LINCOLN, Neb.—The Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA) held its 52nd Annual CLMA Meeting and exhibition in Savannah, Ga., earlier this month and the group bestowed several awards during the event.

Fadi G. Achkouti, sales director, Sterling Ultra Precision, a division of Ametek Precitech, Inc. was recognized with the 2013 Honorary Recognition Award “for a lifetime of dedication and service to the contact lens industry.”

Janice Y. Adams, president, Valley Contax, Inc., received the CLMA’s 2013 Industry Enhancement Award for her “unselfish dedication to the CLMA and the contact lens industry.”

The CLMA’s 2013 Trailblazers Award, for outstanding achievement in product development for enhancement of the contact lens industry was given to Naomi J. Svochak, president, of Tru Form Optics. The GPLI Practitioner of the Year Award, for outstanding professional expertise in fitting customized contact lenses to benefit patients with improved vision and corneal health, and to advance the contact lens field, was presented to Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FAAO, FCLSA, Emory University.

Professor Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd, FAAO, who served as master of ceremonies for the evening, said, "I was very honored to present the four awards to these outstanding individuals within our industry and to recognize their achievements."

The Gala event concluded with attendees donating over $1,000 to Optometry Giving Sight. The CLMA has designated Optometry Giving Sight as its International Charity of Choice. The CLMA, organized in 1961, is made up of contact lens laboratories and material, solution and equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad.