michael Toups is the President and Co-Founder of Vision Trends. For over 30 years, he, alongside Dr. Douglas Inns, built 6 highly successful practices in the North Houston area. As a practicing optometrist, he witnessed first-hand the effects of big-box competition, online sales and the growth of private equity.
Determined to help the independent optometrist succeed in today's ever-changing business climate, he and Dr. Douglas Inns founded Vision Trends, the nation's largest and only independent optometric alliance, putting the power of patient care and profit back in the doctor's hands.
Douglas Inns, O.D.
Vice President, Co-Founder
Dr. Douglas Inns is the other half of Vision Trends, vice president and co-founder of our national optometric alliance. Dr. Inns' passion for his local community, helped to fuel the mission for Vision Trends: supporting independent optometry. Through Vision Trends, his focus is to provide every Vision Trends member with the tools they need to succeed, increasing their profit and increasing the level of care for their patients.
Operations
Troy Hall
Chief Operating Officer
A vision industry veteran, Troy's uniqe professional experience is based on his education with double BAs in journalism and political science from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He ran policy strategy and media relations for the Harris County commissioner in Texas (the nation's largest county) and jettisoned his career to the vision care industry as an executive at both EyeMed/Luxottica and Davis Vision/HVHC, leading strategy, product development and marketing.
He has influenced the ins and outs of the industry and risen to the top, while navigating the challenges of maintaining a harmonious balance between his career and his family.
Kyle Toups
Operations Director
Optometry runs in the family and it was no different for Kyle. Growing up in his father's practice, he saw the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and how outside forces can affect both the business and the patient. As Operations Director, Kyle spearheads our vendor relations, ensuring our vendor partners are committed to independent optometry by providing the best pricing on the latest technology, so optometric physicians are able to care for their patients as they see fit.
Marketing
Elias Malespin
Marketing Director
Graduate of the University of Houston, Elias brings over 10 years experience in healthcare marketing to Vision Trends, overseeing every touch point between Vision Trends and our membership, as well as our vendor to member communications.
A New Orleans native and Hurricane Katrina transplant to Houston, he is also helped launch and oversees marketing for our non-profit arm: VT CARES. VT CARES helps to support local independent optometric pratices recover in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Member Relations
Andrew Howorth
National Sales Director
Graduate Originally from Chicago, Andrew has been in the healthcare industry since 2005. A BSN in Nursing combined with unmatched interpersonal skills has led him from Sales and Management for both Pfizer and Bausch+Lomb to Vision Trends in 2007.
Throughout his career, Andrew has defined the role of National Sales Director going above and beyond the expectations of our members. This passion is evident throughout his professional and personal life, through his walk with Christ, his relationship with his wife and children and even his golf game.
Erin Toups
National Sales Director
Erin grew up working in her father's optometry practice, giving her a unique perspective on the operations of the practice and the needs facing the independent optometric business owner. Her extensive knowledge and background, paired with her business degree from the University of Houston, help guide potential and current members through the various aspects of entrepreneurship and business management.
