fyi

by Lindsey Aspinall Getz

PEOPLE
Robyn Wilson, new hire of Standard Optical	Bob Jones, new sales hire of Live Eyewear	Nathan Troxell, new marketing manager at PPG
Robert S. Weiss is the new CEO of The Cooper Companies, Inc. He will succeed A. Thomas Bender effective November 1. Weiss joined the company in 1977. He has been a member of Cooper's board of directors and has held many senior management roles, most recently executive vice president and COO, as well as president of CooperVision. Standard Optical, a Utah-based comprehensive eyewear and eyecare business, has added Robyn Wilson as the new director of store operations. For this position, Wilson received an American Board of Opticianry certification with honors in preparation. As director of store operations, Wilson oversees operations ranging from finances to customer service. Live Eyewear has appointed Bob Jones national optical sales manager. Jones has experience as a business owner and sales leader. He will primarily focus on developing and supporting the company's key accounts and will be based out of the company's headquarters in San Luis Obispo, Calif. PPG Industries, Inc., has appointed Nathan Troxell, as marketing manager, optical materials. Troxell will be responsible for developing a strategic approach to marketing and working closely with customers in order to help them grow their businesses with PPG products. Troxell joins the company from American Eagle Outfitters where he was marketing manager. Previously, he managed trade and consumer promotions for Transitions Optical.

BUSINESS UPDATES

AIT has changed its corporate image to unify with parent company Indo. AIT's new image brings it in line with Indo's corporate philosophy in three key areas: innovation, internationalization, and human resources. Indo's new image and logo have been implemented in 80 countries worldwide.

In an effort to educate physical education teachers, coaches, and parents about the importance of eye safety in sports for children, the Vision Council of America's Check Yearly. See Clearly. and the National Association for Sport & Physical Education (NASPE), have partnered to distribute eye safety kits. Over 20,000 kits were distributed to NASPE members and PE teachers.

"When Image Drivewear lenses were launched we contacted patients who had expressed intrest in progressives. By far, the majority decided to order them and in the months since their release we have heard nothing but praise."

– Alan Greenhill, OD Melbourne, Australia

Eye Care Boot Camp by Robertson Optical of Greenville, S.C., is making a return and will be held on Saturday mornings at least quarterly. Boot camp offers ECPs a chance to develop skills and abilities such as techniques for effective communication or how to improve photochromic sales. Visit www.robertsonoptical.com.

COLTS Laboratories celebrated its 10-year anniversary in September. Ten years ago, the company started out in the ophthalmic field and has since grown into other areas. COLTS offers an FDA-approved impact-testing program designed to protect the surfacing lab and the edging dispenser.

Robertson Optical is once again hosting its Eye Care Boot Camp. It has run for three successful years

The AOA Paraoptometric Section recently announced the newest addition to its series of education modules for paraoptometric professionals. "Soft Contact Lens Wear and Care" is now available and will be provided free to all Paraoptometric Section members, compliments of Bausch & Lomb. For more information on educational materials provided by the AOA, visit www.aoa.org.

Eyefinity has announced a partnership with optical manufacturing software company Digital Vision Inc. (DVI). The partnership is expected to streamline ordering in numerous optical labs and provide better service to thousands of private practices.

The Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Institute, LLC, is offering its AchieveVision Program to Olympic athletes and hopefuls. The program will assess and help optimize athletes' visual skills in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The men's and women's U.S. archery and soccer teams will be the first to try the program.

OSA International and Zeiss Vision Group have entered an exclusive agreement to use Carl Zeiss sunlenses in all Chrome Hearts sunwear collections. Exclusive lens colors are being created and will only be available in the Chrome Hearts collections.

Amy Sacks Eyewear's Pixie Project, a non-profit organization devoted to animal adoption and pet spay and neuter services for low-income families, has opened an adoption center and retail store in Portland. For more information, visit www.pixieproject.org.

"Stunning contrast sensitivity improvement in the car. Cuts right through the smog and haze, while allowing enough light for comfortable, clear vision. And it really does adjust for lighting conditions".

– Robert Glass, OD Costa Mesa, CA

"Drivewear is like a pair of old jeans, they're so comfortable! And the contrast is phenomenal. Sharpens in all conditions: we've had rain, fog and even a little sunshine!"

– Janet Benjamin, President, Laramy K Optical

REM Eyewear has announced the opening of its showroom and customer service center in the Kowloon Bay section of Hong Kong. Daniel Lai has been appointed to manage the new headquarters.

AWARDS

Four lucky eyecare practices were winners of HOYA's "Go for the Green" August drawing: Eye Designs Optometry in Sacramento, Calif., Ketchikan Eye Care Center in Ketchikan, Alaska., Madison Ave Optical in Seattle, and The Eye Team, Inc., in Sandusky, Ohio were all winners of the $5,000 cash prize. All game cards must be redeemed and postmarked by Nov. 30 for the grand prize of a Lexus GS 450h Hybrid lease.

Corning Incorporated has announced its 2007 "SunSensors SA Lab Partner" contest winners. This year's winners were Bill Heffner, owner of FEA Industries, and Mitchel Hirsch, owner of M.H. Optical Labs.