PEOPLE: Moves PEOPLE By Staff Monday, March 17, 2014 12:00 AM Rebecca Giefer Modo Appoints Giefer New Chief Operating Officer NEW YORK— Modo Eyewear has announced the appointment of Rebecca Giefer as chief operating officer. Giefer was previously vice president of operations and has been with the company for the last 10 years. Effective immediately, Giefer will assume responsibility for managing all hands-on operational aspects of the company. According to the company, she will drive the alignment and prioritization of company projects and will ensure operational excellence across the company. Giefer has focused on client relations, operations and technology, during her time with Modo. Her previous efforts have been focused on building the operations team, while introducing and utilizing various technologies to create an efficient environment, the company said. Kelly K. Nichols Nichols, OD Named Dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, has been named Dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, following the retirement in July 2013 of Rod W. Nowakowski, OD, PhD. She will assume the role on June 25, 2014. Nichols comes to UAB from the University of Houston, where she served as a professor since 2011. There, she co-founded and served as executive director for The Ocular Surface Institute. Prior to that, Nichols was a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Optometry from 2000 to 2011. “In a highly competitive search, we narrowed the list to several strong candidates from across the country and found Dr. Nichols to be the best fit for UAB,” said Provost Linda Lucas, PhD. Nichols received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California at Berkeley, completed a residency in ocular disease at a tertiary referral medical center in Colorado, and earned her MPH in biostatistics and PhD in vision science at The Ohio State University. Extensively involved in organizations, including the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry, she serves as a medical adviser to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, and is an executive board member for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society. Erik Liljegren Liljegren Joins Block Business Group as Director of Business Development BOCA RATON, Fla.— Block Business Group has added Erik Liljegren to its management team in the new position of director of business development. Liljegren’s backround is in television and media production. He has run a successful video production company and has worked in broadcasting for several years. Michael Block, president of Block Business Group commented, “His unique knowledge and experience in video production and its application to the internet and social media will help BBG in its efforts to offer our members and our vendors opportunities to reach consumers in new ways. Jean Sabre Sabre Appointed to Optical Women’s Association Board of Directors DALLAS—The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has appointed Jean Sabre to its board of directors. Sabre is the owner and practice administrator of Uptown Vision in Minneapolis, Minn. Before entering the optical profession, Sabre held management and sales positions throughout the U.S. with major retailers including Dayton’s, Marshall Fields, Nordstrom and Barneys New York. Her husband, Dr. Mark Sabre, established a private optometric practice in Minneapolis in 1991. Sabre has been the practice manager, lead optician and eyewear buyer from the beginning. She is a member of the Transitions Optical ProForum and currently serves on the board of Interlachen Country Club. She was also the recent chairwoman of Interlachen’s Golf for the Cure, which raises money for breast cancer research. Steven J. Lowinger Energeyes Association of Corporate-Affiliated Optometrists Adds Lowinger, OD, to Board NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Energeyes, the association of corporate-affiliated optometrists, has added Steven J. Lowinger, OD, of Miami to serve a two-year term on its board of directors. While the association was formed in 2013 by optometrists affiliated with Walmart and Sam’s Club, it has started the process of ensuring that its board reflects its growing membership of optometrists with offices in Costco, Pearle, LensCrafters, and BJ’s, according to a statement from the organization. Lowinger has been a corporate-affiliated optometrist with Costco for 18 years with two leases in North Miami and Miami Lakes. He was chairman of the Florida Optometric Association’s leased tenant committee, 2010-2012.