People 

◄ James Gilchrist has been appointed as president of ABB Optical Group, a newly created role with a focus on aligning ABB’s business pillars and commercial teams. Gilchrist brings experience from serving as president of retail and chief transformation officer for the U.S. market at WS Audiology and as a member of Essilor’s executive committee and senior management team. Additionally, Jordan Burke was named general manager and vice president of the business solutions pillar, bringing more than 17 years of experience with senior-level roles in technology companies, including Weave.

Coburn Technologies has welcomed Rodrigo Neria to its global sales team as the sales responsible for Latin America, having most recently served as key account manager for Latin America at Latamoptical.

◄ Eyeporters has named Julie Chi vice president of product and business management, a newly created role that involves product development, design, and business management. Chi brings domestic and international eyewear industry experience from previous roles at De Rigo, Privé Revaux, and Peepers.  

Rebekah Lin, O.D., FAAO, has joined Lighthouse Guild’s team of low vision specialists. Dr. Lin previously served as assistant clinical professor at the SUNY College of Optometry and University Eye Center in New York City and as a co-instructor of the low vision elective program, coordinator of the low vision laboratory, and supervisor of the Low Vision Ocular Disease Micro-Credential Program.

The Vision Council has appointed Suzanne Krauss as director of trade shows to help drive opportunities for growth and development at Vision Expo East and West. Most recently, Krauss served as industry relations manager on the Vision Expo RX Global team for 16 years.

Business Updates

Cherry Optical Lab and Horizons Optical have partnered to accelerate the implementation of new technologies in the U.S. market of the optical ophthalmic industry.

VSP Vision has been recognized by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) with the NOD Leading Disability Employer Seal for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including employment and advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Awards

Susan Oleszewski, O.D., MA, FAAO, professor emeritus at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, has been honored with the Lighthouse Award at Salus University’s 16th annual Looking Out for Kids charity fundraiser, which raised funds for economically disadvantaged, underinsured, and uninsured children in need of vision and hearing services in Philadelphia. 

Lighthouse Guild has announced the recipients of its 2023 awards for significant accomplishments in vision science, technological innovation, and advocacy for people with vision impairment: Wiley A. Chambers, M.D., earned the Alfred W. Bressler Prize for Outstanding Advancements in Vision Science; Saqib Shaikh was honored with the Pisart Award in Technological Innovation; and congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was chosen to deliver the Dr. Alan R. Morse Lecture in Advocacy.

The SUNY College of Optometry has received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine to recognize the college’s work through a variety of programs including the Community Book Project, the “Race in Optometry” webinar series, Pathway programs, and a series of on-campus and high school open houses.

For the third year in a row, Kristi Cappelletti-Matthews, chief human resources officer (CHRO) at VSP Vision, has been honored in N2Growth’s 2023 Learders40: Top CHRO List, which honors influential and innovative HR leaders worldwide.

In Memoriam

Howard G. Nordyke of Howard’s Optical, a successful independent opticianry founded by Nordyke over 50 years ago, passed away on Nov. 16 at the age of 86. Visit tinyurl.com/NordykeObit for his full obituary.