DULUTH, Ga.—Many colleagues and friends at National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NVI) (NASDAQ: EYE), one of the nation’s largest optical retailers, bid a fond farewell and held a Second Line parade this week on the occasion of the planned retirement of Sharon Petitt, NVI's senior vice president of store operations who retired yesterday after a 45-year long and successful career in the optical industry, serving in both private practice and the corporate setting. Petitt has been with America's Best Contacts & eyeglasses, one of the retail brands of NVI, for the past 25 years, and has been with National Vision since the company acquired America's Best in 2005.
During her time at National Vision, Petitt successfully opened more than 700 stores, contributing significantly to the successful growth of the company during her tenure. She has held roles at all levels, including training, field leadership and executive roles. The company noted, "Sharon is a consistent and strong leader that gets results, all while doing it with a 'people first' philosophy that is felt by everyone she interacts with."
Stated Reade Fahs, CEO of National Vision, "Sharon Petitt truly embodies what I consider the definition of success in life. She is an incredible business leader that consistently gets results, but concurrently engenders a community of admiring and loving colleagues and friends. She has positively touched the lives of tens of thousands of associates in her career. Sharon treats everyone as if they were her family and they thereby become so. We will miss her and wish her all the best in her retirement."
As VMAIL reported in April, Roger Francis assumed the role of chief stores officer, effective May 3. The company announced Petitt's retirement at that time.