BUSINESS: Labs Top Labs Profiles By Staff Monday, October 17, 2011 12:07 AM RELATED CONTENT Top Labs Show Agility in 2011 Top Labs Performance Analysis Top Labs That Made News in 2011 Top 5 Supplier-Owned Lab Networks Ranking Top 25 Independent Wholesale Labs Ranking Top 25 Independent Labs at a Glance Top Labs Methodology Balester Optical Founded: 1934 HQ./Main Lab Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 89 Key Executives: Heather Balester, Dale Parmenteri, Fred P. Balester Owners: Heather Balester, Dale Parmenteri, Susan Balester Dennis, Fred P. Balester, Patrick Balester, Jacqueline Pekar, Valerie Balester, William Balester, Dorothy Holdle, Marc Balester, Mark Pekar Trade Names: Balester Optical Co. Key Markets: Eastern U.S. 2011 Est. Net Sales: $14.3 million Rx Sales: $13.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 885 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 54% Comments: In-house AR brands: Crizal, Crizal Alize, Crizal Avance with Scotchgard, Zeiss Super ET Plus, Carat Advantage and Essilor’s House Ez. In-house digital brands: Varilux Physio Enhanced, Comfort Enhanced, Definity and Defnity Short, Essilor Ideal, Balester Advanced, Balester Ultimate, Accolade Freedom, Shamir Autograph II, Spectrum and Element, all Varilux 360 and Eyecode products. Lens brands: Varilux, Definity, Transitions, Kodak, Sunsensors, Hoya, Shamir, Zeiss, Seiko, Pentax, NuPolar, Xperio, Coppertone, iRx, EOS, Sun Rx, Phoenix, Trilogy, Instashades, Life Rx, AO Compact Ultra, Pixel Optics and Balester digital Pals and SV. Frame brands: Stetson, Sophia Loren, Randy Jackson, Via Spiga, Bulova, BUM, Just-Match-It, Bratz, Nickelodeon, Austin Reed, Manish Arora, Mayhem. Other Products: Smart Mirror, Smart Centration, i-Terminal and VisiOffice Value, Kid’s & Drilled Rimless Packages, 2nd Pair Program, Eyenovate Polarized Clip System, Balester Direct Rx Program, ABO/NYSSO Certified Education, VSP, VBA, IDOC, Vision Source, On-line ordering-VisionWeb, Eyefinity,E-Dr.com, Remote Tracing, 24 hour On-line order status, Essilor Edge, Practice Plus Program, Shamir and Zeiss Rewards. www.balester.com Brothers’ Optical Laboratory Founded: 1973 HQ./Main Lab Location: Orange, Calif. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 59 Key Executives: Carlo Ragazzo, Tony Esposito Owners: Joseph M. Ragazzo, John Ragazzo Trade Names: none Key Markets: Calif., Ariz., Las Vegas, Oregon, Hawaii 2011 Est. Net Sales: $10.5 million Rx Sales: $10.5 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 500 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 25% Comments: Well-established, full-service lab www.brothersoptical.com CSC Laboratories Founded: 1967 HQ./Main Lab Location: Watsonville, Calif. No. of Locations: 2 No. of Employees: 175 Key Executives: Dong K. Kim, group president/CEO; Bu Kim, senior VP, manufacturing; Paul Yoon, VP, operations; Greg Kohmescher, CFO; Robert C. Kim, legal counsel; Mike Kim, GM, Microcoating Laboratory; Jim Serruys, GM, Ocular Laboratories Owners: Kim Family Trade Names: CSC Laboratories, (Watsonville, Calif.); Microcoating Laboratory (Watsonville, Calif.); Ocular Laboratories (San Jose, Calif.); Boutique Design Key Markets: U.S., Central and South America, Caribbean 2011 Est. Net Sales: $34.5 million Rx Sales: $32.8 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,860 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 30% Comments: Complete lab services; authorized manufacturer of Crizal/Crizal Alizé; Teflon, PureCoat, Zeiss Carat AR coatings. Authorized manufacturer of Shamir Autograph freeform; Varilux 360 Enhanced, Definity & DRX. Exclusive manufacturer of Intellect Free-Form Solution. VSP Contract Lab; Offers Rx Express Unlimited frame and lens program. Offers complete range of stock lenses. Frame product line consists of 250 upper-middle to high-end fashion styles under CSC’s own trade names, plus a new Exotic Wood Collection manufactured in Europe. www.csclabs.com Carl Zeiss Vision Laboratories Founded: 2000 HQ.: San Diego, Calif. No. of Locations: 18 No. of Employees: 1,125 Key Executives: Joe Donahoe, Claude Labeeuw, Tonya Ray, Dave Jochims, Steve Ballenger Owner: Carl Zeiss Vision Trade Names: Carl Zeiss Vision—B&W, Carl Zeiss Vision—Cumberland, Carl Zeiss Vision—Florida, Carl Zeiss Vision—Great Lakes, Carl Zeiss Vision—Kansas City, Carl Zeiss Vision— Siouxland, Carl Zeiss Vision—Kentucky, Carl Zeiss Vision—Southwest, Carl Zeiss Vision—Northeast, Carl Zeiss Vision—North Central, Carl Zeiss Vision—Northwest, Carl Zeiss Vision—Southeastern, Carl Zeiss Vision—California, Carl Zeiss Vision—Texas, Carl Zeiss Vision—Virginia, Carl Zeiss Vision—Georgia, Carl Zeiss Vision—Iowa. Key Markets: Nationwide 2011 Est. Net Sales: $154 million Rx Sales: $146 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 10,500 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 25% Comments: Network of full-service laboratories. Proprietary products include Teflon Clear Coat lenses, Zeiss, SOLA, AO. VSP contract lab. www.vision.zeiss.com Cherry Optical Founded: 1999 HQ./Main Lab Location: Green Bay, Wis. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 30 Key Executives: Adam Cherry, Lynn Cherry, Joe Cherry Owners: Adam Cherry, Lynn Cherry, Joe Cherry Trade Names: Lenstock.Com, What’s New University, TDZ Scratch Coating, Indepedence, Indepedence HD, HD SV. Key Markets: North America 2011 Est. Net Sales: $7.5 million Rx Sales: $7.1 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 275 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 18% Comments: Specializes in free-form progressive and digital optics. Proprietary products include Varilux, Crizal, Hoya Phoenix, Hoya progressives, Hoya Super High Vision. Offers “What’s New University” and other educational programs; safety Rx programs. Classic Optical Founded: 1970 HQ./Main Lab Location: Youngstown, Ohio No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 100 Key Executives: Dawn Friedkin, Chief Operating Officer; Rodney Remsey, Director, Lab Operations; Steve Mermer, Director, Information Technology; Amy Barnes, Manager, Administration & Human Resources; Mary Anne O’Toole, Manager, Sales & Customer Service; Mary Womble, Sales & Contracting Owner: Friedkin family Trade Names: Classic Optical Lab Key Markets: national 2011 Est. Net Sales: $15 million Rx Sales: $15 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 2,300 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 3% Comments: Specializes in volume contracts to managed vision care organizations, governmental agencies and correctional institutions as well as direct to more than 3,000 eyecare providers nationally. Offers full menu of proprietary free-form lenses including variable and fixed progressive designs; office/task and single vision. www.classicoptical.com Diversified Ophthalmics Laboratory Group Founded: 1977 HQ./Main Lab Location: Cincinnati, Ohio No. of Locations: 11 No. of Employees: 95 Key Executives: Ronald Cooke, president/CEO; Ronald Cooke, Jr., COO Owner: Closely held corporation Trade names: DLAB, DO Southeast, DO Washington, OptiSource, PureSite, Salt Lake Optical, Summit Optical, TriOptics Key Markets: Ga. Idaho, Ind., Ky., La., Mich., Mont., N.C., Pa., Ohio, S.C., Tenn., Texas, Utah, Wash., Wis., W.Va. 2011 Est. Net sales: $28.5 million Rx Sales: $13.4 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,020 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 22% Comments: Full service labs with ophthalmic lens and RGP manufacturing capabilities. 2005 Transitions “Lab of the Year”. Transitions Platinum Elite Laboratory. Authorized Varilux distributor. VSP contract lab. Signet Armorlite partner lab. Operates on-site AR coating facility producing branded AR lenses such as PureSite Preference Platinum. Offers free-form digital surfacing. Offers eyeglass and contact lens packages and Perfect View frame-and-lens value packages; Practice Maximus optometric practice management software; certified continuing education seminars and staff training. Markets PureSite brand of stock lenses. On-line and electronic ordering. Remote frame tracing. Services and programs include Frames Travel Programs, Transitions Day at the Races, RIP, Perfect View, DBAN, Eye to the Sky. Member of the OLA and AR Council. 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 OLA Top Ten Web Site of the Year. 2009 Top Web Site. www.divopt.com Essilor Founded: 1996 HQ./Main Lab Location: Dallas, Texas No. of Locations: 137 No. of Employees: 6,275 Key Executives: Real Goulet-president, Mike Nathe-senior VP ELOA, Rick Long- senior VP Partner Labs, Brad Staley-VP operations and technologies, Greg DiPasquale – VP strategic accounts Owner: Essilor International Trade Names: 21st Century Optical, Abba Contact Lens, AccuRX Inc., ACO, Advance Optical, Apex, Aspen Optical, Barnett & Ramel, Bartley Optical, Beitler-McKee Optical, Bell Optical Labs, Bristow Optical, Collard Rose Optical, Crown Optical, Custom Eyes, Custom Optical, Dash Lab, DBL Labs, Deschutes Optical, Duffens Optical, Dunlaw Optical, East Coast Ophthalmic, Elite Optical, ELOA New Jersey, Empire Optical, Epic Labs, Eyecare Express, Focus Optical, Future Optical FL, Future Optical TN, GK Optical, Gold Optical, Gulf States Optical, Heard Optical, Hi-Tech, Homer Optical, Jorgenson Optical, Interstate Optical, Kosh Ophthalmic, Meridian Optical, McLeod Optical, MGM Optical, Midland Optical, Milroy, NEA Optical, New City Optical, Omega Optical, Omni Optical Lab, Optical One, Inc, Optical Suppliers Inc., Optical Supply, Opti-Craft, Optimatrix, Optogenics of Syracuse, Ozarks Optical, Pech Optical, Perferx Optical, Peninsula Optical, Personal Eyes Optical, Precision Optical Company, Precision Optics, Premier Optics, Reliable Optics, S&G Optical, Select Optical, Southern Optical, Southern Optical, Southwest Lens, Spectrum Optical, Sunstar Optical, Sutherlin Optical, Top Network, Tri-Supreme, Truckee Meadows, Twin City Optical, Vision Craft Inc, Vision Pointe, Winchester, WOS Optical Key Markets: Local and National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $1.1 billion Rx Sales: $995.1 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 69,900 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 37% Comments: Nationwide network of full-service labs. Proprietary products include LiteStyle/Ultra LiteStyle Lenses, Crizal AR Coatings, Sharpview. Programs include Education Series and Need Based Solutions. www.eloa.com Expert Optics Founded: 1979 HQ./Main Lab Location: Shorewood, Ill. No. of Locations: 2 No. of Employees: 90 Key Executives: Greg Ruden, president; Don Ruden, CEO; Bob Pommier, director of lab operations; Mike Bradley, director of sales / Bob Hughbanks, Director Of Education Owner: Greg Ruden Trade names: none Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $19.2 million Rx Sales: $18.2 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 920 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 20% Comments: Offers advanced lens processing technology, including an specialized production facility to manufacture free-form progressives including the Shamir Autograph, AO Easy HD, Compact Ultra HD, Sola HDV, Sola One HD, Zeiss Individual, Essential, Elite, Extreme & other designs from leading lens companies. Distributor of Kodak, Shamir, Varilux and Zeiss progressive lenses. Signet Armorlite Partner Lab, Carl Zeiss Vision Premier Lab and member of Global Optics. Teflon Clear Coat, Crizal and Kodak Clear coating facility in-house; also producers of Zeiss foundation XT, Carat and Carat Advantage lens treatments, Chemistrie Magnetic Clip, Oasis Tears and Enhancer Lens Treatment. Hosts annual Optical Preview Day. Offers Lenstock web-based lens ordering and inventory management system. Distributor Sales Department inventories over 50 frame lines with a multitude of frame and lens package programs. Authorized lens processor of emPower electronic eyewear by Pixel Optics and Carrera X-cede polarized NXT by Safilo. Exclusive distributor and processor of VedaloHD sunwear featuring the HDL-3C lens technology. www.expertoptics.net Eye-Kraft Optical Founded: 1954 HQ./Main Lab Location: Saint Cloud, Minn. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 48 Key Executives: Floyd Lehne, president; Lawrence Lahr, VP; Michael Moeller, treasurer Owner: Patricia Negaard Trade Names: Eye-Lite, Eye-Lite Poly, Sun-Lite Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $5.8 million Rx Sales: $4.8 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 573 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 4% Comments: Full service, VBA-approved lab. Provides free point-of-purchase brochures and counter displays. Offers lens and frame package including 130 frame styles with various lens types. Affiliated with ophthalmic buying groups including The Alliance/Buyers Edge, America’s Doctors of Optometry, Association of Eye Care, Centers/Pearlman Buying Group, Block Vision Buying Group, C&E Vision Services, Hayes Marketing, Newton Professional Purchasing, Ophthalmic Education Institute, Wisconsin Vision Associates. www.eyekraft.com FEA Industries Founded: 1984 HQ./Main Lab Location: Morton, Pa. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 65 Key Executives: William H. Heffner, III, CEO; William H. Heffner, IV, advanced technology; Chrystal Colflesh, general manager Owner: Willliam H. Heffner, III Trade Names: Independence Eagle Key Markets: national 2011 Est. Net Sales: $12.8 million Rx Sales: $12.0 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,623 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 85% Comments: Full-service lab offering in-house AR and dip coating. Offers stock lenses, stock frames and safety frames. Website includes ordering, tracking reports, invoices. Offers Kodak CleAR. Carries most major lens brands. Proprietary products include Independence AR and Eagle free-form progressives. www.feaind.com Hirsch Optical Founded: 1978 HQ./Main Lab Location: Farmingdale, N.Y. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 50 Key Executives: Roz Rothstein, president; Kenneth Mittel, senior VP; Michael Rothstein, CEO/VP; Richard Salberg, director of sales; Vicki Masliah, director of professional education Owners: Roz Rothstein, Ken Mittel, Michael Rothstein Trade Names: CHAD and Super CHAD Key Markets: N.Y., N.J., Pa., Conn. 2011 Est. Net Sales: $13 million Rx Sales: $12.1 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 800 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 46% Comments: Extensive offerings of lens and frame package programs. Offers proprietary AR coatings applied in-house: CHAD (Clear, Hard, Anti-Reflective, Durable) and premium coating Super CHAD. EZ Rx, Eyefinity and VisionWeb on-line ordering and remote tracing. Accredited educational seminars. Award-winning Varilux distributor, Essilor Gold Advantage Plan lab, Transitions Platinum Elite Lab, Zeiss Premier Distributor, Shamir ReCreating Perfect Vision Partnering Lab, Signet Armorlite Lab Partner, Hoya lens distributor. Authorized VSP and VBA contract lab. Vendor for Block Buying Group and Alfred J. Villavecchia Buying Group. Offers all Crizal, Hoya, Zeiss, glass and mirror coatings. Ophthalmic frame lines include Apple Bottoms By Nelly, Bill Blass, Cadillac Eyewear, Cubavera, Elizabeth Arden, Elizabeth Arden Petites, Hershey’s Eyewear, Levi’s, LTX, Liberty Rec Specs, Miro Optix’s Division1 sports safety, Mount Eyewear, New Balance, Perry Ellis, Stylewise & Scooby-Doo. Distributes Fantom custom clip-ons, Podreaders and Titmus safety frames. Website features special retail customer referral program. www.hirschoptical.com Hoya Vision Care Founded: 2000 HQ./Main Lab Location: Lewisville, Texas Locations: 23 Employees: 1,030 Key Executives: Barney Dougher, president; Yoshiyuki Ono, VP lens technology; Rich Montag, VP sales; Rick Tinson, VP of corporate governess; Kraig Black, VP information services; Jason White, VP finance; Doug Martin, VP group business; Greg Hicks, OD, director of professional affairs; Ray Knoll, western regional VP; Mike Dougher, eastern regional VP; Iggy Fernandez, central regional VP. Owner: Hoya Corporation Trade Names: Hoya Atlanta, Hoya Boise, Hoya Chicago, Hoya Cleveland, Hoya Dallas, Hoya Dayton, Hoya Denver, Hoya Eugene, Hoya Hartford, Hoya Knoxville, Hoya Largo, Hoya Las Vegas, Hoya Lewiston, Hoya Los Angeles, Hoya Michigan, Hoya Modesto, Hoya New Orleans, Hoya Portland, Hoya Salina, Hoya San Antonio, Hoya San Diego, Hoya Seattle, Hoya St. Louis. The Hoya Free-Form Company. Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $212 million Rx Sales: $180 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 11,800 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 18% Comments: Nationwide network of full-service labs. Proprietary lens designs: iD MyStyle, iD InStyle, iD LifeStyle, iD Single Vision, Summit ecp iQ, Summit cd iQ, ST28 iQ, SV iQ, Distortion Free Optics, Sync, Summit ecp, Summit cd, GP Wide, GP and TACT. Proprietary lens materials: 1.70, Eyry, 1.67 Eynoa, 1.60 Eyas, 1.53 Phoenix,1.50. Proprietary lens coatings: Super HiVision EX3, Super HiVision, HiVision, ViewProtect, Suntech photochromics and Clarity Shield 2 scratch coating. Special Services/Programs include HHP (Hoya Honors Program). www.hoyavision.com Icare Labs Founded: 1968 HQ./Main Lab Location: St. Petersburg, Fla. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 95 Key Executives: Scott Payne, chairman; Skip Payne, president; James Payne, director of IT; Danny Payne, director of operations; Greg Gehrig, CFO; James Stephany, director of sales Owners: The Payne family Trade Names: Icare Labs, ICL365, Sea Vision USA Key Markets: East Coast, Southwest 2011 Est. Net Sales: $20.5 million Rx Sales: $17.4 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,750 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 65% Comments: Full-service, family owned and operated. Offers all major lens brands such as Varilux, Kodak, Zeiss and Hoya. Offers customized services and pricing on lenses and frames. Operates in-house Crizal AR coating center. Offers own ICE AR brand. In-house digital lab produces Essilor, Varilux, Shamir and own legacy series. Proprietary brands include ICE AR, Legacy digital lenses. Authorized distributor of all major lens brands. Manufactures specialized sport prescription lens products including SeaVision dive masks. www.icare.com Luzerne Optical Laboratories Founded: 1973 HQ./Main Lab Location: Wilkes-Barre, Penn. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 200 Key Executives: Jack Dougherty, president; Lorraine Dougherty, VP; Neil Dougherty, GM; John Dougherty, VP purchasing Owner: Dougherty family Trade Names: Polar365, SightStar, PhotoFashion, DuraCurve, Crizal Easy, Crizal Alizé, Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard, Crizal Sunshield, TD2, Teflon, Advantage, Carat and Foundation XT, EVC-enhanced visual clarity, Zeiss PureCoat, Teflon Elite, Zeiss Allure. Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $32.5 million Rx Sales: $31.5 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,950 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 48% Comments: State-of-the-art, family owned and operated lab; offers wide range of exclusive promotions, customer incentive and educational programs. Has field-consultant force offering practice development, business reviews and private consultations. Leading producer specializes in processing all major brands of free-form progressive lenses in-house. Authorized empower! Life-Activated Eyewear Laboratory. Manufactures SightStar, Polar365, PhotoFashion, Varilux, Zeiss, Definity, Transitions, Essilor, Shamir, Kodak, Hoya, Polycore, Optima, Pixel Optics, Kaenon, Seiko, Vision-Ease, Marinelli, DriveWear premium lenses and difficult Rx’s. Offers frames, frame/lens package programs, Chemistrie eyewear, stock lenses, sunglasses, safety eyewear, soft contacts, low vision and pharmaceuticals. Operates in-house AR facilities producing EVC–enhanced visual clarity, Crizal Easy, Alize, Avance with Scotchgard Protector, Crizal Sunshield, TD2, Zeiss PureCoat, Teflon Elite, Teflon, Zeiss Allure, Zeiss Super & Gold ET, Advantage, Carat, Foundation XT and Mirror coatings. Award-winning In-House Gas Perm contact lens facility produces custom DuraCurve aspheric GP’s. Provides advanced remote ordering with RxWizard, VisionWeb, Paradeyes and Eyefinity software via the Web. Vendor lab for most major buying groups. VSP & VBA approved lab. www.luzerneoptical.com MJ Optical Founded: 1988 HQ./Main Lab Location: Omaha, Neb. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 64 Key Executives: Marty Hagge, Parke Wilkinson, Matt Hagge, David Mizo, Morrie Hagge, Michael Hagge Owner: Mary Hagge Trade Names: None Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $12.9 million Rx Sales: $9.3 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,200 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 58% Comments: Proprietary products include Platinum HD free-form; Nyteyez and Mirage AR; Distributes Crizal and Zeiss AR, Varilux lenses. Offers TFP and Titanium frame and lens packages. Distributes contact lenses. Offers on-line ordering and job tracking. www.mjoptical.com Nassau Vision Group/Nova Optical Lab Founded: 1939 HQ./Main Lab Location: Northvale, N.J. No. of Locations: 8 No. of Employees: 209 Key Executives: Maureen Cavanagh, president, Irwin Kaufman, VP – CFO; Bruno Barajuan, General Manager Owner: Essilor of America Trade Names: Nova Optical, Nassau Lens Florida, Nassau Lens Southwest, Nassau Lens Midwest, Nassau Lens Mid-Atlantic, Nassau Lens Southeast, Nassau Lens West Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $86 million Rx Sales: $25 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 2,000 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 80% Comments: Leading stock lens distributor including Crizal lenses, recently launched a new Digital Platform at Nova Optical in NJ. Offers surfacing, finishing, drill mounting, coatings and lens tinting. Varilux-authorized. Offers in-house Crizal coatings, including Crizal Avancé with Scotchgard Protector, Crizal Alize and Crizal Easy. Proprietary products include Synergy Crystal and Triumph AR Coatings; Nalco, Vanity and Lighten Up lenses. Other lens brands include Shore, Essilor, Varilux, Carl Zeiss Vision (Zeiss, AO, SOLA), Seiko, KBco, Signet Armorlite, Optima, Vision-Ease, Shamir, Specialty Lens. www.Nassau247.com Optic Blue Founded: 2006 HQ./Main Lab Location: Lubbock, Texas No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 21 Key Executives: Wes Palmer, director of sales Owner: Jason Blue Trade Names: none Key Markets: Texas, N.M., Okla. 2011 Est. Net Sales: $3.9 million Rx Sales: $3.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 240 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 19% Comments: Distributes Hoya, Zeiss and Varilux lenses. Proprietary products include Concept HD series, FreeStȳl and Blue Rock Eyewear. Services include Profit Builder frame and lens program and Optical Accelerator training program. www.opticblue.net Optical Prescription Lab Founded: 1977 HQ./Main Lab Location: Pelham, Ala. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 24 Key Executives: Danny Pugh, president; Sherry Pugh, vice president Owners: Danny Pugh, Sherry Pugh Trade Names: O.P.L. Key Markets: Ala., Tenn., Miss., Ga., Fla. 2011 Est. Net Sales: $5.2 million Rx Sales: $5.0 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 300 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 30% Comments: Distributes Varilux, Hoya, Shamir, Seiko and Zeiss lenses. Operates in-house Crizal processing center with 24-hour service. Offers Crizal Performance Package. VSP, VCP and VBA-approved lab. www.opticalprescriptionlab.com Perfect Optics Founded: 2006 HQ./Main Lab Location: San Diego, Calif. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 73 Key Executives: Matt Schmidt-Wetekam, CEO; Thomas Brophy, VP, Sabine Rentschar, VP technology; Adam Winkelman, VP sales and marketing Owners: Matt Schmidt-Wetekam CEO, Thomas Brophy, VP operations, Sabine Rentschar, VP finance, Adam Winkelman, VP sales Trade Names: Perfection FF, Perfection Blue AR Key Markets: national 2011 Est. Net Sales: $12 million Rx Sales: $12 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 550 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 10% Comments: Specializes in free-form, digital surfacing. Proprietary products include Perfection free-form lens series, Perfection Blue AR coating. Offers sports Rx manufacturing for most major sun and sports frame brands. Offers Perfect Academy series of educational programs. www.perfectopticslab.com Pinnacle Optical Founded: 2002 HQ./Main Lab Location: Birmingham, Ala. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 22 Key Executives: Greg Blackwell, Jeffrey Crooks Owner: EyeCare Associates, Inc. & Greg Blackwell Key Markets: Southeast 2011 Est. Net Sales: $4.5 million Rx Sales: $4.3 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 225 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 8% Comments: Propriepary products include Icon HD line of digital progressive lenses. Services and programs include ProClean EZ frame and lens package; Chemistrie Lens Layering System; full digital surfacing lab and Crizal processing center. www.pinnacleoptical.com Precision Optical Group Founded: 1992 HQ./Main Lab Location: Creston, Iowa No. of Locations: 3 No. of Employees: 115 Key Executives: Shannon Waigand, Holly Ferber, Judy Hodge, Stephanie Brammer, Melanie Crago, Deb Larson, Lance Christensen, Mike Kellman, Warren Herron Owner: Mike Tamerius, Matt Somers Trade Names: Precision Optical Group, Inc., K Optical Laboratory, CRX Laboratories Key Markets: U.S., Canada, Virgin Islands, China, Puerto Rico 2011 Est. Net Sales: $17.8 million Rx Sales: $16.0 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,600 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 55% Comments: Full service lab offering low pricing and same day service nationwide. Distributes semi-finish blanks and lab supplies to other wholesalers throughout the U.S., Canada and China. Offers four in-house AR coatings including Clear AR along with Crizal and Teflon options. Customized Industrial Safety Programs, VSP, VBA, VCP authorized laboratory. Proprietary products include Courage Coating, Elite Clear AR, Value Line frame and lens package, low cost name brand progressives. www.poglabs.com Rite-Style Optical Founded: 1948 HQ./Main Lab Location: Omaha, Neb. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 112 Key Executives: George Lee, CEO; Larry Lee, president Owner: Lee family Trade Names: RSO Advantage AR, Rite Protect Key Markets: Midwest, Southeast, Texas 2011 Est. Net Sales: $24.2 million Rx Sales: $22.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,100 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 25% Comments: Full-service lab specializing in digitally surfaced free-form lenses. Over 50 percent of all PALs produced at RSO are free-form, with designs from Seiko, Shamir and Zeiss plus private-label Geo-Form. Offers proprietary line of Kodiak premium AR coatings, include Acro (VSP category D) and Integ (VSP C). The RSO Safety Rx division covers corporate accounts nationally as well as safety programs for independent ECPs. RSO is affiliated with Eyefinity/VSP, Vision Source, VisionWeb and Red Tray Optical. www.ritestyle.com Robertson Optical Laboratories Founded: 1958 HQ./Main Lab Location: Loganville, Ga. No. of Locations: 3 No. of Employees: 109 Key Executives: Owners and Glenn Hollingsworth, director of lab operations Owners: Calvin W. Robertson, Jr., Richard L. Robertson, Gordon “Scotty” Q. Scott, Jr., Calvin “Chip” W. Robertson, III Trade Names: Robertson Optical Laboratories, Robertson Optical Laboratories of Columbia, Robertson Optical Laboratories of Greenville. Key Markets: Southeastern U.S. 2011 Est. Net Sales: $17.1 million Rx Sales: $16.4 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,450 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 20% Comments: Full service labs servicing southeast for over 50 years with new lens products and new technologies. Two on-site AR coating facilities providing AR1, Duralux, Teflon and Zeiss. Distributes Carl Zeiss, Shamir, Seiko, Signet Armorlite, Vision-Ease, Younger, Hoya, Essilor and other major lens brands. On-site free-form technology and digital grinding offering service and quality on Carl Zeiss Customized lenses, Shamir Freeform lenses, Seiko Freeform lenses, and ROL Coze Freeform Lenses. Approved VSP, VBA, VCP contract labs. Offers frame and lens packages, specializing in three-piece mounts and Chemistrie Custom Clips. Member VCA and OLA. Offers online ordering and job tracking. www.robertsonoptical.com Superior Optical Labs Founded: 1991 HQ./Main Lab Location: Ocean Springs, Miss. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 55 Key Executives: Morgan Braly, Hal Walker, Jon Jacobs Owner: Hal Walker, Jon Jacobs Trade Names: Exilar and Exilar Plus Key Markets: N.Y., N.J., Conn. 2011 Est. Net Sales: $6.5 million Rx Sales: $6.2 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 375 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 15% Comments: Distributes Varilux lenses. Produces Crizal coatings in-house. VSP authorized. Offers seminars, training, promotions. www.superioroptical.com Three Rivers Optical Founded: 1969 HQ./Main Lab Location: Pittsburgh No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 68 Key Executives: Mary Ann Zappas, Joe Seibert, Steve Seibert Owner: Seibert Family Trade names: none Key Markets: Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Northeast 2011 Est. Net Sales: $19.2 million Rx Sales: $18.4 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,600 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 55% Comments: Operates in-house Crizal coating facility. Produces Essilor and Shamir free-form lenses as well as Varilux, Zeiss, Crizal, Kodak, Transitions, and proprietary TR O Seg bifocal polycarbonate in Transitions and TR O Blended Seg. Offers private label Discovery brand progressive lens and See More Valuehd and See More ICU backside fully digital progressives. Primary frame brands include Zyloware and McGee Group. www.3riversoptical.com Toledo Optical Founded: 1947 HQ./Main Lab Location: Toledo, Ohio No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 55 Key Executives: Irland Tashima, Jeffrey Szymanski, Robert Lommerse, Brian Green Owners: Kadowaki, Tashima and Green families Trade Names: Toledo Optical, Toledo Optical Lab Key Markets: Ohio, Mich. and Midwest 2011 Est. Net Sales: $9.9 million Rx Sales: $9.2 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 530 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 7% Comments: Proprietary products include Acclaro Elite and Acclaro antireflective lens processes, Armor XT premium scratch coating. Distributes Varilux, Shamir, and Zeiss lenses. Services and programs include dedicated sales force, extensive training and education programs such as Jumpstart Education, exclusive practice building initiatives such as “Get There From Here,” a joint practice management initiative with Transitions Optical and Williams Group, Strata multi-media training series; digital surfacing capability, One Step Rx, individualized customer performance reports. Williams Group Certified Sales Consultants, Transitions Lab of the Year 2003, 2006, and 2010, Top Three Finalist for Transitions Lab of the Year 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, VSP’s People First Lab Award Winner, Transitions Heritage Ambassador Club Member, Global Optics Member, First Three Time Winner of the Transitions Lab of the Year Award, DVI Implementer of the year, and the 2011 Mayoral Proclamation Recipient for Service “Above and Beyond”. www.toledooptical.com US Optical Founded: 2008 HQ./Main Lab Location: East Syracuse, N.Y. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 70 Key Executives: Robert Cotran, president; Ronald Cotran, VP; Ralph Cotran, VP Owners: Robert Cotran, Ronald Cotran, Ralph Cotran Trade Names: US Optical-Fastest Lab in America Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $20 million Rx Sales: $20 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,400 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 65% Comments: 100 percent digital surfacing with three robotic digital free-form machines, six digital polishers and four Zeiss AR coaters, Mei edger (sunglass wrap capabilities), traditional generator and polisher. Offers free-form products from Seiko, Zeiss, Shamir and Hoya (coming soon).Zeiss flash mirrors, Pixel Optics emPower, Carrera XCede (Safilo). Offers 24-hour service on uncuts. Zeiss-aligned, independent lab. www.usoptical.com VSP Optical Laboratories Founded: 1972 HQ./Main Lab Location: Sacramento, Calif. No. of Locations: 5 No. of Employees: 480 Key Executives: Don Oakley (President); Warren Meyer (Sr. Vice- President- Operations); Dave Delle Donne (Vice President- Business Development); Edward Morris (Vice President- Sales); Swen Carlson (Director, Columbus); Joe Maris (Director, Sacramento); Steve Mullen (Director, Capitol Optical); Kini Odom (Director, Legends 4.0); Danny Singer (Director, Ultra Lens). Owner: Vision Service Plan Trade Names: VSP Lab Columbus, VSP Lab Sacramento, Legends 4.0, Ultra Lens, Capitol Optical, UNITY PLx, Reveal and Espira Progressive Lenses, UNITY SVx Single Vision, UNITY Performance Coatings, Ethos AR Coating. Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $90 million Rx Sales: $84.6 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 5,400 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 15% Comments: Proprietary products include Unity PLx, Reveal and Espira Progressive Lenses, Ethos AR Coating and Unity Performance Coatings, Unity Stock Lenses. Service and programs include VSP Lab Rewards Program, Second Pair Program, VSP Global Loyalty Program, On-site AR including Crizal, Purecoat, Teflon, Zeiss, Ethos and Unity Performance Coatings. In-network digital (customized/freeform) surfacing capabilities producing Unity PLx, Espira, Reveal, Shamir, Sola, Varilux and Zeiss customized progressives and Unity SVx Single Vision products. MEI and A&R automated finishing technology. Distributors of Hoya, Seiko-Pentax, Signet Armorlite, Transitions, Varilux, Vision Ease, Younger and Zeiss Products. www.vsplab.com Walman Optical Company Founded: 1915 HQ./Main Lab Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. No. of Locations: 36 No. of Employees: 890 Key Executives: Marty Bassett president/CEO; Charles Pillsbury, executive VP; Doug Schlauderaff, executive VP, Craig Giles executive VP, Bryan Schueler VP, Geff Heidbrink VP Owner: Employee-owned Trade Names: Walman Optical, Soderberg Optical, Harbor Optical, SEOCO Optical, Walman Soderberg Instruments, X-Cel Contacts, Hydrogel Vision Corporation, ImageWear, Ultra Optics, ADO Buying Group, Preferred Select Buying Group. Key Markets: National 2011 Est. Net Sales: $230 million Rx Sales: $108 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 6,850 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 20% Comments: Complete digital surfacing and emPower capabilities supported by on-site A-R coating facilities providing Essilor, Zeiss and Ultra AR; offering Remo, Eyefinity and VisionWeb on-line ordering; Walman and Harbor University educational seminars; industry’s largest independent sales force. Proprietary products include Callaway, Stepper Eyewear, Sundance, Wiggles and Wildflower frames, Trusted Partners, ProLens premium lens packaging, Way Cool Frame Cool, Valuline and Bridge to Success seminars. Soderberg MyTee-Lite lenses, MaximEyes, Transitions Ultimate Rewards, Be Young Be U programs and Partners for Growth seminars. Harbor Individual Eyes and Innexus web programs, Members of Transitions Heritage Labs. www.walman.com, www.soseyes.com, www.harboroptical.com ■