by Hanna Diewald | Jan 16, 2019 | News
Vision Expo East 2019 will introduce new and widely-requested education courses to this year’s Show. Various business- and healthcare-focused programs have been specifically designed to fit every professional agenda to afford attendees the complete education experience. “The new education at this year’s Show offers attendees access to a range of information presented in new and exciting ways,” said Dr. Mark Dunbar, co-chairman of the Conference Advisory Board. “Hands-on sessions, in-depth demonstrations and creative competitions are each designed to engage attendees and foster an environment of collaboration.”
Exploring the most common condition seen by optometrists, the new Myopia Track will feature various in-depth sessions including Managing Myopia: Possibilities and Probabilities, created by the Brien Holden Vision Institute. This course and workshop will offer attendees an interactive look into the key strategies for managing myopia, ways to harness the evolution of patient care and more. Additional sessions in the track will present information on the future of myopia in private practices, new prevention methods and myopia control.
Attendees will also have access to three new inspirational and business-focused courses through The Leadership Forum, developed by co-founder of Influenceology Roberto Monaco. These courses will explore how to increase leadership effectiveness, eliminate a negative mindset and implement change to unlock leadership potential. “By broadening and diversifying our educational programs, there is a greater opportunity for attendees to fulfill multiple aspects of their professional aspirations in one day,” said Dr. Ben Gaddie, co-chairman of the Conference Advisory Board. “Each course and track are carefully selected to ensure the Show exceeds attendee’s expectations.”
To provide a complete look at the latest trends, products and services emerging in the vision community, the new Innovation Series will offer over 10 different courses for attendees to examine the latest industry developments. Attendees can choose from a diverse range of content including lens and frame technology, 3D printing, solutions for head trauma patients and more. Additionally, the free Innovation Stage will feature exhibitor-sponsored content on various subjects such as ocular nutrition, marketing techniques and patient care, to name a few.
A new and free March Madness-style competition with interactive polling technology will highlight interesting cases in ocular imaging. The March Madness: Case Challenges in Optometry panel will bring together eight panelists competing to win the audience’s vote based on the imaging challenge they present. Attendees will also have free access to an included imaging workshop.
After a successful debut year, OptiCon @ Vision Expo will return to Vision Expo East with an unmatched education program and exhibit hall experience for opticians, contact lens technicians and ophthalmic allied professionals. This year’s must-attend sessions have been handpicked by the OptiCon Advisory Board and include a range of topics from clinical ocular concepts to hands-on sessions. Additionally, the OptiCon College Bowl, sponsored by the National Federation of Opticianry Schools, will bring together 12 students for a fast-paced quiz competition. For the Vision Expo East 2019 education brochure, click here.
by Hanna Diewald | Jan 15, 2019 | News
Following the move of Pete Lothes to President and CTO of Satisloh globally, Richard Hughes takes over as President Satisloh North America, effective January 1. Hughes began his 22 year optical industry career as Director of Sales and Service for ophthalmic instruments at Beitler McKee Optical Company, a wholesale lab in Pittsburgh. He soon became Vice President of Lab Operations and Sales and, in 2004, was appointed President and CEO. He continued in this role after Essilor acquired the lab. Hughes later held various executive positions in operations and sales, including as Vice President and GM Northeastern Partner Labs for ELOA. Hughes holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Furman University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. “Rich’s background of running a wholesale laboratory combined with his broad experience in sales and operations make him an ideal match for the role of President Satisloh North America. We are thrilled to have him on board,” said Lothes. “I am eager to get to know Satisloh’s customers and to partner with them on future endeavors. It’s exciting to join the Satisloh team and contribute to future successes by continuing to deliver the very best in products, services, and solutions to the market,” said Hughes.
by Hanna Diewald | Jan 11, 2019 | News
Coburn Technologies is pleased to announce the appointment of Al Bednar as their new Director of Laboratory Sales for the United States and Canadian markets.“Al is a seasoned veteran in the optical industry, and his vast experience extends from ophthalmic lens process development, to creating and executing training programs for laboratories, and most recently, to sales management,” states Alex Incera, President of Coburn Technologies. “We have great confidence that he will re-invigorate our relationship with the independent labs and drive sales of our expanding line of consumables, coatings, equipment, and software to that segment.”
During his more than forty years in the optical industry, Bednar has held a number of technical, sales, and management positions. Bednar joins Coburn from DAC Vision, where he was an Area Manager for the past eight years. Prior to that, he was a Development Manager for Essilor of America, where he was responsible for building a comprehensive training program for labs called Essilor Laboratory University. In addition, he has collaborated in developing processing methodologies for implementation into laboratories worldwide to achieve higher productivity, quality and yields.
“Having spent the majority of my career in the optical industry, and specifically in the laboratory segment, I am excited to join the Coburn team where I will continue to advocate for the needs of the labs through the development of new products and processes, and by providing excellent service that our customers have come to expect,” states Bednar.
by Hanna Diewald | Jan 7, 2019 | News
SIOF is pleased to announce that the 19th China (Shanghai) International Optics Fair enjoys a giant leap forward with a bigger number of participants. The annual event is scheduled to take place on 21- 23 February 2019 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre, occupying all the 4 exhibition halls there. Large number of international exhibitors, together with their Chinese counterparts, will showcase the latest trends, products and innovations of the optical industry here. The venue, located in the center of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Site, is the primary choice for first class professional international events.
SIOF2019 will occupy a massive gross exhibition area of over 80,000 square meters, of which Hall 2 is the prestige international product hall. Halls 1, 3 and 4 will accommodate iconic Chinese exhibitors. The basement concourse will be deployed as the Chinese “Fashion Designers’ Masterpieces Exhibition Hall”, while Hall 4 will be the “Boutique Gallery”, both designated to showcase China’s best design rationale and innovative eyewear to local and overseas guests.
The procurement zone is tailor-made for international exhibitors. It is located at the rear part of the international hall. It facilitates buyers to place orders on their desired products after viewing on site. In addition to their own stands, renowned international exhibitors who have specially acquired space in the Procurement Zone include 101 Studio (Agnes B, Jill Stuart, Levi’s, New Balance) , Seebond (Bape, Ed Hardy, Evisu, Paris Hilton), Beijing Baodian (Flair, Porsche Design), Ports and Stepper, while others are receiving the customers in their own booth area.
by Hanna Diewald | Dec 20, 2018 | News
After 19 successful years with Satisloh, first at the helm of North America and for the last 4 years as global President and Group CTO, Larry Clarke takes the opportunity to pursue a new leadership role within Essilor of America. Clarke will become President, Nassau / OOGP and Optical Supplies effective January 1st, 2019. In his new role Clarke will be responsible for a portfolio of companies focusing on contact lenses, stock lenses and optical supplies. “I am excited for this new challenge and growth opportunity and thrilled to turn over the reins at Satisloh to a successor that is more customer-focused than anyone that I have met in the optical industry,” said Clarke.
With Clarke’s move to his new role, Pete Lothes will become the new global President and CTO of Satisloh, the market leader in optical manufacturing equipment. Lothes is a veteran of the ophthalmic industry with over 27 years of experience. He joined the industry in 1991 after graduating from college by working in the family retail and wholesale lab businesses in Columbus, Ohio. Shortly after joining the family business, he became president of the wholesale lab. The lab was acquired by Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA) in 2004 and he continued on as its president until 2009. Later Lothes held various operational executive positions, including Vice President of Operations, Partner Labs for ELOA. He joined Satisloh in early 2015 as President of Satisloh North America. During his time there the company achieved multiple years of record sales as well as increased operational efficiencies. “In my new role, I am looking forward to focusing on the company’s continued passion for bringing the most innovative products and processing solutions, as well as the best customer service, to all of our customers worldwide,” said Lothes.
by Hanna Diewald | Dec 20, 2018 | News
A unique seminar will be organized on Saturday 26th of January in the conference room of the exhibition center – Conference room C51 – from 09h30 to 11h00, with the purpose to invite our partners and friends to join our commemoration. The occasion will be taken to remind the exiting different phases of our company’s growth, as well as to review the extended LensWare IT solutions available today, which bring highest efficiency in the whole process flow, inline with the approach of Industry 4.0, and the fully integrated SmartRxFactory. A special focus will be brought for LensProductionControl, LensInspection, Lab2lab, LensSales, LensInventory within a complete LMS-ERP package. Please access to www.lensware-international.com/10years/ for further information and registration. For the ones who could not attend the seminar, there will still be a chance to meet our team in our booth located in Hall C5/510.
