WHAT'S NEW - FYI

PEOPLE

Jeff Grumbling has joined Carl Zeiss Vision as director of Rx labs for the Western region. He will oversee all operational aspects of CZV-owned labs in the western U.S. His 20-year optical industry career includes Pearle Vision and Wal-Mart, where he most recently served as divisional manager/ manufacturing and logistics.

Duke Montague, account manager, PPG

PPG has appointed Duke Montague account manager, optical materials, Americas. He will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with Optical Materials' key accounts in North and South America. He joined PPG in 2001.

 Nteon Software, LLC, announces the appointment of Robert Mezzadri to manager of development and planning for EyeCOR ophthalmic medical coding systems.

Greg Peterson has been promoted to vice president of product development for Viva International Group. Peterson is a 15-year veteran of the company, and was most recently director of product development.

Timm Parker, director product development, Sàfilo USA

Sàfilo USA has appointed Timothy (Timm) Parker as director of product development. Overseeing Sàfilo USA's product development department, he will manage the overall development process, design direction, and trend forecasting for all domestic-based licensed, proprietary and private label eyewear brands. He was previously vice president of product development for Lantis Eyewear.

The Kenmark Group has promoted Joe Cipriano to regional sales manager, responsible for the Los Angeles area and southwest territory in California. Cipriano began his career at Kenmark in 1999 as a sales representative for northern Los Angeles.

BUSINESS UPDATES

Eyefinity and Walman Optical are developing a new interface to expedite lab orders placed on Eyefinity. The new interface eliminates the need for the lab to manually enter orders; orders are sent directly into the lab's software system for processing. It will be installed in all Walman Optical labs throughout the remainder of this year. Eyefinity will also provide marketing services for Walman's optical lab network.

VSP-Columbus, a subsidiary of Vision Service Plan, has become the latest authorized laboratory and distributor for INDO lens products,

Beitler McKee Optical of Pittsburgh, Pa., has rejoined the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA). Joining the association as new members are The Spectacle Shoppe of Warsaw, Ind., and Venasse Optical, Inc., of North Bay, Ontario, Canada.