By Staff
Friday, April 3, 2020 12:15 AM
ALEXANDRA, Va.—Greg Chavez, The Vision Council’s executive vice president of operations and membership, is moving on from the organization to assume a new position as CEO of
The Dental Trade Alliance (DTA). Chavez has been with The Vision Council for 17 years.
By Staff
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 12:18 AM
NEW YORK—Tom Coburn, an optical industry veteran who later gained prominence as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, died at his home here on March 28.
By Staff
Monday, March 30, 2020 12:24 AM
GREEN BAY, Wis.—
Shopko Optical has named Roberta Hengel to its management team as director of managed vision care. Hengel has worked in the managed care industry for more than 25 years and joins the team with proven experience in managed care network administration, contract negotiation, and developing growth strategies. Before accepting the position with Shopko Optical, Hengel served as director of managed care for UnitedHealth Group for more than 15 years. “I am pleased to welcome Roberta to the Shopko Optical team,” Kirk Lauterback, chief operating officer, said in a recent announcement. “Roberta’s unique experience will bring strong leadership and support with our insurance plan partners and enable us to provide additional benefits to our patients.”
By Staff
Monday, March 23, 2020 12:15 AM
CHICAGO—
Kemper Corporation (NYSE: KMPR) announced that Erich Sternberg has joined the company as president of its Life and Health Division. Kemper is one of the nation’s leading specialized insurers. Sternberg will be based in Chicago and report to Joseph P. Lacher, Jr., Kemper’s president and chief executive officer. The executives that lead the Kemper Life and Kemper Health brands will report to Sternberg. “Erich’s extensive leadership experience in the industry, his deep understanding of the life and health business, and years of effective execution on relevant business strategy will be a tremendous asset to our company,” said Lacher.
By Staff
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 12:27 AM
NEW YORK and ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Two vision care businesses are among the first groups in the U.S. to announce that they will be instituting closures of their offices and store networks to prevent the spread of the oronavirus (COVID-19). In an announcement late yesterday,
Vision Innovation Partners, a leading provider of ophthalmology services in the Mid-Atlantic region, said they are suspending all non-emergent appointments and surgeries for at least two weeks throughout its entire network.
By Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 12:36 AM
LONGARONE, Belluno, Italy—
Marcolin S.p.A's board of directors announced yesterday that they had "mutually agreed to terminate their contractual relationship with Massimo Renon, the CEO and general manager of the group, effective April 14, 2020." The board's brief statement said they "thanked Massimo Renon for his efforts and support to the company over the last three years, directing it toward a future of further success." Until the established date, Renon, who became CEO of Marcolin Group in 2017, will continue in his current role.
By Staff
Friday, February 28, 2020 12:21 AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The
California Optometric Association (COA) announced Thursday that Jason Tu, OD, has been elected as the new president of the organization. Dr. Tu is a practicing optometrist in San Diego, and he has been a compassionate provider and effective advocate for his patients over his decades-long career, according to the announcement. Previously, Tu served as the president of the COA San Diego County Optometric Society, secretary-treasurer of the California Optometric Association, and on the Vision of Children Foundation advisory board.
By Staff
Thursday, February 27, 2020 12:15 AM
BALTIMORE, Md.—
Versant Health, a leading national managed eye health and vision plan company, has named Lula Richards as their new chief compliance officer, according to an announcement from the company. As the chief compliance officer, Richards is responsible for ensuring Versant Health’s compliance with federal laws, rules, regulations and internal standards, policies and procedures. She will also oversee all internal audit activities and assure that Versant Health has a comprehensive and systematic approach to identify, prioritize, and assess business risks across the organization.
By Staff
Tuesday, February 25, 2020 12:24 AM
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—
VSP Global announced today the promotion of Michelle Skinner to chief network officer, and Earnie Franklin to chief operating officer. Skinner, who most recently served as chief provider relations officer, assumes expanded responsibilities to centralize the organization’s network business areas, including VSP Ventures, Eyeconic, and Provider Solutions, which includes doctor-facing functions, programs, and the VSP Global Premier Program. Franklin will be responsible for VSP Global’s supply chain, driving integration and alignment across the organization, including overseeing VSP Optics.
By Staff
Thursday, February 20, 2020 12:24 AM
BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—
Keplr Vision, a management group that provides a comprehensive operational and support platform to optometric practices, has named Chris Folsom as the organization’s first chief financial officer. Folsom, who took on the new responsibilities in January, brings more than 20 years of financial executive leadership experience to the fast-growing Keplr organization, according to an announcement. Folsom began his career with KPMG LLP, a “Big Four” accounting firm and subsequently transitioned into roles within manufacturing and service-based organizations.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 12:24 AM
MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.—
Charmant Group has announced that company’s current president and CEO Masao Miyachi will not renew his contract. Miyachi, who has been with Charmant for 40 years and has served as president and CEO since 2010, will depart the company at the end of March. Group chairman Kaoru Horikawa has appointed Masakiyo Honjo to take on the role of president and CEO of Charmant after Miyachi’s departure, with this new role beginning April 1, 2020.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 12:18 AM
SAN RAMON, Calif.—
CooperCompanies (NYSE: COO) has named Mark Drury as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective Feb. 15. He will report to Albert G. White, president and chief executive officer, according to an announcement late last week. Drury succeeds Randal L. Golden, who announced his plans to retire after many successful years with the company. As part of the transition, Golden will continue to serve in a legal advisory role until Feb. 1, 2021, the announcement noted.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 12:15 AM
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—
Southern College of Optometry (SCO) recently named George Miller, a certified fundraising executive, as its vice president for institutional advancement. With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit consulting, Miller oversees all development strategies for the college, including fundraising, alumni relations and marketing. “George is a highly qualified, dynamic leader with a proven track record of success in nonprofit fundraising and the execution of strategic initiatives,” said Dr. Lewis Reich, OD, Ph.D., president of SCO.
By Staff
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 12:27 AM
PASADENA, Calif.—
Acuity Eye Group has announced that Eliot Grossman, OD, has been named as the company’s new chief operations officer. In this role, Dr. Grossman will oversee operations for the large, multi-clinic group. Before taking on this role, he spent 30 years in leadership positions with Luxottica Group, including 13 years as president of EyeExam of California. There, he spearheaded the transformation of EyeExam of California’s operating business model, leading to the creation of the nation’s largest optometric HMO.
By Staff
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 12:15 AM
NEW YORK—Calvin Roberts MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, eyecare at Bausch Health Companies and clinical professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College, has been elected president and CEO of
Lighthouse Guild. The selection of Dr. Roberts follows a national search begun early last year after Alan R. Morse, JD, PhD announced his plans to retire after a 52-year career at Lighthouse Guild. Dr. Roberts' appointment is effective April 1. As a practicing ophthalmologist from 1982 to 2008, Dr. Roberts performed more than 10,000 cataract surgeries as well as 5,000 refractive and other corneal surgeries.