PEOPLE People By Staff Monday, November 16, 2015 12:00 AM Deborah Castor Deborah Castor to Step Down as VP, Trade Shows and Meetings at The Vision Council ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Deborah Castor, vice president of trade shows and meetings at The Vision Council, has announced that she will step down in early 2016 after over 16 years at the organization. She will remain in her position until mid-January to help select and transition a replacement. “I’ve spent many great years working with wonderful colleagues at The Vision Council, but I’ve decided it’s time to determine my next career move,” Castor said. “With experience in the music, garment and optical industries, as well as trade shows, who knows what the future will bring. But first I’m going to take few weeks off to make sure my golf clubs still work.” Castor joined The Vision Council in 1999 as the liaison for the Vision Expo events, as part of a newly renegotiated joint venture partnership with Reed Exhibition. Under her tenure, The Vision Council’s trade shows and meetings department has grown into a team of five staff members working in tandem with their counterparts at Reed on marketing, public relations, conferences, and the creation of programs and services to build attendance and create value for the organization’s exhibitor members. Some of these programs include the Optimum program, utilizing marketing and outreach efforts to reward loyal exhibitors and strengthening key alliances within the industry; the redesign of the Vision Expo Education strategy and restructuring of the conference advisory board; and collaboration with the Show Committee and partners to redesign the layouts of Vision Expo East and West. “Deb has been an incredible asset to The Vision Council team, as well as the industry, and it has been a pleasure to work with her over the years,” said Mike Daley, CEO of The Vision Council. “Her strategic thinking and detailed planning has turned the Vision Expos into the successful events you see today.” Recruited from college into an executive training program piloted by RCA records, Castor started her career working in their art department designing album covers. She left that position to join HEAD Sportswear, a Leslie Fay subsidiary, where she was responsible for running their New York showroom and building relationships with industry trade press and national media. She transitioned into the optical industry in 1984 as marketing and visual merchandising manager for Eyelab, a Division of Quaker Oats, and later joined Bob Hillman in his next retail endeavor Hillman/Kohan Eyes, where she served as director of creative services, where she was part of a senior management team responsible for executing a new retail concept that evolved into 10 fashion eyewear super stores. James Vaught, OD American Board of Optometry Names Interim Executive Director, Changes Eligibility Requirements ST. LOUIS—The American Board of Optometry (ABO) has named James Vaught, OD, interim executive director. Most recently serving as chairman of the board, Vaught has been actively involved with the ABO since its inception in 2009. In addition, Barbara Reiss, OD, was named ABO chairperson, Stanley Woo, OD, was named member representing the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and Paul Hodge, OD, was named member representing the American Optometric Association. The board also approved changes to the eligibility requirements for the board certification exam that the organization administers. The new requirements make it more attainable for those who have been in practice longer with already established careers, according to a statement released last week from the ABO. The ABO’s board certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, and the MOC (Maintenance of Certification) process is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as substantially equivalent to that of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the statement said. Registration is now open for the January 2016 board certification examination, which can be scheduled at Prometric Test Centers worldwide. Applications can be made by visiting the ABO website at www.americanboardofoptometry.org. Richard Weiss Shamir Promotes Richard Weiss to Vice President of Technologies at InoTime SAN DIEGO, Calif.—Shamir Insight has appointed Richard Weiss as vice president of technologies for its North American InoTime laboratories division. Weiss joined InoTime, which provides rapid delivery of prescription lenses in local markets, in 2013. He was significantly involved in the early stages of InoTime’s process design and implementation. In his new position, he will play a vital role in determining volume and budget projections, managing multiple project development plans, and evaluating, designing and developing future InoTime installations. He will also be responsible for integrating equipment, software and coating technologies to ensure consistent quality and delivery. Additionally, Weiss will oversee recruiting, hiring and training of all staff and leadership employees and assist with customer service and relationship development. Brad McCorkle Local Eye Site Named One of the ‘Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America’ RALEIGH, N.C—Local Eye Site was recently recognized as one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur360 Performance Index, a comprehensive analysis of private companies in America. Based on this study by Entrepreneur, Local Eye Site is recognized as a company that “exemplifies growth, not just in top and bottom line, but in sustainability and ability to achieve lasting success.” “Our team is excited to be named part of Entrepreneur Magazine’s E360 list of Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America,” said Brad McCorkle, founder of Local Eye Site. “We believe that our novel model is transforming the way organizations hire in the niche industries we serve. We’re grateful for the recognition.” “Those honored have identified a problem, come up with a unique solution, and bravely built their enterprises around it,” added Ryan Shea, president of Entrepreneur Media. “They’ve accomplished new ways of producing sustainable growth and are an inspiration to others who want to fulfill their own entrepreneurial goals.” The team of editors and researchers behind the E360 Performance Index collected more than 250 pieces of data from hundreds of participating U.S. based companies, focusing on growth drivers and challenges, goal setting, resource allocations and reward systems. Founded in 2007, Local Eye Site focuses exclusively on serving the eyecare community and helps eyecare providers source and hire qualified staff quickly and cost efficiently using advanced online advertising techniques, the company said. Kristan Gross (l) is honored by Maureen Cavanagh, president of the Vision Impact Institute. Also showing support forKristan Gross is Essilor’sCarl Bracy. Essilor’s Kristan Gross Honored With Distinguished Employee Award DALLAS—At a ceremony here earlier this fall, Kristan Gross, director of global content and communications for the Vision Impact Institute, was recognized with the Essilor Distinguished Employee Award, which is given with high esteem to those who go above and beyond to give to the organization.