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De Rigo Vision has signed an eyewear licensing agreement with British luxury brand

Mulberry Group PLC, with the first collection expected for Spring/Summer ‘19.

Marcolin Group and Swiss luxury brand Bally have signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the design, production, and distribution of eyewear for women and men.

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Healthy Eyes Advantage, Inc., (HEA) has added four members to its leadership team: Jim McGrann, former president of VSP Global, was named executive chairman; Lorie Lippiatt, O.D., is senior vice president of professional strategies; Stephanie Lucas joins as senior vice president of sales and marketing; and Shani Lenard is vice president of HEA Services.

MODO Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Giefer has been made a partner in the company. Giefer has been with the MODO team for 14 years.

Wiley X has appointed Ray T. Hill IV, who has been with the company for more than 15 years, as its vice president of retail sales.

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The McGee Group has announced its new division, The Reading Glass Co., created to grow its reader category under the Vera Bradley, Life is Good, and Totally Rimless brands. John Nides and Linda Nides have joined the company to lead the new division.

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The South Florida Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth named ABB Optical Group as the recipient of the Outstanding Growth Company of the Year Award.

De Rigo Group Chairman Ennio De Rigo was one of 25 Italian entrepreneurs awarded the honorary title of “Cavaliere del Lavoro” or “Knight of Labor” for his contributions to advancing the economy.

Northeastern State University College of Optometry won the Essilor Optometry Student Bowl at this year’s Optometry’s Meeting. More than 700 attendees gathered to watch contestants from 25 schools compete for $1,000 and the coveted crystal trophy.

The following individuals were recognized at Optometry’s Meeting 2018: David Redman, O.D. (Optometrist of the Year); Matthew Jones, O.D. (Young Optometrist of the Year); Carol Lovell, CPOT, CPOC (Paraoptometric of the Year); Mark Swanson, O.D. (Optometry Educator of the Year); and Joseph Mallinger, O.D., recipient of the Distinguished Service award.

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Coburn Technologies has relocated its corporate headquarters to a newly renovated facility at 83 Gerber Road W., South Windsor, CT, 06074.

National public awareness campaign Think About Your Eyes has partnered with professional athlete and lifestyle celebrity Laila Ali to promote the campaign’s message about eye exams.

VSP Global and GLAM4GOOD have announced a formal partnership in which they will collaborate on a yearlong effort to bring vision care, eyewear, clothing, and fashion accessories to communities in need. The organizations originally teamed up for Hurricane Harvey outreach in Texas, and have since collaborated in Puerto Rico following the devastating Hurricane Maria.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Essilor has announced that Rick Gadd, currently president of ECP Sales and Services, will be promoted to president of Essilor of America, effective Sept. 1. He will succeed Eric Leonard, who will move to new senior executive responsibilities for the Essilor Group at that time.

Luxottica Group has acquired Barberini S.p.A, a global leader in optical glass sun lens manufacturing.

For these and other news stories, visit eyecarebusiness.com/news .

Show News

Are you connected? SILMO Paris optical fair heads to the Paris Nord Villepinte on Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. To stay up to date on show news and exhibitor information, follow @SilmoParis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Registered? Head to en.silmoparis.com to order your show badge.

Registration is now open for the 30th anniversary of Vision Expo West, to be held Sept. 26-29 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. This year’s show will celebrate Vision Expo West’s founding exhibitors.

Of the 430 exhibitors expected at this year’s show, more than 60 have exhibited at Vision Expo West since its inception in 1988. Plus, the Vision Expo opening night party will be held for the first time at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and the exclusive OptiCon @Vision Expo party will be held at Public House. Register + learn more: west.visionexpo.com .