WHAT'S NEW - FYI
By Kim Aubrey-Larcinese

Marcolin USA's COO Mike Teresa

PEOPLE

Thomas A. George has been named CFO of Ophthonix, Inc. Previously CFO of Oakley, Inc., and REMEC, an electronics company, George will oversee all financial controls, organization, and relationships at Ophthonix.

The following personnel shifts have been announced for Carl Zeiss Optical: New regional general managers are David Cross representing the Asia/Pacific region; Barry Packham for the Americas; Rudolf Spiller representing Central and Eastern Europe; and Mark Ashcroft for Western Europe.

Expansion has been in the air at Shamir Insight lately. Several regional account executives have been added, including Scott Bracken, Colorado and Utah; Aaron Dynes, Ohio; Jeff Pilkington, Iowa and northern Illinois; Kara Massengale, Oklahoma and Texas; Adrienne Sikman, southern California; and Jonathan Simon, Pennsylvania.

Marcolin USA, Inc., has named Mike Teresa as its new COO. He will work from Marcolin's U.S. headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz.

An overview of the meeting floor at SECO this year

WINNER'S CIRCLE

At the SECO International House of Delegates meeting earlier this year, three awards for significant contributions to the profession of optometry were bestowed. SECO's highest honor, the Optometrist of the South award, went to Jerald Combs, OD. Susan Henry, patient care manager for Richard S. Katz, OD, Optometric Eyecare Associates, was named Paraoptometric of the South. Legislator of the Year went to Tennessee State Representative Gary Odom, director of the Tennessee Opto-metric Association since 1981.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) has launched a new program to promote licensure mobility—the Council on Endorsed Licensure Mobility for Optometrists (CELMO). CELMO assists state optometry boards in reviewing applications for licensure from established practitioners in other jurisdictions by providing uniform and consistent endorsement. Currently, 11 states are licensed by endorsement. Optometrists can call ARBO at 314-785-6000 or visit www.arbo.org to learn about CELMO fees, forms, and program requirements.

Specialist Data Solutions entered into a formal agreement with ShopKo Stores for the use of SDS optical practice management solutions and software. ShopKo operates 140 stores with optical centers in 15 states across the Midwest, Mountain, and Pacific Northwest regions.

GOOD WORKS

Transitions Optical has launched a school outreach program, giving ECPs and educators tools to educate middle school children about healthy vision. The multifaceted program brings Transitions' "Eye Didn't Know That" science center exhibit into classrooms.

The Transitions program puts vision lesson plans that are tied to national education standards in the hands of teachers and school administrators. Lessons cover anatomy of the eye, importance of eye protection, and the dangers of UV radiation.

CIBA Vision has partnered with Upromise, a non-governmental service helping families save for college. Upromise members earn three percent of the purchase price toward college when they buy CIBA Vision contact lens care products.

SAVE THE DATE

(Eschenbach's "Low Vision Care—What's It All About?" workshop is touring the U.S. and Canada this year, with seminars in many major cities. For a complete list of locations and dates, call 800-487-5389 or visit www.eschenbach.com.

(Lighthouse International is offering the Comprehensive Clinical Low Vision Care course on June 14 to 16 and Sept. 27 to 29 in New York City. The three-day course on evaluating and prescribing for patients with low vision for the MD and OD costs $695 and qualifies for COPE and CME credit. Contact Cathy Czeto at 212-821-9487, E-mail cczeto@lighthouse.org, or visit www.lighthouse.org/ce.

(Take advantage of an opportunity to build new business in the Asian markets at the 18th International Optical Fair Tokyo (IOFT 2005) being held Oct. 12 to 14 at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan. To learn more, call 81-3-3349-8508, E-mail ioft-eng@reedexpo.co.jp, or visit www.ioft.jp/english.

(The Opticians Association of America has announced that the 2005 National Opticians' Convention will be held Oct. 20 to 23 in New Orleans and will host several continuing education tracks, inclu-ding ABO-, NCLE-, and JCAHPO-approved credit courses, management seminars, and industry exhibits. For more information, call OAA at 800-433-8997.