{LICENSE LINEUP}

Kenmark Eyewear has announced the renewal of its exclusive license agreement for the development, production, and worldwide distribution of the Lilly Pulitzer eyewear brand. The agreement will extend to 2021.

{PEOPLE}

Steve Heft has joined ABB Optical Group as senior vice president of operations, bringing more than 20 years of experience in supply chain and operational leadership to the role.

Jason Arnold rejoins Coburn Technologies, Inc., as the newly appointed director of Lab Works for the U.S. market. In addition to his work with the Coburn team, Arnold had held senior sales positions with Allergan Eye Care and Kowa American Corp.

Costa has announced the addition of TJ McMeniman to the role of vice president of marketing, reporting to Holly Rush, CEO. Most recently, McMeniman led global brand strategy at BAUER Hockey.

Eyenavision, Inc., has appointed Dave Eichelberger as vice president of sales and Sue Creek as director of sales, each bringing more than 30 years of experience in the optical industry.

Texas State Optical (TSO) has announced the election of its board of directors and board officers. The following members will serve as the organization's newly appointed officers: Benny Peña, O.D., chairman of the board; Alexander Chen, O.D.; Jon House, O.D.; Reid Robertson, O.D.; Jonathan Sher, O.D.; and non-shareholder Mark Wright, O.D., president of Pathways to Success. Past chairman of the board, Stephen Stanfield, O.D., was re-elected to a new two-year term as an officer.

VSP Global announced that Michelle Skinner has been promoted to senior vice president and chief provider relations officer. In this role, Skinner will lead VSP Global’s newly formed doctor-focused division, Provider Solutions, which falls under the company’s Omni-Channel Solutions line of business.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Marcolin Group has appointed Davide Rettore as CEO North America of Marcolin USA Eyewear Corp. Rettore was most recently global brand director at Kering Eyewear. He returns to Marcolin after serving as group brand manager for two years, and as a brand manager for Roberto Cavalli Eyewear.

Johnson & Johnson Vision has acquired Sightbox, an online membership-based subscription contact lens service. J&J states that Sightbox will operate as a separate business, and will continue to offer members contact lenses from all major manufacturers.

To read more about these stories, visit eyecarebusiness.com/news/2017 .

{BUSINESS UPDATES}

The Revo brand from ClearVision Optical was named the official sunglass provider for Team USA at the 2017 Solheim Cup in West Des Moines, IA, a golf competition for professional women golfers. Additionally, the brand has collaborated with Life Time Fitness to provide members with exclusive benefits on Revo sunwear.

British eyewear brand Kirk & Kirk has announced the opening of a new American office in Philadelphia. It will be led by James Koh, who brings more than a decade of experience working with independent eyewear brands.

Safilo Group announced the opening of Belarus and Kazakhstan markets, as part of its CIS hub led out of Russia. The company also announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Valente Eyewear & Trade for the Chilean market.

{AWARDS}

Essilor was recognized by the Sustainable Business Awards, Singapore, for its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Essilor contributes to 13 of 17 United Nations SDGs.

Sean P. Donahue, M.D., Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Vanderbilt University, received the third annual Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award from Prevent Blindness and the organization’s National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health.

VSP Global has named five members of the National Optometric Student Association as recipients of the Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award: Tasneem Maner of Salus University, Sterlin Blakley of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Fayiz Mahgoub of Western University of Health Sciences, Kanesha McBee of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Britton Adams of Northeastern State University. The recipients embody the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to diversity of Dr. Poston, a founding member of VSP.

{MISCELLANEOUS}

ClearVision Optical has launched a Dilli Dalli-branded mobile game, “Red’s Journey.” Proceeds from game downloads (available on the App Store and Google Play) will be donated to Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation and Orbis International.

Two key players in the eyecare industry have made it to Forbes’ 100 Most Innovative Companies list: Essilor International (at No. 68) and Luxottica Group (at No. 76).

Prevent Blindness partnered with the Philadelphia Eagles Charitable Foundation for its seventh annual School Nurse Development meeting last month. Sponsored by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Prevent Blindness administered vision screening training and certification for 260 nurses from Philadelphia.