Advancing Eyecare Insider
Employee Newsletter | Issue 11 | May 2025
Reflecting on a Strong Start to 2025 & Setting Intentions for What’s Next
As we move through 2025, now is a great moment to pause and appreciate everything we’ve accomplished so far this year. Whether it was launching new projects, overcoming challenges, or deepening team collaboration, these first few months have set a solid foundation for continued growth. Now is the perfect time to check in on your goals, both personal and professional, and recalibrate where needed.
What’s one habit you want to strengthen? What new skills do you want to explore? Here’s to remaining focused, staying connected, and making the most of the journey ahead.
Wishing you continued success and renewed energy for the rest of 2025!
Our Amazing Turnout at Vision Expo East
We’re still energized from Vision Expo East (VEE) where we unveiled our new tradeshow booth, a moment that captured attention and generated positive feedback throughout the event. Hosted in Orlando this year, VEE was a key opportunity to connect with industry professionals, showcase our latest technology, and reinforce our brand on a national stage. The booth buzzed with energy as we engaged in meaningful conversations with both new and familiar faces.
The New Booth – Designed for Impact:
Led by David Johnson, our new booth was designed for flexibility and visual storytelling. The modular layout adapts to different show spaces, while clean lines, dynamic lighting, and impactful graphics ensured a cohesive and polished look that represented our brands.
Reactions from the Floor:
Attendees praised the booth’s inviting, professional atmosphere, with many calling it “One of the best-looking booths on the floor.” The design wasn’t just visually appealing, it also created an engaging, memorable experience.
We look forward to continuing this momentum as the booth travels to future events.
Innova Sales Team Training Event: A Week of Collaboration and Growth
During the week of March 17th, the INNOVA Sales Team came together for an intensive training event that brought together multiple sales divisions in a shared commitment to excellence. The event featured a series of interactive sessions and hands-on workshops aimed at introducing the latest product offerings and reinforcing key sales knowledge.
Highlights of the Week
A standout moment was the in-depth presentation by the AEC Manufacturing team. Their engaging demonstration of new innovations sparked lively discussions and generated fresh ideas. This session, along with others throughout the week, fostered a collaborative environment where participants were encouraged to exchange best practices and share insights.
A Platform For Professional Growth
The training event not only enhanced product knowledge but also served as a significant opportunity for professional growth and team building. By the end of the week, attendees left feeling inspired, better informed, and more prepared to face future challenges with confidence.
AEC Services is Roaring into Action – Cue the Training Montage!
There is a new energy in the air- and it’s coming straight from our AEC Services Team! The team is gearing up to meet the challenge of elevating the customer experience and setting a new gold standard for service excellence.
Dynamic new talent, aligning resources, and creating new roles are a few ways the team is evolving to deliver exceptional service for our customers. Programs aimed to provide a world-class experience at every touchpoint have been launched, and training courses have been developed to not only increase employees’ skills, but also their confidence and job satisfaction. The team is also investing in technology so that field technicians can solve problems faster, delight customers more consistently, and feel fully supported on every job. It’s not just about installations and fixing things- it’s about building trust, creating smiles, and leaving every customer feeling like a VIP.
Check out the AEC Service Management team as they prepare to elevate the customer experience!
Clinical Excellence in Refraction: A Training Program for Technicians
- Greater confidence in performing basic, accurate refractions
- A deeper understanding of the full refraction process—not just the steps
- Practical skills to help improve clinical workflow and support doctors more effectively
HR Corner
🩺 Open Enrollment is Coming!
Ready to refresh your benefits? Open Enrollment opens April 28 and wraps up May 7! This is your yearly window to review, update, or confirm your healthcare coverage. Even if you’re not making changes, we highly recommend logging into the ADP portal to check out the new premium rates and plan info. A webinar is coming soon to walk you through the details—stay tuned!
🚨 Psst… Regulatory Trainings Were Due April 7
Still haven’t tackled those AEC University trainings? Now’s the time to get them done! These mandatory courses help keep us sharp and complaints, and they were due April 7.
Don’t wait, log in, knock them out, and give yourself one less thing to worry about!
Smiles, Laughter, and Events
Congratulations to Our Recently Promoted Team Members!
Join us in celebrating these well-deserving individuals as they take on new challenges and responsibilities within the Advancing Eyecare organization. Their commitment to excellence, leadership, and teamwork continues to inspire us all. We’re proud to see our team grow and thrive, and we look forward to the continued success they’ll bring in their new roles.
Maria Pulido Sanchez
Training Specialist
Clinical & Technical Support
Michelle Castaneda
Project Manager
National Accounts
Travis Franklin
Director of Technical Service
AEC Services
Colleen Arbus
Vice President
Sales – Canada
Wishing A Fond Farewell to Our Retiring Colleagues
Please join us in celebrating our retiring employees as we recognize their achievements and wish them well as they embark on this exciting new chapter. These individuals have dedicated years of hard work, passion, and expertise, helping shape the success and culture we enjoy today. Their legacy will continue to inspire us all.
Thank you for your years of service. We wish you a fulfilling and joyful retirement!
Thanh Ha
35 Years
Depot Technician – Norfolk, VA
Lombart Instrument/AEC Services
Dennis Mitich
31 Years
Depot Supervisor – Tempe, AZ
Veatch Opthalmic/AEC Services
Allan Amsel
43 Years
Area Manager – New York
Marco Ophthalmic/Marco Lombart
Life Events Around the Company
Congratulations to our 2023 Core Values Winners
JUNE LIU
INNOVA | Toronto, Canada
“June always shares experience and knowledge, and she always listens to opinions and suggestions. She displays integrity in everything she does. As a manger, she provides clear instruction and diligently leads to find solutions.”
GREG GANT
MARCO | Jacksonville, Florida
“Greg is one of the most helpful and supportive people I have ever worked with. He has amazing follow up with customers and always has a happy and positive attitude.”
JAY MEHIC
EMS | St. Louis, Missouri
“Jay is constantly spearheading efforts to proactively increase internal efficiencies and eliminate bottlenecks in our process that also improve savings to our bottom line. He holds himself to high standards and pushes for fellow members of AEC to do the same when it comes to better service for our customers.”
CHRISSIE PATTISON
ADVANCING EYECARE | Jacksonville, Florida
“Chrissie works her tail off and it shows in the success of our trade show activities. She manages hundreds of shows, communicating with every single one of our sales teams and almost every department in the company. The shows are a huge effort and she does it with grace and dedication.”
Welcome to All of Our Recent New Hires!
Shayan Etemadi – Clinical Support Specialist
Sourav Kumar – Hybrid Edging Technician
Stefan Lungu – Warehouse Operations Associate
Brandon Benson – Field Service Technician
Danita Budgets – AR Collections Specialist
Priscila Olivares Cano – Sales Representative – Mexico Occidente
Jennifer Flowers – Executive Vice President, Business Services
Alex Hindman – Vice President of Finance
Rodolfo G. Pestano – Field Service Technician
Nadia Ramirez Rebolledo – Service Engineer
Joel Sampson – Warehouse Associate
Jonathan Yance – Area Sales Manager
Oswaldo Avila Rodriguez – Sales Representative – Commercial CDMX
Brandon Benzon – Customer Service Representative
Daniela Enriquez Sanchez – Operations Coordinator
Jose Enriquez – Order Entry Specialist
Igor Gherciu – Bilingual Scheduling Coordinator
Yarlett Lopez – Parts Coordinator
John Nemcher – Field Service Technician
Muhammad Saeed – Hybrid Service Technician
Jay Blumberg – Inside Sales Representative
Sal Capizzi – Area Sales Manager
Taylor Extin – National Accounts Project Manager
Robert Graves – Sales Representative
Darin Hylbert – Trainer, Business Services
Jose Guadalupe Jimenez Espinosa – Service Engineer
Kurt Lawrence – Area Sales Manager
Jennifer Palopoli – Inside Sales Representative
Katiana Povsic – Service Coordinator
Jarvis Pruitt – IT Infrastructure Administrator
Rachel Stormant – Content Marketing Specialist
Belen Trujillo Bazante – Service Advisor
Tyler Tweedy – Depot Repair Technician
Kathy Haghzadeh – Service Administrator
Kanina Lewis – Warehouse Associate
Celebrating Anniversaries and Milestones!
Celebrating December - May milestone anniversaries. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and loyalty.
30+ years
Sharon Hudspeth – 38
John Thatcher – 32
Mario Grande – 30
Sam Waddell – 30
25-29 years
Adonis Almacen – 28
Dale Gooden – 28
Robert Zingrone – 27
Javier Collazo – 27
Ken Ledbetter – 27
20-24 year
Steve Brugmans – 20
Jennifer van Schilt – 20
Kevin O’Brien – 22
Heather Maione – 22
Greg Watson – 22
Caroline Duperron – 23
Tom Walters – 24
15 years
Kevin Brill
Rich Carfora
James Linton
Cheryl Roberts
Trevor Sims
10 years
Ricky Davis
Benoit Richard
Leonard Robinson
5 years
Timothy Carver
Ryan Clore
Hunter Crowley
Michele Cruz
Kimberly Fleming
David Grimes
Philip Hughson
Matt Martin
Matthew Mikhail
Joshua Matos
Robert Omar Vargas Hernandez
Leonard Salgado
