OLA Scores Knockout With Dramatic Awards of Excellence Ceremony By Staff Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:30 AM RELATED CONTENT Inside OLA 2009 OLA Steps Up Merger Talks With The Vision Council OLA Inducts Seven Into Its Hall of Fame WASHINGTON, D.C.—Breaking with tradition, The Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) transformed its annual Awards of Excellence ceremony here on Friday night from a conventional industry banquet into a raucous spectacle set in a mock boxing ring. Billed as “Fight Night 2009,” the event riveted the attention of OLA meeting attendees and vendors who cheered from “ringside” as the representatives of the final nominees donned boxing robes and struck Rocky-like poses before the award winners were declared by a ring announcer. The 2009 OLA Awards of Excellence winners are: BEST IN DRESS FRAMES Randy Jackson 1013 Zyloware BEST IN SPECIALTY FRAMES Trendsetter TR309S Uvex by Sperian BEST IN CHILDREN'S FRAMES Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants Exploration Nouveau Eyewear BEST IN LENS MATERIALS & TREATMENT Coppertone Polarized Lenses Vision-Ease Lens BEST IN LENS DESIGN Individual Carl Zeiss Vision BEST IN MARKETING Drivewear Glare Wheel Demonstrator Younger Optics BEST IN SOFTWARE TOOLS Job Bob Digital Vision BEST IN SURFACING EQUIPMENT (Two Winners) VFT Orbit Generator Satisloh HSC Sprint Generator Schneider Optical Machines BEST IN SURFACING MATERIALS & TOOLS Lumina Polish Pad DAC Vision BEST IN FINISHING EQUIPMENT Dimension Tracer National Optronics BEST IN FINISHING MATERIALS & TOOLS Stellar Block DAC Vision BEST IN LENS TREATMENT EQUIPMENT Ultra-Rx Coater Ultra Optics BEST IN ACCESSORY PRODUCTS Double Lens Lined Envelope E-Z Pack The OLA also honored its longtime technical director, Dan Torgersen, who was presented with the Director’s Choice Award. Torgersen is vice president, MIS and special projects, for Walman Optical in Minneapolis, Minn.