PEOPLE

Carla Mack, O.D., has been named global head, professional affairs at Alcon. Prior to joining Alcon in 2014, Dr. Mack held roles at Bausch + Lomb, The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Optometry, and OSU Campus Optometry Services. She served as the chief editor of Contact Lens Spectrum and the Contact Lenses Today e-newsletter.

Blanchard Contact Lenses, a CooperVision specialty eyecare company and scleral lens designer and manufacturer, hired Monica E. Shea, LO, FCLSA, NCLE-M, as Northeast regional account manager. Shea has 21 years of experience with contact lens services.

Luneau Technology appointed Lon Dowell to national director of sales. Dowell has more than 20 years of experience in the ophthalmic industry, leading sales, marketing, and project teams. Additionally, the company established a clinical application specialist team (CAS), focused on pre- and post-sale client support. Melissa Renfrow has joined Luneau’s CAS team, bringing 16 years’ experience as a certified ophthalmology professional. The company also named two industry veterans to supervisory roles for the growing field service team: Ron Reed and Rick Bowles.

Kristen Brown, O.D., is the new associate dean of clinical affairs at the New England College of Optometry. Dr. Brown has 27 years of experience as a clinician, an educator, and an industry leader. Most recently she was the clinical director for The Laser Center Boston and Providence.

Pete Lothes, who became Satisloh’s worldwide president at the beginning of the year, has been named the company’s president and CEO. Lothes joined Satisloh in early 2015 as president of Satisloh North America. Additionally, the company announced that after the move of Christian Jakober to VP of global strategic accounts, Luis Cerqueira has taken over as head of the Latin America region.

The Vision Impact Institute announced additions to its Global Advisory Board: Allyala Nandakumar, Ph.D., and Serge Resnikoff, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Nandakumar brings his expertise as a health-financing expert to the Board. Dr. Resnikoff, a global health advocate, has devoted his career to highlighting health issues in a number of venues.

BUSINESS UPDATES

ABB Optical Group announced its expansion into the Canadian market. Beginning in 2020, ABB will distribute contact lenses in Canada, starting with servicing FYidoctors and its Independent Alliance clinics.

Acuity Eyecare Group acquired an additional eight eyecare practices in Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas.

EyeCare Partners, LLC, a network of full-scope medical optometry and ophthalmology practices, completed the acquisition of Nationwide Vision, a full-service visioncare provider with 89 offices.

AWARDS

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation, in collaboration with the Fredric and Marion Rosemore Family Foundation, announced the 2019 recipient of the Fredric Rosemore Low Vision Educational Grant: So-Yeon Sharon Lee, O.D., FAAO, Dipl-ABO, an assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry.

1 Two new CooperVision sites—the Southampton, England, secondary packaging and distribution facility and the distribution center in Madrid, Spain—have been awarded certifications for sustainable design and operation.

COUNTDOWN TO MUNICH

The industry is gearing up for opti, the international trade show for optics & design at the Fairground Munich, scheduled for Jan. 10-12.

“In just three days, trade visitors will have the chance to examine and test products from around 630 exhibitors and over 1,200 brands—all at a single and unique event,” says opti Project Manager Bettina Reiter.

Plus, promising newcomers—some of them at a trade show for the first time—will be presented in the 16 opti BOXES.

For more information: opti.de/en .