Walman Optical Appoints Lynn E. Askew As VP, Information Services

Marty Bassett, Walman Optical Co. president and CEO, announced that Lynn E. Askew has been named vice president, information services (IS) for Walman, based in Minneapolis, Minn. Askew assumes this senior IS position from Daniel Torgersen, who is retiring from the company.

In his new capacity, Askew will be responsible for all aspects of information technology, providing enterprise level development, infrastructure, communications, operations and applications support to Walman's nine operating divisions and corporate offices.

Commenting on Askew's appointment, Bassett said, "given Lynn's broad range of accomplishments in senior information systems strategic and applications development, he brings a keen outside perspective to our organizational structure which will allow us to capitalize on his diverse experiences."

Prior to joining Walman, Askew held senior level technology management positions in the dental, veterinary, software and digital solutions industries.

Diversified Ophthalmics Implements Essilor's Digital Surfacing Technology in Cincinnati Facility

Essilor of America has implemented its patented digital surfacing technology at Diversified Ophthalmics in Cincinnati, OH. With access to Essilor's Digital Surfacing technology, Diversified can now fully manufacture the complete offering of Essilor Digitally Surfaced lenses at its Cincinnati-area laboratory including the entire portfolio of Varilux lenses: Varilux DualOptix and Varilux DRx, Definity and Accolade Freedom lenses. Diversified Ophthalmics will also now be able to manufacture Eyecode lenses for its eyecare professional customers with the Visioffice System.

Diversified Ophthalmics' new Digital Surfacing facility operates Essilor's proprietary and patented Digital Surfacing Process Control. A daily quality certification of the process has been established with Essilor to ensure quality compliance and guarantee consistency at the highest possible level.

Plunkett Optical Joins OSC

PELHAM, Ala.—Optical Supply Co-op (OSC), based here, announced that Plunkett Optical, has joined the OSC group of laboratories. Plunkett Optical, located in Ft. Smith, Ark., is owned by Bill Plunkett.

The 'Buffett Rule': What it Means for Your Lab

The "Buffett Rule" has been proposed by the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett as a means to provide tax fairness between the very wealthy and the rest of us. The Obama administration is touting this proposal an action that's time has come. The Buffett Rule would require anyone who earns more than $1,000,000 to pay at least 30 percent federal income tax on the earnings regardless of the source. There is a lot of populist support for such a rule because it means that billionaires like Buffett and super millionaires like Mitt Romney would have to pay a higher percentage for the privilege of earning their wealth in the U.S.

This rule would matter very little for most lab owners on a day-to-day basis. Few independent lab owners are earning more than $1,000,000 per year from their businesses, and if they are, they are likely individually paying more than the 30 percent tax rate. What the Buffett Rule really goes after is passive earnings or gains on the sale of investments. For Romney and Buffett, most of their earnings are of a passive nature so the Rule would double their taxes.

Where it does hit home for a lab owner is when they decide to sell all or a part of their business. You get to be treated like Buffett and Romney. You've owned your lab for a long time and each year you and your business have paid taxes on its profits. Often, you've taken those after tax profits and plowed them back into the business, hiring people and buying equipment for it to grow. Now when you've decided to sell the asset that you've worked hard to create, the rule would require you to cough up 30 percent of your gain in taxes.

For example, if you sell your business and have a gain of $3,000,000, under the current tax rules you would pay 15 percent or $450,000 in capital gains tax. When the Bush tax cuts expire at the end of this year, you'll pay 20 percent or $600,000. Finally, under the Buffett Rule you would pay 30 percent or $900,000 not to mention your state tax. How's that for tax fairness?

—Jason A. Meyer, managing director, HPC Puckett & Company. Based in San Diego, Calif., HPC Puckett & Company specializes in mergers and acquisitions of companies in the optical sector. You can send comments or questions about this article or any other Dollars & Sense articles to Jason A. Meyer at jam@hpcpuckett.com.

Cherry Optical

By Judith Lee

Richard Cherry, president of the Melvindale, Mich. optical lab

Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
28 courses with ABO or COPE accreditation.
Chance to win an iPad2.
Ford Convention Center, Dearborn, Mich.

And that's just a few of the things Cherry Optical is doing for its customers this month.

"We sponsor Your Eyes University which is a one day event that is free to all independent eye care professionals," noted Richard Cherry, president of the Melvindale, Mich. optical lab. "We have been doing the event every April since 2006."

An impressive undertaking for any size business, Your Eyes University provides a full day of high quality continuing education at no charge to hundreds of ODs and optical staff. Big name sponsors include Essilor, Transitions Optical, Hoya and Vision-Ease Lens.

"The educated customer is our best customer. We also accomplish a lot of training in one day, so it works to our advantage," Cherry said.

Founded by Cherry in 1977, the lab is still a family business, with son Dan managing the AR department and daughter Debbie Mullins managing daily operations. Now in its third facility, Cherry Optical has always grown through the addition of new technology.

Cherry offers a rundown of recent tech investments: "In 2008, we installed our Crizal AR Department. In early 2010, we started installing freeform equipment and by the end of 2010 we started producing freeform lenses. Late last year, we worked with PixelOptics to provide the eye care professional with the Empower lens. We are also working with Chromagen, which provides aid to people who have been diagnosed with dyslexia and color blindness."

He said each process involved training sessions for employees to learn lens data, processing procedures, and surfacing methods. Surfacing room employees were retrained, and the lab retained the size of the current workforce.

A relatively recent investment in a modern website features helpful availability information, lists current promotions, and provides links to manufacture websites. The next high-tech push is likely toward social media, specifically, Facebook and Twitter.

"Building a presence on those sites is imperative," Cherry observed. "Not only can you use social media as another form of advertising, but you can talk directly with customers. This makes your business seem more open and accessible, and it allows you to receive direct feedback regarding your business."

LabTalk Spotlight: Eight Things You Should Know About Moving Your Lab

By Bill Heffner, Bill Heffner, IV, and Chrystal Colflesh

There are few things more intimidating in the optical lab business than having to move your surfacing lab from one place to another, while at the same time keeping your customers happy. That was our challenge about two and a half years ago at FEA industries. It was at that time that we acquired a second location to house our expanding surfacing, finishing, and AR facilities. Now that we look back on what we went through, we wanted to share some of our experiences with anyone that might be considering moving or expanding their operation.

The expansion should be part of your long-term goals. Our plans for this started two years prior to moving. This was all part of our 10-year plan, which included that expansion, along with a second expansion project that we are now approaching within the next two to three years.

Once you get the building, the first thing that you need to know is how the work will flow through the lab. This will then define the placement of your machinery. We also made sure that we planned for equipment that we knew we would need in the future three years. This way it was much easier to add new machinery without having to re-arrange the entire lab. That was one of the last things we wanted to do. Once you know where your machines are being placed, then the blueprints for the electrical, plumbing, air, and computer connections are simple.

Learn more tips about moving your lab by checking out the entire article at http://www.labtalkonline.com/ under the FEATURES section.