What Cleinman Performance Partners does

Cleinman Performance Partners is a privately held management consulting firm founded in 1989 by Al Cleinman and now owned by POD Marketing Inc. (CEO Kevin Wilhelm), following a 2025 acquisition. The firm provides business consulting, HR services, peer-to-peer programming, and practice transition advisory exclusively to independent optometry practice owners across North America, operating from its headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Its service portfolio spans three pillars: core consulting (one-on-one advisory, Lead by Design leadership program, FrameWorks for Opticians, HR services), transitions services (strategic assessments, practice buying and selling, succession planning, associate and partnership agreements), and performance resources (the Cleinman Connect Podcast, case studies, books and free resources, and the Cleinman Connect benchmarking platform tracking 32 KPIs). The platform combines structured consulting with an exclusive peer community of 1,000+ optometrists, supported by strategic channel partnerships with Marketing4ECPs (digital marketing) and Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (specialty insurance for optometry practices).

Cleinman generates revenue through tailored, quote-based professional services engagements on retainer or project bases with SMB optometry practices; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, combining direct consulting outreach with peer referrals, industry events, and the bundled marketing-services partnership with Marketing4ECPs under the POD Marketing parent. The technology backbone is a consultative expertise platform rather than a software product — there is no proprietary AI, mobile app, or public API; the Cleinman Connect benchmarking dashboard is the only notable software surface.

Name

Cleinman Performance Partners

Legal name

Cleinman

Website

https://cleinman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cleinman Performance Partners is a Calgary-based management consulting firm founded in 1989 that provides business consulting, HR, peer-to-peer networking, and practice transition services exclusively to independent optometry practice owners across North America, now operating under POD Marketing Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry Practice Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performance Management & Productivity Consulting (BPAHAGAL), Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA), M&A HR Advisory (Due Diligence, Integration, Carve-outs) (BPACAJAL)

Keywords

• Optometry business consulting
• Practice transition services
• Peer-to-peer networking
• Healthcare HR consulting
• Optometric succession planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Oneonta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Business Consulting Services: Cleinman generates revenue through consulting engagements with independent optometry practice owners, providing business advisory services, strategic planning, HR services, and practice transition support on a retainer or subscription basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cleinman Performance Partners provides business consulting, practice transition advisory, HR and staff development, and peer-networking services exclusively to independent optometry practice owners across North America. The firm combines one-on-one consulting engagements with peer accountability groups and the Cleinman Connect benchmarking platform (32 KPIs) to help practice owners improve revenue per patient, operational efficiency, team performance, and ownership transitions. Founded in 1989, it has served more than 1,000 doctors and now operates as part of POD Marketing Inc.

Product overview

Cleinman Performance Partners operates as a business consulting and advisory firm for independent optometry practices, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around three core pillars: business consulting (including Peer-to-Peer Network, HR Services, Lead by Design, and FrameWorks for Opticians), transition services (Strategic Assessments, Selling/Practice Buying, Succession Planning, Associate and Partnership Agreements), and performance resources (Cleinman Connect Podcast, Case Studies, Books, and Cleinman Connect benchmarking platform). The company delivers personalized one-on-one consulting combined with peer community engagement to help practice owners build wealth, achieve operational efficiency, and create enduring legacies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Consulting One-on-one consulting engagements providing strategic planning, financial analysis, operational benchmarking, and expert advisory for independent optometry practice owners seeking growth.
• Peer-to-Peer Network Exclusive peer community where independent practice owners share wisdom, hold each other accountable, and engage in wisdom-sharing groups facilitated by experienced optometry practice transition consultants.
• HR Services & Staff Programs Comprehensive HR support including organizational planning, leadership coaching, hiring and firing guidance, employee engagement surveys, and performance-enhancing programs designed to grow practice teams.
• Lead by Design Leadership development program equipping practice managers with communication skills and coaching techniques to develop people instead of managing problems.
• FrameWorks for Opticians Peer-to-peer program for opticians facilitating discussions, sharing optical best practices, and helping teams improve performance, patient care, and profitability.
• Strategic Assessments Comprehensive practice assessments that evaluate operations, finances, and systems similar to eye exams, helping identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Selling an Optometry Practice Expert guidance through practice sales, including exit planning, valuation, and navigating the transition process with trusted optometry practice transition consultants.
• Buying an Optometric Practice Support for practitioners acquiring optometric practices, including due diligence, financial analysis, and transition planning.
• Succession Planning Planning services for practice owners preparing to transition ownership, ensuring legacy preservation and smooth generational transfers.
• Associate Agreements Legal and contractual guidance for associate doctor agreements within optometry practices.
• Partnership Agreements Operating and partnership agreement support for multi-doctor or multi-owner practice structures.
• Cleinman Connect Online platform providing real-time performance benchmarks and accountability tools for partner practices, featuring 32 key performance indicators for optometry practice owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• +9% Collections Per Exam
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marketing4ECPscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing4ECPs is a digital marketing agency serving over 1,000 eye care practices. The partnership enables Cleinman to offer integrated marketing solutions alongside business consulting, providing practice owners with comprehensive growth support from a single trusted source.
• POD Marketing Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPOD Marketing Inc. is the parent company of Marketing4ECPs, SmileShop Dental Marketing, CITIZEN, and Cleinman Performance Partners. The company serves over 1,000 clients across North America in optometry, dental, and senior living industries, providing integrated digital marketing and consulting solutions.
• Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilson M. Beck Insurance Services is a boutique Canadian insurance brokerage with 13 offices across Canada. They have developed a specialized insurance program for optometry practices, offering coverage for equipment, property, business interruption, and cyber insurance with expedited claims handling through established manufacturer relationships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vision Source: Vision Source is one of the largest optometry networks in North America, offering member services that include some practice management support. It serves a broader membership-based function but overlaps with Cleinman's advisory offering for independent optometrists.
• EyeCare Partners: EyeCare Partners is a PE-backed corporate optometry platform. While not a consulting peer, its consolidation of independent practices directly reduces Cleinman's addressable market and represents the structural competitive backdrop for the vertical.
• Bain & Company: Bain is a global management consulting firm whose strategy and operations practice could compete for high-end optometry practice engagements. Comparable as a broad incumbent generalist consultancy with overlap in the management advisory space Cleinman occupies.
• ECG Management Consultants: ECG is a healthcare-focused management consulting firm serving provider organizations including specialty physician practices. Comparable as a healthcare-specialist consulting incumbent that overlaps with Cleinman's advisory work for healthcare practices.

Emerging players

• Markim Practice Advisors: Markim provides consulting and operational benchmarking for dental and optometry practices with a smaller footprint than Cleinman. Comparable as an emerging peer in the same vertical with overlapping benchmarking and consulting offerings.

Direct peers

• BSM Consulting: BSM Consulting provides practice management consulting for optometry and ophthalmology practices, including financial benchmarking and transition services. Directly comparable to Cleinman in service mix and target customer.
• IDOC: IDOC is a direct competitor serving independent optometrists with practice management consulting, vendor discounts, and benchmarking. It is the closest functional peer to Cleinman, operating in the same vertical with overlapping benchmarking and consulting offerings.
• Practice Consultants of America: Practice Consultants of America provides transition services and practice brokerage specifically for optometry and dental practices. Closely comparable to Cleinman's transitions practice around buying/selling/succession.
• PECAA: PECAA is a doctor alliance group that supports independent eye care practices with buying power, consulting, and peer networking. Comparable to Cleinman through its practice consulting and peer community model aimed at independent optometrists.

Others

• Henry Schein One / Solutions360: Henry Schein provides practice management software and adjacent advisory services to dental and optometry practices. Comparable as an enabling technology and services provider in the same vertical that intersects with Cleinman's consulting footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cleinman-performance-partners-32546251031
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleinman-performance-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleinman Performance Partners