fyi

News bites from the industry

PEOPLE
REM Eyewear has appointed Jezzica Lindkrantz as communications manager. Lindkrantz will promote REM's portfolio of brand partners including Converse, John Varvatos, Lucky Brand, Lucky Kid, and Jones New York, and build awareness of REM's evolving house brands under the Rembrand umbrella: Popcorn, Indie, and the newly launched Lipstick.	Jezzica Lindkrantz of REM Eyewear
Viva International Group has named Kelly O'Grady as director of sales, West. O'Grady will oversee all sales activities for that region, including independent optical, key accounts, and alliance customers.	Kelly O'Grady of Viva International Group
VSP Global has named Eyefinity/OfficeMate president Jim McGrann chief technology officer for VSP Global. Donald J. Ball, Jr., has been named chief financial officer of VSP Global, and Steve Baker, Eyefinity/OfficeMate's current chief technology officer, has been named president of Eyefinity/OfficeMate. Additionally, James Kirchner, OD, has been hired as Eyefinity/OfficeMate's chief professional strategies officer.	Jim McGrann of VSP Global Steve Baker of Eyefinity/OfficeMate
Tony I. Sommer, Jr., recently joined the SoloHealth management team as vice president, sales and marketing. Previously, Sommer was an executive with CIBA VISION. Tom Hicks, immediate past president of the OAA, was selected to serve as a director on the Foundation for Eye Health Awareness board. Joan Blackwood has joined 1800CONTACTS as chief marketing officer. Blackwood previously worked for Monster.com, where she oversaw all aspects of the company's global marketing, including its first global brand launch.	Tony I. Sommer, Jr., of SoloHealth

AWARDS

Joseph Barr, OD, MS, FAAO, vice president of Global Clinical & Medical Affairs and Professional Services, Vision Care, Bausch & Lomb, has received the 2010 Heart of America Contact Lens Society Optometrist of the Year award.

Joseph Barr of Bausch & Lomb

Vistakon and the American Optometric Foundation (AOF), has announced recipients of the following residency awards: Dr. Terrance Ingraham Pediatric Optometry Residency Award recipients: Erin C. Jenewein, OD, MS, and Vivian M. W. Wong, OD; Dr. George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award recipients: Sara N. Gaib, OD, and Shannon Zollinger, OD; Dr. Sheldon Wechsler Contact Lens Residency Award recipients: Natalie Corey, OD, and Anna M. Sleeper, OD.

Transitions Optical, Inc., has been selected for the Gallup Great Workplace Award. A Gallup release stated that Transitions' "employee engagement results demonstrate one of the most productive and engaged workforces in the world."

BUSINESS UPDATES

VSP Global has renamed its Ophthalmic Operations business line VSP Optics Group. No organizational changes accompany the name change. VSP Labs will retain its brand name and will be a part of VSP Optics Group. VSP's privately branded ophthalmic products will also align under VSP Optics Group, retaining their brand names.

PeakVision has been named the official sunglass of the Duramed Futures Tour, the LGPA's developmental tour. "It is a great pleasure to align with a company like PeakVision," said Nancy Henderson, chief operating officer for the Duramed Futures Tour.

During a recent retreat in St. Louis, the AOA Foundation welcomed a new member, Cheryl Archer, OD, and focused on the organization's mission.

The AOA Foundation recently held a retreat in St. Louis

Bausch + Lomb has unveiled its redesigned company logo and icon. Both corporate images incorporate hues of the firm's traditional blue and green colors, while introducing the plus (+) symbol.

Bausch + Lomb unveiled a new logo

Essilor of America, Inc., is inviting students to submit applications for its annual Crizal DCRP Award Program. The program is open to all fourth-year optometry or opticianry students in a COA-approved or NFOS program. The recipient will be awarded one Essilor Digital Corneal Reflex Pupilometer and case valued at approximately $500. To be considered, faculty should submit the name of an exemplary student based on school-developed criteria. The nominated student should have a strong dispensing interest and skills and preferably have plans to enter into independent practice.

All applications should be submitted to the attention of Danne Ventura by email at dventura@essilorusa.com or via post at Essilor of America, 13555 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75234. Entries are due May 31, and must include the student's name, address, telephone number, and email address.

The Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) has released new COPE standards for commercial support. The COPE Standard for Commercial Support will enhance the relationship between corporate supporters and optometric continuing education, and give clear direction to continuing education administrators/providers, CE instructors, and CE supporters. The complete standards, including an implementation toolkit and information on COPE administrator/provider training workshops, are all available on www.arbo.org.

International Vision Expo show management has changed the dates for International Vision Expo West 2011 to September 22 to 24, 2011. The original dates were September 8 to 10, 2011.

According to Tom Loughran, vice president of Reed Exhibitions, "Our attendee and exhibitor research shows that the middle to the end of September is the optimal time to hold this trade show and conference. Show management continually works with the Sands Expo and Convention Center on behalf of our attendees and exhibitors and we are fortunate that we were able to secure these dates, which were vetted by The Vision Council's Show Committee."

GOOD DEEDS

Eyes of Faith Optical has announced a partnership with RestoringVision.org, a non-profit organization which supplies reading glasses and sunglasses to groups going on missions abroad as well as those serving the underprivileged in the U.S. For every pair of Eyes of Faith frames sold, the company will donate a pair of reading glasses to faith-based mission groups, according to Jim Schneider, Eyes of Faith's co-founder.

ClearVision Optical raised more than $2,000 for Long Island Crisis Center's Pride for Youth, a non-profit that offers support, counseling, and education for teens struggling with their gender and sexuality. The funds came from the sale of 15 prints by photographer Hannah Rae Hegnauer, whose work was displayed on ClearVision's Museum Way at the company's headquarters in Hauppauge, N.Y.

ClearVision Optical's Peter Friedfeld and Pride for Youth's Linda Leonard

CORRECTIONS

On News article of EB's February 2010 issue, the correct order is: 2. Julianne Moore, 3. Sigourney Weaver, 4. Marcia Cross, and 5. Hayden Panettiere.

In the same issue, ED (Effective Diameter) on Last Word article should have been: The ED is two times the longest radius, which is found by doubling the geometrical center of the lens to the apex of the lens bevel farthest from it.