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Tara Rosenzweig

PEOPLE

From top: Practical Systems, Inc.'s Chris Farris; Gerber Coburn's Randall Baldwin; REM Eyewear's Trisha Navidzadeh

Practical Systems, Inc. (PSI), announced that Chris Farris is their new technical sales manager in the midwestern U.S. In his new role, he will represent PSI's line of supplies and equipment for surfacing and finishing labs. Randall Baldwin has been named the director of marketing at Gerber Coburn. He will be responsible for product management, marketing communications, and strategic marketing initiatives. Baldwin joined the business unit in 2001 as group product manager and was promoted to director of surfacing and coating products in 2005. REM Eyewear has appointed Trisha Navidzadeh to the position of brand champion for Converse. Navidzadeh will focus on global brand strategies, brand initiatives, and sales in the nonoptical alternative retail markets. The board of directors for the Optical Women's Association welcomed two new board members. Industry veteran Deborah Lochli McGrath and Karen Zappia, vice president of sales for Live Eyewear, joined the board in October.

BUSINESS UPDATES

ClearVision Optical awarded a major contract to Epicor Software Corporation. Epicor will implement and manage its Epicor Enterprise suite to replace ClearVision's legacy system, integrating all points of ClearVision's computerized business operations.

Transitions Optical's new Healthy Sight Working for You initiative seeks to raise awareness among employees, human resources professionals, brokers, and vision plan providers of how vision benefits can protect employees' sight and enhance overall wellness and productivity. The initiative's website is located at www.HealthySightWorkingforYou.org.

Good Deeds The Essilor Vision Foundation recently unveiled the Kids Vision for Life–Dallas Coalition, a vision care program to be piloted at 20 Dallas ISD schools. In partnership with the Lions Sight and Tissue Foundation, the Essilor Vision Foundation will provide free eye exams and glasses to children in grades one through six who cannot afford vision care and don't qualify for programs such as Medicaid.

ProFit Optix is offering additional savings on free-form lenses for ECPs who are members of registered buying groups. Currently, 14 buying groups are allied with ProFit Optix.

Eyemaginations has released a comprehensive cataract-premium IOL patient education program developed in collaboration with David F. Chang, MD. The software aims to help ophthalmologists and their staff provide a balanced, comprehensive overview of IOL options to their cataract surgery patients.

AWARDS

Shamir announced that Regis Optical of Salt Lake City was the August winner of its Creation and Cruise Your Destination promotion. The practice won a $500 Maui Jim gift certificate. The grand prize, a cruise, will be awarded in February.