With decades of proven and consistent excellence in the accounting field, John Hall, BS Accounting ’93, attributes much of his professional success to his relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
While the COVID-19 pandemic crippled businesses across the world, Hall navigated uncharted waters in helping Notal Vision, a digital health company that addresses the unmet diagnostic needs in ophthalmology from the clinic to the home, emerge stronger than before. Despite challenges, the company was able to raise an astounding $60 million virtually. Hall credits the extraordinary results to an unshakable faith in the mission and team. “We did it the right way and let Notal Vision’s compelling story shine through,” he says. Whenever he speaks with a Notal Vision patient, Hall is reminded that what he does changes lives. “Notal Vision is saving the vision of our patients,” he says. “And losing vision is something people fear more than even death. Besides the mission of our organization, what really gets me excited is how I get to work across all areas of the company and with all the players to understand how we can allocate resources properly.”
A recipient of the 2021 Greater Washington Technology CFO Awards, Hall traces his foundation back to George Mason University—a place where he formed numerous relationships that have guided his career and life, including his wife, Alissa, of over 23 years.
The love that John Hall and his wife have for George Mason University is no secret—they even named their youngest son Mason. Through continued involvement with Mason students, Hall is doing his part in nurturing an environment of leadership and mentorship. He is still very active on campus through involvement in Sigma Chi, the fraternity he helped bring to the university. After serving as chapter adviser for many years, he transitioned to serving in a mentorship role for this group of young men—something he benefited from during his time at Mason.
“Walter Williams had a huge impact on me, making me examine the big picture and teaching me how to make complex issues simple,” he says. “Professor Peggy Crawford also gave me direction. I changed my major after she showed me everything I could do with accounting.” When it comes to current business students selecting mentors for their own careers, Hall says, “Find mentors of different ages, from short term, medium term, and long term, who can advise and offer perspective on navigating through different aspects of your career.”