fyi

News bites from the industry

Lindsey Aspinall Getz

PEOPLE
Phil Cohen, new v.p. of sales/marketing at ESE	Brandon Keller, new account exec with Shamir	Charles Murdoch, new account exec with Shamir
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has promoted Donna Lock to executive director of the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE). In her new role, Lock will work with the AAOE board of directors to oversee strategic direction and will lead membership recruitment and retention initiatives. Eastern States Eyewear recently named Phil Cohen the new vice president of sales and marketing. Since joining the company in 1984, Cohen is one of only two people to win ESE's Ben Shyer award, a long-term achievement award. He has also received the company's Salesperson of the Year award. REM Eyewear has hired industry veteran Daniel Lai as the sales director for Asia. Lai will oversee the sales of REM's brands in 10 different countries. He has 17 years of experience in the optical industry, particularly in Asia. Shamir Insight has added Brandon Keller as an account executive. Keller joins the company from Holden Optical where he was an optician. In his role as account executive, he will cover California's Inland Empire and Reno, Nev. The company has also added Charles Murdoch as an account executive. He joins Shamir from Luxottica Group and will be covering the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando, Fla., territories. Hydrogel Vision Corporation has hired Edward Lohmann as the company's new area sales director for the western U.S. Lohmann brings more than 30 years of experience in the contact lens industry.
The new Match Eyewear building, located in Mineola, N.Y.

AWARDS

Eastern States Eyewear has announced that it will be renaming its Salesperson of the Year award the "Felix" in recognition of former vice president Felix Perry, who recently passed away. Western regional manager Joy Emry Johnson was the first recipient of the Felix. The company also awarded Julie Tucker with the Rookie of the Year award.

BUSINESS UPDATES

Match Eyewear has moved into its new location in Mineola, N.Y. The 17,000 square foot building will provide space for an expanded warehouse and distribution center, new administrative offices, an IT department, and product development and marketing departments.

Transitions Optical, Inc., and "Wheel of Fortune" teamed up to bring viewers a message about UV protection. In April, during the show's "Fun in the Sun Week," messages about Transitions lenses were featured throughout the night. In addition to commercials, a tag on the wheel gave contestants the chance to win cash prizes with a matching donation to Prevent Blindness America through the Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund.

With the established success of Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism CLs, Vistakon plans to discontinue Acuvue Brand Toric CLs. After January 2008, Vistakon will supply Acuvue Toric only while supplies last. To help Acuvue Toric patients make a smooth transition to Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism, Vistakon is offering a $75 rebate to patients following an eye exam and purchase of a year's supply of Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism CLs.

The Contact Lens Council has announced a series of initiatives to help educate consumers about contact lenses and lens care and to provide ECPs with practical tools and information. The initiatives include a website redesign and an in-office training tool that will help ECPs ease the need for hands-on, front office training by teaching staff how to answer patient questions and offer CL option counseling.

HOYA Vision Care North America has acquired Volunteer Optical, a full-service prescription laboratory based in Knoxville, Tenn. With estimated 2006 gross sales of approximately $2.7 million, Volunteer Optical produces eyewear primarily for independent ECPs. The lab has 26 employees, derives sales from customers primarily in Tennessee and Kentucky, and was founded in 1983 by J.B. Morgan.

Signet Armorlite has become a Silver National Sponsor of Optometry Giving Sight in the U.S., a global fundraising initiative specifically targeting the prevention of blindness due to refractive error. Last year, more than $100,000 was allocated to priority projects. Current estimates are that 250 million people worldwide are functionally blind or vision impaired due to having no eye exam or glasses.

MEMORIAL

Linda Macchio, vice president of customer operations for New York Eye for over 13 years, has passed away. In addition to her years of service at New York Eye, she also worked previously for Charles Schmall while at Optique du Monde for more than seven years.

Linda is survived by her husband Robert, children, Victoria and Scott, grandson, Nicholas, and mother, Blanche. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Nassau County Medical Center, 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, N.Y. 11554.