Products & ideas for the laboratory professional.
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FEATURE 16 march 2015 opticallabproducts.com business and says he's been very fortunate to have worked for some of the sharpest minds who helped shape him. Before HOYA, he held several different roles in other companies including Product Manager for Schneider Optical Machines, Inc., Research and Development Lab Manager for Younger Optics, and District Technical Manager for Eyecare Centers of America (ECCA). ADAM CHERRY, President, Cherry Optical, Inc., age 34. Adam has been at the family-owned lab for 13 years and is ABO-certi- fed. His current role keeps him involved in all aspects of business operations including marketing, sales, hiring, and researching different technolo- gies, equipment, and products. He says that his biggest challenge is to keep his employees happy, healthy, and motivated. "I don't ever want to get so buried in day-to-day tasks that I forget to say "hello," "thank you," and reward employees for the hard work they do," he adds. MICHAEL CHONG JR., President, Galileo Optical Labora- tory, age 31. Michael is a co-owner of Galileo Optical Laboratory in Doral, FL. He began surfacing lenses in the family-owned lab at the age of nine. He received his B.S. and M.C. at Florida Interna- tional University before becoming ABO-certifed. Working alongside Michael Chong, Sr., they opened Galileo in 2001. Michael says he and his family have worked hard to bring Galileo to the forefront of both digital lens processing and lens coating technology. Michael Jr. runs day-to-day operations and handles sales and marketing. Last year, he began giving lecture hours in digital lens processing to help ensure the optical community was well versed in the latest lens technologies. NICHOLAS CHONG, AR Manager, Galileo Optical Labora- tory, age 26. Nick received a B.S. from Florida Atlantic Univer- sity (FAU) and decided to pursue a career in the optical industry after being introduced to AR coatings during his senior year at FAU. While working closely with several techs who were installing an AR machine at Galileo one summer, Nick became very interested in the coating process and decided to jump on board with the family business and keep the AR depart- ment running smoothly. Free-form was introduced shortly after AR and it became another area of interest for Nick. While on the job, he started learning what he could from his father and brother and soon began to operate the generators. He now oversees the general running and management of the lab. MICHAEL DALEY, District Sales Manager - Brand Sales, Essilor of America, Inc., age 31. Michael joined Essilor three years ago as a Brand Sales Consultant and then as a Sales Manager for the lab group before assuming his current role as a District Sales Manager. He is responsible for coaching the team that grows Essilor's fagship Brands: Varilux ® and Crizal ® in the North- east. Michael graduated from The University of South Florida with a BA in Criminal Psychology. "Vision is truly a gift, as is working for a company like Essilor," he says. "I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to lead our sales force as they educate eyecare professionals throughout the Northeast about our premium branded products and ultimately provide their patients with the best vision solutions to meet their needs." STACY DANIELSON, Data Entry Supervisor, P.O.G. Labs, age 27. Stacy began a summer job at Precision Optical Group, Inc. (P.O.G.) eight years ago and never left! She manages the input of orders and workfow. She reads orders that come in electronically, over the phone, and by fax and follows up on special requests. By focusing on attention to detail, she says she enters these orders into Omics taking note of their material and lens style. ANDREW DUNCAN, Lab Manager, Galileo Optical, age 29. Andrew has been working at Galileo Optical since May 2014, managing daily lab activities and helping with customer service and quality inspection. Working alongside his brothers-in-law, Michael Chong Jr. and Nicholas Chong, he says Galileo offers him an exciting and challenging experience that it would be hard to fnd anywhere else. He earned his B.A. in 2008 from FAU and his AAS in 2013 from Broward College. KURT GARDNER, National Sales and Support Manager, IOT America, age 32. Kurt is an optician licensed in New York and South Carolina. He joined IOT, a lens design company, in mid-2010 after Younger Optics bought 51% of the company. He was previously with Salem Distributing Co. and before that he ran a small retail optical lab in Charleston, SC, where he worked for the same man since he was 15 years old. BRAD GARRISON, Lab Director, VSPOne Optical Technology Centers, age 37. After serving 35 40 UNDER UNDER