INDIANAPOLIS, IN, September 16, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jessica Ra Ooley has been recognized for achievement in independent optical retail, eyewear styling and business leadership.

Ms. Ooley's career is distinguished by her unwavering commitment to the independent optical community, her expertise in eyewear styling and her belief that glasses can be an important form of personal expression. Since 2025, she has served as the co-founder and owner of Ra Opticians in Indianapolis, an independently owned optical shop she created alongside her husband, Lyle Ooley. Together, they bring more than 45 years of combined experience in the optical industry.

At Ra Opticians, Ms. Ooley has created a gallery-like space that brings together independent eyewear, highly personalized styling and a strong sense of community. Rather than approaching eyewear as simply a medical necessity, she encourages clients to see glasses as an extension of their personal style. This approach has cultivated a clientele that embraces eyewear as fashion, with many customers building wardrobes of frames rather than owning a single pair. Ra Opticians has also become a gathering place within Indianapolis through frequent events, designer trunk shows, collaborations and social gatherings.

Ms. Ooley is particularly proud of transforming a longtime vision into a thriving independent business and becoming deeply rooted in the neighborhood she and her husband now call home. After signing a 20-year lease and designing and building the space themselves, the couple intentionally created a business model centered on one exceptional location rather than expansion or franchising. Despite requests to open additional locations in surrounding areas, Ms. Ooley remains focused on preserving the intimacy, experience and personal connection that make Ra Opticians unique.

Her dedication extends to championing creative, independent eyewear and protecting the individuality that first drew her to the optical industry. As consolidation and private equity continue to reshape the eyewear market, Ms. Ooley remains passionate about supporting independent designers, independent retailers and the creativity that comes from businesses willing to do things differently. She has also trained a talented team of opticians who share that philosophy, allowing the business to grow while maintaining the highly personal experience on which it was founded.

Looking ahead, Ms. Ooley hopes to contribute to the continued development of the optical industry by sharing her experience with current and future opticians. She is passionate about inspiring new professionals to enter the field, helping established opticians strengthen and grow their businesses and demonstrating how independent optical practices can remain both creatively distinctive and commercially successful. Through mentorship, education and collaboration, she hopes to encourage the next generation of opticians to approach the industry with confidence, curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Since 2017, Ms. Ooley has also served as a territory sales manager for Garrett Leight California Optical. In this role, she has worked extensively with independent optical retailers, using her knowledge of eyewear, merchandising, styling and the independent market to build strong client relationships and support the growth of stores throughout her territory. Additionally, she served as territory sales manager for Matsuda from 2017 to 2022, further deepening her experience within the luxury and independent eyewear market.

Between 2011 and 2016, Ms. Ooley worked as the managing optician at OPTIK PDX in Portland, Oregon. In this position, she refined her leadership and styling abilities while helping grow an independent optical retailer and overseeing its daily operations. Prior to this, she served as a regional operations manager and optician at Reynolds Optical Co. and as a product manager and frame designer at InHouse Eyewear from 2008 to 2011. These roles gave Ms. Ooley experience across nearly every facet of the optical industry, from retail operations and staff training to product development, buying, merchandising and eyewear design.

Earlier in her career, from 2006 to 2008, Ms. Ooley served as an administrative assistant at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. This foundational experience introduced her to the clinical side of eye care and contributed to the comprehensive perspective she later brought to independent optical retail.

Ms. Ooley's educational background includes studies in fine art and studio arts at Portland State in Oregon. Her background in art and design has played an important role in shaping her creative approach to eyewear, interiors, merchandising and the overall customer experience.

Throughout her career Ms. Ooley has become especially known for her instinctive approach to styling. She has developed an ability to quickly understand how shape, proportion, color and personality come together on an individual face, often identifying the right frame within the first few selections. This combination of technical optical knowledge and an intuitive eye for style has distinguished her work since the earliest years of her career.

The foundation for Ms. Ooley's success is also rooted in the partnership she shares with her husband. Their aligned values, complementary talents and willingness to build things together have carried them through numerous creative projects, home renovations and, ultimately, the creation of Ra Opticians. Their partnership has been instrumental in turning a shared vision into a business and life centered around creativity, independence and community.

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Ms. Ooley began her career working in the kind of independent optical stores she would eventually create herself. She helped optometrists launch practices, trained staff and managed operations before moving with her husband to Indianapolis, where she transitioned into wholesale roles representing leading independent eyewear brands across the country. Her introduction to optics came almost by chance when a friend helped her secure a job at an optical store in a mall. What began as a job quickly revealed both a passion and an unusual talent: she loved putting glasses on people, and she was exceptionally good at knowing which ones belonged on which faces.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Ooley is civically engaged and supports organizations and initiatives that strengthen her local community and independent businesses.

Born in Tucson and raised in Portland, Ms. Ooley enjoys cooking, discovering exceptional food and wine, traveling, designing spaces and making music. Having recently surpassed an ambitious financial milestone with Ra Opticians, she is entering the next chapter with a focus on continuing to nurture the business she and her husband have built while making room for creativity, travel and personal well-being. She also remains committed to contributing to the future of the optical industry by mentoring aspiring opticians, supporting independent business owners and inspiring new approaches to optical retail.

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