PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Feb. 17, 2006 – Transitions Optical, Inc. has named Diversified Ophthalmics the 2005 Transitions Lab of the Year. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based lab was recognized among an international crowd of more than 1,000 industry professionals at a celebration event held Feb. 7 during the 10th-annual Transitions Academy in Universal Studios, Orlando, Fla.
An employee-owned business, Diversified was established in 1977 to serve as a single source supplier for ophthalmic products and services, and today assists customers in all 50 United States. “The judging panel said each of the winning lab’s initiatives was a perfect example of the key attributes we’ve identified for the Transitions Lab of the Year,” said Carlos Perez, lab/ECP and managed care sales director, Transitions. “Spearheading its efforts with an ongoing training program, running creative promotions throughout the year, and embracing Transitions initiatives like Eye Didn’t Know That! all demonstrated that Diversified knows how to leverage Transitions’ resources and the strength of our brand to offer best-in-class support to its customers.”
Ronald Cooke, Jr., Diversified’s COO, accepted the award on stage, along with
more than 20 employees, and Diversified’s Transitions Solutions Team
Representative James Roberts.
“It’s such an incredible honor to be up here, especially when we think of the
other labs that have won this award and the high-caliber of the finalists for
2005,” said Cooke. “Just to be on the list among such esteemed labs is exciting
for us.”
First-time finalist Homer Optical, Silver Spring, Md., and the 2003 Lab of the
Year Toledo Optical, Toledo, Ohio, were the other two finalists for the 2005
Lab of the Year award.
Diversified first set its sights on winning the Lab of the Year in 2001 after
attending Transitions Academy for the first time and seeing the excitement
generated during the Lab of the Year recognition event. Upon returning home,
the team first set the goal of becoming a finalist, which they achieved in
2004. The benefits of the quest, even before the ultimate achievement, did not
go unnoticed by Cooke.
“Each year that we strove to become Lab of the Year our business experienced
incredible growth,” said Cooke. “I believe a lot of our success stems from the
similar values we hold with Transitions. Their healthy sight message is key.
The focus of our mission is to help independent eyecare professionals, but,
bottom line, our goal is to help people see better.”
Over the past three years Diversified conducted more than 600 training sessions, reaching over 1,000 professionals in hundreds of offices across 13 states, ensuring its accounts are equipped with the most up-to-date information and that they understand the importance of offering Transitions Lenses to every patient, especially children.
Diversified also leveraged the education opportunities offered through Transitions’ Eye Didn’t Know That! program, participating in the events in Cincinnati, Dallas and Pittsburgh. Diversified took the initiative one step further by hosting its own eye health day at a YMCA in Milwaukee to teach kids about eye health and how Transitions® Lenses can help protect from harmful UV.
“All of our hard work paid off with double digit growth over the previous year and with the excitement of winning the Lab of the Year award,” said Cooke. “But there’s no reason to stop now. We look forward to embracing the new Trusted Worldwide platform for 2006 because it will solidify the Transitions brand name that is already strong, and will make eyecare professionals feel even more comfortable promoting the lenses.” Cooke added, “We’re ready to get started and earn a place as the first two-time U.S. Lab of the Year winner in 2006!”
This article is reprinted from Vision Monday with permission of Jobson Medical Information, copyright 2006.
