fyi

News bites from the industry

Tara Rosenzweig

PEOPLE

HVHC Inc., a Highmark company, has appointed two vision industry veterans to key executive positions: Kelly Carter has been named vice president of merchandising and sales development for Eye Care Centers of America (ECCA). He will manage and direct all elements of ECCA's frame and accessory merchandising and buying and store visual merchandising. Sherry Lay has joined Viva International Group as the company's executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Lay will be responsible for merchandising, brand management, marketing, business development, and inventory planning. Volk Optical and Keeler, both members of Halma p.l.c.'s Health and Analysis division, have appointed Mahadev Dhuri as India sales manager for the two ophthalmic companies. Dhuri will serve Volk and Keeler customers and distributors throughout India, offering educational and sales support for both companies' product lines. ProFit Optix recently filled three top management positions. Steve Brewer was named executive vice president, sales and business development. He has 34 years of optical industry experience and has worked with Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision, and Essilor of America. Bruce Winslow was named vice president, sales-independent markets. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and previously held a number of positions at Bausch & Lomb. Tom Lyon was named national director of business development-optical laboratories. He has 40 years of optical industry experience, including at Rodenstock, Serengeti, and Signet Armorlite.

AWARDS

At the ABO-NCLE Education Conference held recently in Ohio, the National Opticians Association (NAO) awarded the following winners: Gaye Wilson, Certificate of Appreciation; Diane Drake, Joseph Bruneni Memorial Education Achievement Award; Daniel W. Sullivan and Michael DiSanto (posthumously), Hall of Fame inductees; and Blair Wong, Beverly Myers Achievement Award.

Janice Giannola of SVS Vision in Harrison Township, Mich., and Malbar Vision Center in Omaha, Neb., are the grand prize winners in the "Go Small. LIVE LARGE" promotion from Carl Zeiss Vision in collaboration with Transitions Optical. The grand prize options consist of a trip for four including airfare, accommodations, and expenses to the winners' destination choice of Hawaii, Key West, Lake Tahoe, or Nantucket, plus a personal assistant package.

NIDEK, Marco, and Santinelli executives meet to discuss strategies

BUSINESS UPDATES

The three U.S. distributors of the optical, ophthalmic, and diagnostic products engineered by NIDEK Co. Ltd., recently met with the Japan-based company's executive management team to develop strategies to leverage their collective brand strength. NIDEK Inc., Marco Ophthalmic, and Santinelli International are the United Statesbased innovator partner leaders of NIDEK Company Limited's ophthalmic and surgical products, diagnostic products, and lens edging products, respectively.