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PEOPLE

Marchon announces the senior executive appointment of Mark Ginsberg as senior vice president of global marketing. In addition to his current responsibilities as senior vice president fashion brands, design, and product development for the New York portfolio, Ginsberg will also be responsible for the corporate global marketing services for Marchon. Ginsberg will report directly to Claudio Gottardi, Marchon's president and CEO Marchon International. Ginsberg has been part of the Marchon family since September 2002. WVA (Wisconsin Vision Associates) has appointed Chad Moder as director of sales. Chad formerly was a regional account manager for Bausch+Lomb. In his new role, Moder will oversee and help provide direction, marketing resources, and support to WVA's 21 field reps. Kathryn Ring is the new Guild of Prescription Opticians chairperson. Owner of Eye Services of Jackson in Jackson, Mich., she graduated from the opticianry program at Ferris State University in 1972 and is ABO certified. In addition, she received the 1994 Distinguished Service Award from the Opticianry Association of Michigan. NSL Analytical has hired Ray Wymer as COO, Anil Joshi as quality assurance manager, and Rich Balamut as manager of business development, Northeast Region.

Marchon's Marc Ginsberg WVA's (Wisconsin Vision Associates) Chad Moder

GOOD DEEDS

Essilor of America is continuing its program that provides second-year students at National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) with the opportunity to join industry organizations at no cost. The program will once again include the National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) and Opticians Association of America (OAA) as well as new partner Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA). The program is a joint venture between all five parties and is funded by Essilor.

Prevent Blindness' Third Annual America Swing For Sight Golf Tournament, held on October 6 at the Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas, raised nearly $140,000 for the organization's programs and services. Tournament prize winners were first place, Advantica Eyewear; second place, Transitions Optical; and, third place, Satisloh.

AWARDS

Long Island Business News has named ClearVision Optical the winner in the Healthy Workplace category of the Health Care Hero Awards. ClearVision Optical was presented with the honor at a special breakfast held on Nov. 4 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The frame company offers healthy workplace initiatives and programs such as free health insurance, Monday night yoga classes, wellness week, and more.

Satisloh and National Optronics have announced the winners of 42'' Panasonic high definition TVs given to booth visitors during International Vision Expo West. The winners are: Carol Lamy, Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc.; Mary Nelson, Maui Jim Sunglasses; Elizabeth Patterson, Vision Pointe; and Matthew Williams, NOSTRA.

Vision-Ease Lens has been named 168th on the Information Week 500 list this year, which ranks the nation's most innovative users of business technology. VEL's IT department developed “Lenny,” a new architecture for a Microsoft SharePoint-based intranet system that houses much of the company's resources.

The American Optometric Association's (AOA) Paraoptometric Section is seeking nominations for the Paraoptometric of the Year Award (POY), given annually to the optometric assistant or technician who has made outstanding and worthwhile contributions to the profession of optometry, paraoptometry, and the general public. State Paraoptometric of the Year award winners are also eligible for the national nomination. Any previously nominated POY nominees who did not win may be nominated again.

Nominees must be a member of the AOA Paraoptometric Section in order to be eligible. Nominations must be received by AOA on or prior to Feb. 1, 2011.

The award for the 2011 winner will be presented on June 16, 2011, during Optometry's Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The winner will be featured in a video and will receive a plaque, round-trip airfare to Optometry's Meeting, three nights' lodging at the headquarters hotel, and $500 to help defray the travel expenses. The award has been funded by CIBA Vision.

INFO: 800-365-2219, ext. 4108, or email JMAprahamian@aoa.org.

BUSINESS UPDATES

Shamir has teamed up with Eyefinity/OfficeMate to get out the word on its new Freeform Certification program. Online banner ads will inform ECPs who visit the Eyefinity/OfficeMate site, plus targeted emails will keep ECPs in the know, company representatives note.

First Insight Corporation announced today that MaximEyes SQL Electronic Health Records, Version 1.1.0.0, is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as an EHR Module on Nov. 2, 2010, by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable eligible provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Allentown Optical has acquired a CCSII AR coating machine

The 2011/2012 criteria support the Stage 1 meaningful use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Leybold Optics, USA, announces that Allentown Optical has acquired state-of-the-art anti-reflective coating technology, specifically a CCSII AR coating machine and premium AR coating processes.

The acquisition of this equipment and technology from Leybold Optics will allow Allentown to better serve their customers by bringing their A/R coating production in-house, the company notes. Allentown Optical underwent a significant facilities expansion to add this equipment coupled with intensive staff training.

VSP Global unveiled its second series of ‘VSP Global Spark,’ an optometric practice makeover program designed to help private practice eyecare professionals strengthen and grow their business. Its second makeover mission travels to the Columbus, Ohio, practice of VSP provider Dr. Steven Curtis of Riverview Eye Associates. VSP director of corporate services, Steve Hibbs, hosts the second practice makeover. The first webisode is now available at vspglobal.com/spark, and new webisodes will be released every few weeks.

Zoom Focus Eyewear, LLC, based in Van Nuys, Calif., has changed its name to Superfocus, LLC, and rebranded its Trufocals product as Superfocus eyewear.

INFO: www.superfocus.com.

Homer Optical, an independent wholesale lab headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., now offers Express Digital Delivery—Guaranteed. Uncut digital orders placed by noon are shipped within 24 hours, and complete digital orders are shipped in 48 hours. The company also offers “Demystifying Digital” training.

The 14th Annual EastWest Eye Conference hosted the Guild Opticians meeting. Awards and elections included: Brian Mathie, OD, was Optometrist of the Year; Rob Engel, OD, was named Young Optometrist of the Year; Tom Bobst, OD, was Key Optometrist of the Year; and Laura Lossing was recognized as Student of the Year.

The organization's newly elected officers include: Heath Gilbert, OD, president; Don Faimon, OD, president-elect; Brenda Montecalvo, secretary-treasurer.

EyeDesign's Milan Collection

CLARIFICATION

The image on Feature article "Fantastic Furnishings" of the October issue of Eyecare Business featured furnishings from EyeDesign's Milan collection.