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by Lindsey Aspinall Getz

PEOPLE
Marcia Parsons, new CFO of Framescape	Jeffrey Nardoci, new v.p. and GM at B&L	Bobby Sutton, new insides sales manager at PSI
Framescape has appointed Marcia Parsons chief financial officer (CFO). Parsons comes to the company with more than 20 years' experience in financial management and consulting. She previously served as the CFO for Maui Jim from 1987 through 2003, helping the brand to grow from a startup to a major contender. Since 2004, Parsons managed her own financial consulting firm. Zeal Optics has announced the addition of Andy Palmer to the company's sales team. He will serve as the new global sales director. Bill Stecchi, national sales manager, will team with Palmer to drive Zeal's sales nationwide. Palmer will be based out of the company's new Boulder-area sales office and showroom located in Longmont, Colo. Bausch & Lomb has named Jeffrey Nardoci as the vice president and general manager, U.S. lens care and over-the-counter products. Nardoci will be responsible for overseeing the company's development and execution of marketing, sales, and advertising initiatives. He was formerly the vice president of marketing for B&L's OTC/Rx pharmaceuticals commercial organization. Bobby Sutton was recently appointed the new inside sales manager at Practical Systems, Inc. (PSI). He will be responsible for building sales with existing and prospective retail customers as well as managing and growing the company's sales department. Sutton joins PSI with more than 10 years of inside sales experience from his former position with Essilor of America.

BUSINESS UPDATES

Reaching out to the community to help meet the eye health needs of Hispanic consumers, Transitions Optical, Inc., and JCPenney Optical supported the National Alliance for Hispanic Health by providing complimentary vision screenings during the "�Vive Tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!" family health fair event in East Los Angeles, Calif. In addition to the screenings, the event provided the opportunity for Transitions and JCPenney to offer education on the importance of healthy sight and UV protection, including steps that can be taken for future eye protection.

"When Image Driverwear lenses were launched we contacted paitents who had expressed interest 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

Advantica EyeCare, a Florida-based vision plan company, has added to its benefits plans with coverage including photochromic lenses and progressive lenses in all of its vision plans. Plan members can now purchase all photochromic brands, including Transitions lenses, at a substantial savings. The addition of photochromics and progressive coverage is one in a series of steps the company has been taking to create programs that reflect an increasing acknowledgement of the value of premium lens options to enhance and protect vision.

CooperVision's Online Learning Center, a free education resource for practitioners and staff to receive CL training and support, has received outstanding interest and participation since its introduction in May. Participants have already enrolled and taken part in nearly 2,000 classes to date. Visit http://learning.coopervision.com to learn more or enroll in various educational opportunities.

AWARDS

Pierre La Fahler, former vice president of international development for Essilor, was the recipient of the American Optometric Association's Apollo Award at the AOA "Optometry's Meeting" held in June. The award recognizes "distinguished service to the visual welfare of the public," and was accepted by La Fahler's daughters. La Fahler joined Essel in 1951, which merged with Silor in the 1970s. Among his numerous achievements, La Fahler helped to introduce the Varilux 2 progressive addition lens to the U.S. market.

Hoya Vision Care North America has awarded $14,000 in grants and a $6,000 scholarship to students from optometry schools in North America. Students at participating universities wrote case studies that prescribed Hoya products to solve patient vision problems. Faculty at each school chose the winning case study and $1,000 grant recipient. Brian Zwanziger of Northeastern State University was selected from among the grant recipients to also receive a $6,000 scholarship.

"Stunning contract 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

"Driverwear 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

Four lucky Silhouette customers were grand prize winners of the Titan Minimal Art SPACE RACE Sweepstakes. They received an all-expense paid trip for two including an oceanfront hotel, a tour of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., a welcome reception, and a photo opportunity with Marsha Ivins, a veteran NASA astronaut. But perhaps the most exciting part of the trip was witnessing a live NASA shuttle launch on the Kennedy Space Center's private rooftop area.

In order to support and inspire the next generation of optometrists, Transitions Optical, Inc., is sponsoring the Optometry Scholarship Program to reward 10 outstanding students for their drive to promote healthy sight to patients. Supported by the Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund, the program will encourage optometry students to create projects exploring "Healthy Sight Counseling." Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $500 each to students who demonstrate a clear understanding of the integration of vision care, vision wear, and education into everyday practice. Transitions announced the scholarships at the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) breakfast, which was held during the American Optometric Association's annual Optometry's Meeting.

Winners of the Silhouette SPACE RACE

Carl Zeiss Vision (CZV) announced the final winner of the company's A Easy Tropical Shopping Spree Sweepstakes. Professional Vision Associates of Towson, Md., was the winning practice. The sweepstakes gave ECPs one grand prize entry with each pair of 1.67 clear, and two entries with 1.67 Transitions lenses. The winning pair was ordered through B&W Optical of Baltimore.