PEOPLE

Johnson & Johnson Vision appointed Peter Menziuso as worldwide president, vision care. Menziuso replaces Swami Raote, who retired last year following a 29-year tenure with the company.

Judith Katzen, MSW, has been named director of rehabilitation services at Lighthouse Guild. Katzen recently served as director of Catholic charities community services at Catholic Guild for the Blind.

The National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) announced that Kate Renwick-Espinosa, president of VSP Vision Care, will assume NAVCP’s chairwoman role after the announcement of Kirk Rothrock’s retirement as CEO of Versant Health.

Jean-François Lacasse was appointed vice president of business development for New Look Vision Group. Lacasse brings 30-plus years of experience to the role, with previous work in sales management, business development, and integration with contact lens and ophthalmic lenses manufacturers.

The Vision Council inducted the following members to its board of directors for a first one-year term as officers: Karen Roberts of Carl Zeiss Vision as chair, Scott Shapiro of Europa Eyewear as vice chair, Dustin LaValley of Walman Optical as secretary/treasurer, and Ken Bradley of Eschenbach Optik of America as immediate past chair. Sherianne James of Essilor of America was confirmed for a second two-year term as director at large, and the following members were confirmed to serve an initial two-year term as directors at large: Ross Brownlee of Hilco Vision, Tiffanie Burkhalter of VSP Ventures, Kevin Cross of Schneider Optical Machines, Inc., and Sue Downes of MyEyeDr. Additionally, Fabrizio Uguzzoni of Luxottica Wholesale N.A. was confirmed for a one-year extension of his expiring at-large term.

VSP Global’s board of directors named Mary Anne C. Murphy, O.D., chair of the board for a two-year term.

BUSINESS UPDATES

Zeiss Vision Care has acquired U.S. Vision’s optical laboratory in Blackwood, NJ. As part of the transaction, Zeiss hired 150 former U.S. Vision employees.

AWARDS

◄ The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) announced its 2021 award honorees. Gai Gherardi, co-founder and co-designer of l.a.Eyeworks, will receive the Pleiades award, recognizing her role in advancing the leadership of women in the optical industry. Debbie Myres, owner of Visual Inspirations, will receive the Pyxis award, which honors an OWA member who participates in the organization and contributes to its growth.

In honor of Alan Ritter, vision care leader and one of the founders of The Vision Council, who passed away in July 2020, Vision Expo has established the Alan C. Ritter Innovation Award. Given to an individual or group that brings progressive change to the industry, the inaugural recipient was the Open Your Eyes scholarship program, a recently launched 501(c)(3) charity created by The Vision Council through the Better Vision Institute. The program aims to support high school students in marginalized communities throughout the U.S. who have an interest in pursuing a career in the optical industry.

MISCELLANEOUS

Columbus, OH-based medical tech startup Sight4All has changed its name to OcuDoc. Its mobile eye-care diagnostic technology, TESA—The EyeSight App, has been renamed as OcuDoc Mobile.

IN MEMORIAM

◄ Essilor has shared that Bernard Maitenaz, the inventor of the Varilux progressive lens, passed away in his home city of Paris at the age of 94. Maitenaz was one of the founders of Essilor Group in 1972, and he oversaw a period of major international growth while at the helm of the company between 1981 and 1991. For more on Maitenaz: bit.ly/BernardMaitenaz.

◄ Malbar Vision announced the passing of its founder, Stanley Malashock, O.D., on Jan. 29 at the age of 94. Since its start in 1950, the business has grown to a multidoctor, five-location practice in the Omaha, NE, metro area. The company has shared that Dr. Malashock was an early innovator of franchising for optometry, and in 1973, he founded Omaha-based International Contact Lens.