Movers and Shakers

Before joining VSP, Yee spent five years leading a San Francisco consulting firm focused on strategy production and new business development. He previously was a management consulting partner with Ernst & Young.

Herskowitz joined Emerging Vision in January 1996. He, Payan and Lewis assumed shared responsibilities as co-chief operating officers in April 2002. At that time, Herskowitz was also named chief marketing officer, a role he took on exclusively in December 2005.

Troxell joins PPG after spending three years as a marketing manager for American Eagle Outfitters. An optical industry veteran, he also spent several years managing trade and consumer promotions for the Transitions Optical account as an account executive for FSC Marketing Communications.

Dreher founded Ophthonix in December 2000 with technology originally created during the U.S. government’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), or “Star Wars” program, and an understanding that these technologies had the potential to revolutionize vision correction.

From 2004 through the present, Parsons managed her own financial consulting firm, specializing in small business management and providing full financial reporting services including negotiating credit lines and money market terms, bank and credit card reconciliations and developing cash flow projections. Previous to that, Parsons served as chief financial officer of Maui Jim Northeast from 1987 through 2003 and prior to that, Maui Jim New England.

One of TLC Vision’s original surgeons, Probst has performed more than 80,000 LASIK procedures since 1995. He currently serves as medical director and performs procedures at TLC Center locations in Chicago and Madison, WI.

Leonard Barker has been named vice president and CFO to succeed Pecora. Barker joined Unilens as manager of accounting in August 2005; before that he spent 33 years with Eckerd Corp.

Mary J. Kelley, Ph.D., at the Casey Eye Institute of Oregon Health & Science University, has received the Prevent Blindness America Investigator Award for her research project titled “Molecular Markers of Trabecular Meshwork Stem Cells.” Katia Del Rio-Tsonis, Ph.D. at Ohio’s Miami University also received an Investigator Award for her project “The Use of Human Retinal Stem Cells for Retina Repair.”

Irving got started in the optical industry at a very early age by fusing glass bifocals in his uncle’s factory. In 1954, Irving had a better idea; he wanted to design a bifocal without the line. Months of hard work in his garage yielded the world’s first seamless bifocal. This lens made people look “Younger.” Younger Optics was formed in 1955 to make the lens that set the stage for many innovations to follow. In recognition of Irving’s contributions to the optical industry, he was awarded the Optical Laboratories Association lifetime achievement award in 1992.

Irving is survived by his wife of 57 years, Grace (Bebe) Rips, three children, Ted, David (Younger’s current president and CEO) and Debby, and 8 grandchildren. As Irving donated to many charities, the family suggests that anyone wishing to make a donation, in lieu of flowers, should choose a charity gift of their choice, in Irving Rips’ name.

In the 1960’s, Edwin built the Monfried retail chain to 14 stores throughout Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. He was one of the early pioneers in the development of retail optical chains offering eyewear to the consumers at lower discounted prices Edwin played basketball for St. Johns University in the early 1940’s and was a World War II Veteran. He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Northern Illinois in 1946. Kerman was preceded in death by his wife Florence. He is survived by his two sons and their wives, Mark and Lucy and Kenneth and Sylvia and two grandsons, Lance and Paulie.

Weber was born in Portland, Ore. on Jan 5, 1938. While in high school, he took a part-time jobs at a local optical lab, Columbian Bifocal. Lab owner Joe Sericko put him to work as a runner and a mailroom clerk. After graduation, Weber continued to work at the lab, and remained there for 49 years. He advanced to president of the company, a position he held until his retirement in 2003. During his tenure, he played a key role in computerizing the lab.