WHAT'S NEW - FYI
By Kim Aubrey-Larcinese

Transitions Optical's Bill Gant
Viva International Group's Greg Peterson
VisionWeb's Dr. Stan Yamane

PEOPLE

Bill Gant has joined Transitions Optical as the company's marketing specialist, national retail and lens manufacturers. He is responsible for the development of marketing programs in the U.S. and Canada for some of the company's largest retail accounts, and will work with account executives to develop programs to meet their customers' needs.

Jason Fligman has been named Santinelli International's new client services manager. With Santinelli for six years and previously serving as the company's technical support supervisor, he is now responsible for the overall growth and success of the Dispatch and Call Center. He will report directly to Matt McKenna, director of client services.

Eyecare practice management consulting firm The Power Practice has expanded its staff. Craig Steinberg, OD, JD, is director of legal services; Alan Homestead, OD, is billing and coding specialist; and Eric J. Karson is director of strategic marketing and research.

Viva International Group has promoted director of product development Greg Peterson to vice president of product development. Peterson has been with Viva for 15 years and has served the company in a variety of roles.

Dr. Stan Yamane has joined VisionWeb as vice president of professional relations. Yamane ran a multi-doctor optometric practice in Hawaii for 24 years and was vice president of professional affairs at Vistakon from 1992 through 2004.

BUSINESS UPDATES

CooperVision plans to transfer distribution and packaging operations in Henrietta, N.Y.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and San Fran-cisco to a newly built facility in the Rochester, N.Y., area. Construction of the 241,000 square-foot, $8 million dollar facility began this summer. This move will allow one point of contact and invoice for all Cooper-Vision orders.

Optical Services International, an association of independent U.S. wholesale labs, announced the addition of Truckee Meadows Optical, in Sparks, Nev., and Better Optics, in Austell, Ga., to the association.

Ten new members have joined the Vision Council of America: Bo Optik, Inc.; Bierley Associates, Inc.; Ocusource.com, LLC; Techtran Polylenses Limited; Future Optics; Interstate Optical; NEA Optical; Ozarks Optical; Tri City Optical; and Vision Optics Technologies, Ltd.

AWARDS

Trivex has been recognized by the American Optometric Association as the first category of lens material to meet the requirements of the AOA Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers. Any lens made with Trivex meets the Seal's criteria.

Vision Service Plan (VSP) has been recognized as one of Computer-world's Best Places to Work in IT. VSP was ranked number 31 on the list this year.

GOOD WORKS

The Vision Council of America has joined with Reading Is Fundamental, Inc., to educate parents and teachers about the link between healthy vision and learning. Public service announcements will be distributed to print and broadcast media, as well as through the VCA and RIF.

SAVE THE DATE

(Oct. 21 to 24, Silmo, Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center, Paris. Order badges, print out a show guide, and arrange meetings at www.silmo.fr.