BUSINESS: Labs Vision Monday’s TOP LABS – 2013 (in alphabetical order) By Staff Monday, September 23, 2013 12:05 AM RELATED CONTENT What It Takes to Be a Top Lab VM’s Top Labs Performance Analysis The Top 20 Independent Labs in 2013 at a Glance Top Labs That Made News in 2013 VM’s Top 20 Independent Wholesale Labs by 2013 VM’s Top 5 Supplier-Owned U.S. Lab Networks 2013 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, Ore., Hawaii 2013 Est. Net Sales: $10 million Rx Sales: $10.0 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 400 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 25% Comments: Well-established West Coast lab; VSP-authorized. Offers online order entry, order status check capability and work in process nightly reports. Access to all lens vendors. In-house AR coating. www.brothersoptical.com Carl Zeiss Vision Laboratories Founded: 2000 HQ.: San Diego, Calif. No. of Locations: 16 No. of Employees: 1,000 Key Executives: Joe Donahoe, president, North America; Claude Labeeuw, vice president, marketing; Steve Ballenger, vice president, operations; Steve Mitrakos, senior vice president, sales Owner: Carl Zeiss AG, Germany Trade Names: Carl Zeiss Vision—B&W, Carl Zeiss Vision—California, Carl Zeiss Vision—Cumberland, Carl Zeiss Vision—Georgia, Carl Zeiss Vision—Great Lakes, Carl Zeiss Vision—Iowa, Carl Zeiss Vision—Kansas City, Carl Zeiss Vision—Kentucky, Carl Zeiss Vision—North Central, Carl Zeiss Vision—Northeast, Carl Zeiss Vision—Northwest, Carl Zeiss Vision—Siouxland, Carl Zeiss Vision—Southeastern, Carl Zeiss Vision— Texas, Carl Zeiss Vision—Virginia Key Markets: Nationwide 2013 Est. Net Sales: $162 million Rx Sales: $146 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 10,600 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 25% Comments: Propriety products include Zeiss brand lenses and coatings, PhotoFusion by Zeiss; SOLA and AO lenses, Teflon Clear Coat Lenses. Offers Zeiss Practice Advantage program. www.zeiss.com/lenses Cherry Optical Founded: 1999 HQ./Main Lab Location: Green Bay, Wis. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 36 Key Executives: Adam Cherry, Lynn Cherry, Joe Cherry Owners: Adam Cherry, Lynn Cherry, Joe Cherry Trade Names: Independence, Independence HD, Quantum 2, Quantum 2 HD, Cherry Approved AR, Safety Optix, What’s New University, What’s New monthly newsletter. Key Markets: Worldwide 2013 Est. Net Sales: $8.1 million Rx Sales: $7.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 350 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 20% Comments: Offers 24/5 manufacturing; annual What’s New University CE event at Lambeau Field. Highly skilled MEI lens milling specialists allow Cherry Optical to easily process advanced warp and sports frames. Cherry Optical’s What’s New monthly newsletter provides unbiased news and reviews of the latest optical products, services, industry news and trends. www.facebook.com/thecherryopticalinc Digital Eye Lab (a division of ABB Optical Group) Founded: 2007 HQ./Main Lab Location: Hawthorne, N.Y. Number of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 80 Key Executives: Scott Pearl, managing director; Vince Monaghan, VP of manufacturing Owner: ABB Optical Group Trade Names: None Key Markets: National Est. Net Sales 2013: $24.2 million Rx Sales: $24.2 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,050 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 52% Comments: 100 percent of lenses are digitally surfaced using proprietary DXT manufacturing platform. Multiple fully automated digital fabrication lines. On-site Claris HD AR coating center. Extensive onside lens finishing center, featuring interchangeable and wrap lens finishing capability. National sales organization. “Digital Rewards” customer loyalty program. Website features proprietary online job ordering/tracking/reporting functions built specifically for the unique needs of digital lenses. Overnight delivery across the continental U.S. on a unique mix of digital lenses from Digital 5.0, Seiko, Indo and Shamir. Continually developing next generation lens options. Proprietary products include Digital 5.0 Personalized Lens Series, Digital Master Series, Curve PAL and SV wrap designs, Claris HD AR coating. www.Digitaleyelab.com Diversified Ophthalmics Laboratory Group Founded: 1977 HQ./Main Lab Location: Cincinnati, Ohio No. of Locations: 11 No. of Employees: 98 Key Executives: Ronald Cooke, president/CEO; Daniel Woebkenberg, VP sales and marketing; Keith Ansley, VP, operations Owner: Closely held corporation Trade Names: PureSite Lenses, PureSite Digital, PureSite Preference AR, Practice Maximus Key Markets: Ga. Idaho, Ind., Ky., La., Mich., Mont., N.C., Pa., Ohio, S.C., Tenn., Texas, Utah, Wash., Wis., W.Va. 2013 Est. Net Sales: $30.6 million Rx Sales: $14.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,080 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 22% Comments: Ophthalmic lens and RGP manufacturing capabilities. 2012 and 2005 Transitions “Lab of the Year.” Transitions Platinum Elite Laboratory. Transitions Heritage Lab. Authorized Varilux distributor. VSP contract lab. Signet Armorlite partner lab. Operates on-site AR coating facility. AR branded products includes PureSite Preference Platinum. Offers free-form digital surfacing, including PureSite Digital lenses, Essilor lenses, Kodak lenses and Shamir lenses. Offers eyeglass and contact lens packages, Perfect View frame-and-lens value packages, certified continuing education seminars and staff training. Markets PureSite brand of stock lenses. On-line and electronic ordering. Remote frame tracing. Member of the Vision Council, Vision Council Lab Division and AR Council. 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 LabTalk Top Ten Web Site of the Year. 2009 LabTalk Top Web Site. www.divopt.com Essilor Laboratories of America Founded: 1996 HQ./Main Lab Location: Dallas, Texas No. of Locations: 134 No. of Employees: 6,529 Key Executives: Real Goulet, president Essilor Lab Group; Mike McCollum, senior vice president ELOA Labs; Mike Nathe, senior vice president, Partner Labs; Alain Mathieu, vice president operations and technologies; Paul Owston, vice president lab network sales Owner: Essilor International Trade Names: 21st Century Optical, ABBA Contact Lens, AccuRX Inc., Advance Optical, Apex, Aspen Optical, Balester, Barnett & Ramel, Bartley Optical, Beitler-McKee Optical, Bell Optical Labs, Bristow Optical, Central Optical, Collard Rose Optical, Crown Optical, CSC, Custom Eyes, Dash Lab, DBL Labs, Deschutes Optical, Duffens Optical, Dunlaw Optical, e.Magine, 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, LensTech, Meridian Optical, McLeod Optical, MGM Optical, Midland Optical, Milroy, NEA Optical, New City Optical, Omega Optical, Omni Optical Lab, Optical One, Inc, Optic Blue, 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, Professional Opthalmic Labs, Reliable Optics, S&G Optical, Select Optical, Southern Optical, Southwest Lens, Spectrum Optical, Sunstar Optical, Sutherlin Optical, Tri-Supreme, Truckee Meadows, Twin City Optical, Vision Craft Inc, Winchester, WOS Optical Key Markets: Local and National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $1,187 million Rx Sales: $1,128 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 74,000 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 32% Comments: Proprietary products include LiteStyle/Ultra LiteStyle Lenses, Varilux, Crizal UV AR Coatings, Sharpview. Xperio UV. Programs include ECP University, Needs Based Solutions, Think About Your Practice, Doctor Directed Process. www.eloa.com Expert Optics Founded: 1979 HQ./Main Lab Location: Shorewood, Ill. No. of Locations: 2 No. of Employees: 90 Key Executives: Don Ruden, CEO; Greg Ruden, president; Bob Pommier, director of laboratory operations; Dennis Geuder, director of sales; Bob Hughbanks, manager of training and education Owner: Greg Ruden Trade names: Expert Best, Expert Essential, Expert Elite, Expert Extreme Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $21.6 million Rx Sales: $20.5 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 915 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 24% Comments: Full service independent lab and wholesale distributor. Operates three free-form production lines that process numerous lens designs from the leading manufacturers including: AO Easy HD, Compact Ultra HD, Seiko Succeed, Seiko Supercede, Seiko Surmount, Shamir Attitude, Shamir Autograph, Shamir Element, Shamir Office, SOLA HDV, SOLA One HD, Varilux Comfort DRx, Varilux Physio DRx, Zeiss GT2 3D, Zeiss GT2 3DV, Zeiss Individual. The complete Crizal anti-reflective coating line anchors a 6,000 square foot Coating facility which includes three coaters capable of processing all the AR coating brands from SOLA, Zeiss, and Essilor. Distributes 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. ABO-certified sales force offers in-office education. Offers Lenstock web-based lens ordering and inventory management system. Distributor sales department inventories over 50 frame lines with various 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 patented 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 2013 Est. Net Sales: $6.1 million Rx Sales: $4.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 448 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 2% Comments: Full service, VBA-approved lab. Provides free point-of-purchase brochures and counter displays to help educate patients. Offers lens and frame package including 130 stocked, high quality frame styles from nine manufacturers with various lens types. Accepts many forms of insurance, including MN Care. 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. Offers same-day service at no extra charge. Offers various AR coatings including Crizal and Crizal Alizé. www.eyekraft.com FEA Industries Founded: 1984 HQ./Main Lab Location: Morton, Pa. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 84 Key Executives: Chrystal Colflesh, general manager; Chris Heeney, operations manager; William H. Heffner, IV, IT and marketing Owner: Willliam H. Heffner, III Trade Names: Independence AR lenses, Eagle free-form lenses, HD bifocals Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $14.2 million Rx Sales: $13.9 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,730 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 90% Comments: Five free-form production lines. On-site software development. Glass free-form lenses will be available December, 2013. Website includes ordering, tracking reports, invoices. Participates in third-party program VBA only. Offers stock lenses, stock frames and safety frames. Handles most lens brands except Varilux. Independent AR offers lifetime warranty. www.feaind.com Hoya Optical Laboratories America Founded: 1998 HQ./Main Lab Location: Lewisville, Texas No. of Locations: 28 No. of Employees: 1,240 Key Executives: Barney Dougher, president; Gregg Fowler, senior vice president sales and marketing; Jason White vice president finance; Mike Dougher, senior vice president manufacturing & operations; Greg Hicks OD, director of professional affairs; Ann Marie Lahr, OD, director of education Owner: Hoya Corporation Trade Names: Hoya Michigan, Hoya Lewiston, Hoya Largo, Hoya Las Vegas, Hoya Los Angeles, Hoya Knoxville, Hoya Atlanta, Hoya Boise, Hoya Dallas, Hoya Cleveland, Hoya Birmingham, Hoya Chicago, Hoya Dayton, Hoya Greenville, Hoya Des Moines, Hoya Denver, Hoya Hartford, Hoya Eugene, Hoya Modesto, Hoya Portland, Hoya New Orleans, Hoya San Antonio, Hoya Salina, Hoya St. Louis, Hoya San Jose, Hoya San Diego, Hoya Seattle Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $230 million Rx Sales: $218.5 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 12,500 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 15% Comments: Proprietary free-form progressive and single vision lens designs include iD MyStyle, iD InStyle, iD LifeStyle, Hoyalux Array, iD Single Vision, Summit ecp and cd iQ, ST28 iQ, SV iQ, Distortion Free Optics, Sync, Summit ecp and cd, and TACT. Proprietary lens materials include 1.70, Eyry, 1.67 Eynoa, 1.60 Eyas, 1.53 Phoenix,1.50. Proprietary lens treatments include Super HiVision EX3, Super HiVision, Recharge and HiVision. Special products, services and programs include Spectangle custom measuring device, Eye ConnecT, Dedicated Customer Service Departments at each Hoya Lab, Hoya Honors Program, Dedicated Sales Force, Frame and Lens Packages, Safety Frame Package, PNX Kids Package, Super Kidz Program, Optical School and Lens Design Education, in-office lunch and learn, and custom business management programs. Hoya Vision Care produces the iD Series of Personalized Lenses, the iQ Series of Optimized Lenses, HOYA DF Distortion Free Optics, Sync, and Super HiVision Series of AR Treatments. www.hoyavision.com; www.thehoyafreeformcompany.com; www.choosemylens.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: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $19.6 million Rx Sales: $18.6 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,550 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 65% Comments: Family owned and operated. Offers all major lens brands such as Varilux, Kodak, Zeiss and Hoya. 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. Fully automated digital production line along with robotic edging. www.icarelabs.com; www.icl365.com Laramy-K Optical Founded: 1989 HQ./Main Lab Location: Indianola, Iowa No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 29 Key Executives: John Larson, general manager Owners: Janet Benjamin, Keith Benjamin, John Larson Trade Names: LKO Key Markets: Worldwide 2013 Est. Net Sales: $4.9 million Rx Sales: $4.6 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 335 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 100 percent Comments: On-site free-form surfacing and AR. Free-form verification with A&R Optical Machinery’s Dual Lens Mapper. Produces Integrity series lenses and coatings encompassing 10 distinctive free-frm designs to fit every need. Available with lenticularization, digital slabs and high powers. Three ultra-premium AR coatings: blue residual, ckear Ar and UVARity, which addresses reflected UV and HEV light, all topped with a power coat for easy in-office processing. Open Optix online education offering ABO and NCL study guides with practices tests along with many other education topics. Online store for optical tools and consumables. “My Patient is Waiting” program for instant information about product availability and application. www.laramyk.com Luzerne Optical Laboratories Founded: 1973 HQ./Main Lab Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 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 UV, Crizal Alizé UV, Crizal Avancé UV, Crizal Sunshield UV, Crizal UV with Optifog, TD2, Teflon, Advantage, Carat and Foundation XT, EVC-enhanced visual clarity, Zeiss PureCoat, Teflon Elite, Zeiss Allure. Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $34 million Rx Sales: $33 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 2,050 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 46% Comments: 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. Offers digital iPad=based iFit dispensing system. 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 UV, Alizé UV, Avancé UV, Crizal Sunshield UV, Crizal UV with Optifog, 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. Offers complex wrap Rx sunglass finishing services. 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: 54 Key Executives: Matt Hagge, Mike Hagge, David Mize, Parke Wilkinson, Marty Hagge, Mitch Hagge, Morrie Hagge Owner: Mary Hagge Trade Names: None Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $12.9 million Rx Sales: $9.8 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,250 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 59% Comments: Proprietary products include MJ FP program; Titanium frame program. In-house AR, computerized drill mount, digital lens (Platinum HD, SV HD). Varilux distributor; Varilux digital. Distributes contact lenses. www.mjoptical.com Nova Optical Lab Founded: 1996 HQ.: Northvale, N.J. Main Lab Location: Orangeburg, N.Y. No. of Locations: 2 No. of Employees: 105 Key Executives: Maureen Cavanagh, president, Nassau Vision Group; Neil Rosen, vice president sales operations/marketing/IT); Bruno Barajuan, general manager Owner: Essilor of America Trade Names: Nassau Vision Group, Nova Optical, Nassau Lens Florida, Nassau Lens Southwest, Nassau Lens Midwest, Nassau Lens Southeast, Nassau Lens West Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $23 million Rx Sales: $23 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,500 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 80% Comments: Proprietary products include in-house AR (Triumph, Synergy Chrystal), Shoreview digital lenses. Services and programs include surfacing, coating, finishing, customer service. Offers traditional and digital products. www.nassau247.com; www.novaopticallab.com Optical Prescription Lab Founded: 1977 HQ./Main Lab Location: Pelham, Ala. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 23 Key Executives: Danny Pugh, president; Sherry Pugh, vice president Owners: Danny Pugh, Sherry Pugh Trade Names: OPL Key Markets: Ala., Tenn., Miss., Ga., Fla., Ky., La., S.C., N.C., Va. 2013 Est. Net Sales: $6.2 million Rx Sales: $5.6 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 375 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 30% Comments: Offers in-house digital lens processing; distributes Varilux, Crizal, Shamir and Transitions lenses. Operates in-house Crizal processing center. VSP, VCP and VBA-approved lab. www.opticalprescriptionlab.com Precision Optical Group Founded: 1992 HQ./Main Lab Location: Creston, Iowa No. of Locations: 3 No. of Employees: 85 Key Executives: Shannon Waigand, Lance Christensen, Judy Hodge, 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, United Kingdom 2013 Est. Net Sales: $18.5 million Rx Sales: $12.6 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,600 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 70% Comments: Offers same day service nationwide, customized safety Rx programs, in-house digital processing and on-site AR. VSP, VBA and VCP authorized. www.poglabs.com Robertson Optical Laboratories Founded: 1958 HQ./Main Lab Location: Loganville, Ga. No. of Locations: 3 No. of Employees: 111 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. 2013 Est. Net Sales: $18.4 million Rx Sales: $17.7 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,500 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 20% Comments: 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. Servicing Southeast for over 50 years with new lens products and new technologies. Two on-site AR coating facilities providing AR1, Royal AR coatings, RB Tech, Teflon and Zeiss coatings. Distributes Carl Zeiss, Shamir, Seiko, Signet Armorlite, Vision-Ease, Younger, Hoya, Essilor and other major lens brands. Approved VSP, VBA, VCP contract labs. Authorized EmPower lab. Approved VSP, VBA, VCP contract labs. Authorized emPower lab. Offers frame and lens packages, specializing in three-piece mounts, wraps 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: 47 Key Executives: Hal Walker, president; Jon Jacobs, vice president Owner: Hal Walker, Jon Jacobs Trade Names: Personal Lens (digital lens), Exilar and Exilar Plus (AR) Key Markets: Southeast 2013 Est. Net Sales: $5.5 million Rx Sales: $5.4 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 375 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 5% Comments: Specializes in safety contracts, VA eyeglass contracts. Offers in-house digital lens processing. Distributes Varilux Hoya, Younger and Transitions lenses. Produces Crizal coatings in-house. Offers Red Tray program and value packages. Provides ECP education, ABO classes. VSP authorized. www.superioroptical.com Three Rivers Optical Founded: 1969 HQ./Main Lab Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. 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 2013 Est. Net Sales: $18.8 million Rx Sales: $18 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,525 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 45% Comments: Operates in-house Crizal coating facility. Produces Essilor and Shamir Freeform lenses as well as Varilux, Zeiss, Crizal, See More Easy Clean top coat. Transitions, and proprietary TR O Seg bifocal and TR O SEG in all resin materials. Offers private label Discovery brand progressive lens and See More Valuehd and See More ICU backside fully digital progressives. www.3riversoptical.com US Optical Founded: 2008 HQ./Main Lab Location: East Syracuse, N.Y. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 90 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 2013 Est. Net Sales: $26 million Rx Sales: $26 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,600 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 65% Comments: Proprietary products include Ultimate HD, Digital AR, Advanced HD, Wrap HD, SV HD, SVWrap HD. Produces Zeiss, Hoya, Essilor, Crizal, Purecoat and Seiko lenses. Offers Carrera XCede program from Safilo. www.usoptical.com VSPOne Optical Technology Centers Founded: 1972 HQ./Main Lab Location: Sacramento, Calif. No. of Locations: 9 No. of Employees: 800 Key Executives: Don Oakley, president; Warren Meyer, senior vice president, operations; Dave Delle Donne, vice president, business development; Edward Morris, vice president, sales; Swen Carlson, vice president, operations, Central region; Joe Maris, vice president, operations, West region; Danny Singer, vice president, operations, East region Owner: Vision Service Plan Trade Names: VSPOne Columbus, VSPOne Sacramento, VSPOne Dallas, VSPOne Fort Lauderdale, VSPOne Tampa Bay, VSPOne Olympia, VSPOne San Diego, VSPOne Hawaii, VSPOne St. Cloud. Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $165 million Rx Sales: $155.1 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 8,500 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 15% Comments: Proprietary lens brands include Unity PLx, Unity PLxtra, Unity PLxpression with Cascade Technology, Unity PLxtreme, Reveal and Ethos progressive lenses, Unity SVx Single Vision, Unity SVxtra Single Vision, Unity SVxtreme single vision, Unity CVx computer lenses, Unity Performance Coatings, Unity stock lenses, Unity with BluTech. Special services and programs include VSPOne Rewards Program, Second Pair Program. Offers on-site AR including Unity Performance Coatings and Crizal, Purecoat, Teflon, and Zeiss. In-network digital (customized/free-form) surfacing capabilities producing Unity, VSP Reveal, Shamir, SOLA, Varilux and Zeiss customized progressives and Unity digital 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.VSPOne.com Vision Associates of Rochester Founded: 2001 HQ./Main Lab Location: Rochester, N.Y. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 115 Key Executives: John Greco, director of lab operations; Jeremy Gnade, director of sales Owners: Jeremy Ho Trade Names: Rochester Optical Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $11 million Rx Sales: $9.5 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 800 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 15% Comments: Produces digital lenses, including Seiko, Shamir, Hoya and RO brands, and Ole AR coating. Offers full-service glass lens processing. Distributes wide range of fashion and military eyewear. Supplies U.S. armed forces, eyecare professionals and corporate customers. www.rochesteroptical.com Vision Dynamics Laboratory Founded: 2007 HQ./Main Lab Location: Louisville, Ky. No. of Locations: 1 No. of Employees: 70 Key Executives: Galen Powers, president; John Dippold, VP operations; Mike Yager, VP sales Owners: Jeffrey Plank, Robert Miniutti Trade Names: None Key Markets: National 2013 Est. Net Sales: $9.2 million Rx Sales: $5.2 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 600 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 30% Comments: Proprietary products include Clearlight, custom photochromics (Sunsmart, Ultrasun, Sun & Fun) custom colored poly (Permatint). Lab-to-lab glass lens specialists. Walman Optical Company Founded: 1915 HQ./Main Lab Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. No. of Locations: 40 No. of Employees: 1,000 Key Executives: Marty Bassett, president/CEO; Charles Pillsbury, EVP/CFO; Doug Schlauderaff, EVP; Craig Giles, EVP; Jobe Sellers VP; Irland Tashima VP; Bryan Schueler VP Owner: Employee-owned Trade Names: Walman Optical, Soderberg Optical, Harbor Optical, Toledo Optical, Rite-Style 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 2013 Est. Net Sales: $275 million Rx Sales: $160 million No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 8,000 Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 20% Comments: State of the art digital surfacing and AR capabilities, producing Varilux, Shamir, Zeiss, Seiko, and digital house brand lenses on site, as well as Crizal, Zeiss, Ultra, and house brand AR. Provider lab for both VSP and EyeMed orders. Online Rx order submissions accepted through major portals including DVI Remo, Eyefinity, and VisionWeb. ADO ONE program powered by the ADO Buying Group. Featuring educational seminars Walman U, North Focus University, ADO seminars, and partnering with Transitions and The Williams Group on training and education events. Industry’s largest independent consultative sales force. Proprietary products include Callaway, London Fog, Stepper Eyewear, Sundance, Wiggles and Wildflower frames. New tablet and Internet tools include the new SpecTech iPad app and system, Innexus Web site systems, and Response Element for online ordering of marketing materials. Members of Transitions Heritage Labs. www.walman.com, www.soseyes.com, www.adobuying.com, www.toledooptical.com, www.ritestyle.com ■