Transitions Optical

Alex Louw

Transitions Optical, Inc. has announced that Alex Louw will take on the expanded role of director, Lens Manufacturing and Trade Sales in addition to his current responsibilities as director, National Retail and Canada. He will report to general manager, Brian Hauser, former director of Lens Manufacturing and Trade Sales. Louw joined Transitions in 2003 as Business Director, Middle East and Africa and then moved to Retail Marketing Manager, EMEA in Paris.

Costa

Johnathan Weikum

Costa sunglasses recently added Johnathan Weikum, optical sales manager, and Jacqueline Arnold, optician, to its growing Rx division. Prior to joining Costa, Weikum worked as an optician and optical manager for 1st Eye Care, and as a project manager for American Airlines AAdvantage.

Jacqueline Arnold

Serving as Costa’s in-house optician, Arnold will not only fill sun lens prescriptions, but also ensure quality control processes run smoothly between the company and eye care professionals. Previously, she has worked with companies like Sears Optical, Opti-World and Pearle Vision.

Ora

Larry Amdahl

Ora, Inc. announced that Larry Amdahl has joined its team as the Director of Clinical Operations for Dry Eye. In his new role, Larry will be responsible for overseeing both the tactical execution of clinical programs and the planning and process evolution of Ora’s Dry Eye Operations group. Prior to joining Ora, Larry was most recently Director of Clinical Affairs for Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences.

TearScience

Jeff O'Hara

Privately-held medical device company TearScience, Inc. announced that it has appointed Jeff O’Hara vice president of sales for North America. In this role, O’Hara will direct the company’s U.S. and Canadian sales and customer service organizations. O’Hara has more than 20 years of experience in the medical device industry, having served as VP of sales for Lumenis and managing director of U.S. sales for Solta Medical.

Alimera Sciences

Dr. Glen Bradley

Alimera Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, announced that Dr. Glen Bradley has joined its Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Board. Dr. Bradley, a consultant and advisor for ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic medical device companies, replaces Dr. Anders D. Hove, who has resigned as a member of the Board of Directors. Bryce Youngren, a current member of the Board, has replaced Dr. Hove as a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board.

Orange 21
Orange 21 Inc., maker of the Spy Optic, O'Neil, Margaritaville and Melodies by MJB brands, has announced the appointment of Carol Montgomery as CEO, the promotion of current Orange 21 vice president of marketing, Michael Marckx, to president, and the appointment of Michael Angel as interim CFO. 

Montgomery previously served as a vice president and officer at Sunglass Hut International Inc.; as chairman and CEO at Revo Inc.; and in an array of senior management roles at advertising and integrated marketing firms servicing technology and general consumer brands. Montgomery replaces exiting CEO Stone Douglass. 

Eyefly.com
Bluefly, Inc., a leading online retailer of designer fashion clothing and accessories, has named Beth Grad to the position of general manager of their soon-to-launch, online eyewear site Eyefly.com. Grad has been general manager of Eyefly LLC since January 2011 and in this role is responsible for all aspects of the product including: sales, marketing, business development, site development and operations. 

Will be Missed…

Dr. Carl Kupfer

Dr. Carl Kupfer, who served as director of the National Eye Institute for 30 years, died on April 7 after a long illness. He was 83. Dr. Kupfer was appointed the first director of NEI in 1970 after the Institute was established by Congress. He was also director of the Fogarty International Center at NIH in 1988. In his time at NEI, Dr. Kupfer served under six NIH directors and six U.S. presidents. He witnessed the NEI budget grow from $24 million in 1970 to more than $450 million in 2000.  Dr. Kupfer is predeceased by his wife, Muriel “Kim” Isolde Kaiser-Kupfer, MD, a former chief of the NEI Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch. He is survived by his children Charles and Sarah, and grandchildren.