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Essilor Gathers 700 Mitra Mata Together in Indonesia for the First Time

Essilor’s inclusive business, 2.5 New Vision Generation (2.5 NVG),​ hosted its first ever Mitra Mata Convention in Indonesia which saw over 700 Mitra Mata come together to share best practices and to celebrate their achievements.

To improve the quality of primary vision care in Indonesia, Essilor’s inclusive business 2.5 New Vision Generation (2.5 NVG), created the Mitra Mata program to organize and strengthen the existing primary eye care industry. The program aims to raise awareness about the importance of eye care, provide access to quality affordable vision care in rural Indonesia and offer the opportunity for existing self-trained primary eye care providers to further professionalize their services.

The first Mitra Mata Convention took place in Medan, the capital of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, ​and the level of energy, motivation and excitement was incredible. Essilor CEO, Hubert Sagnieres, and Essilor Chief Mission Officer, Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, officially opened the convention by banging a gong to welcome everyone. Individual Mitra Mata shared their inspiring stories and 2.5 NVG representatives from China and India provided useful information and insights on their local programmes such as Vision Ambassador and Eye Mitra. Guests were entertained by stunning local folk dances and musical performers which saw the 700 Mitra Mata and other guests dancing in the aisles and on the stage – a fitting end to a fantastic celebratory day.

This was a great moment for Essilor’s inclusive business 2.5 New Vision Generation as it shows how the Group managed to adapt its programmes to the local market and scale them up successfully. By professionalizing the existing infrastructure, we will create a taskforce of skilled micro-entrepreneurs that will help us to eradicate poor vision in Indonesia within the next 30 years.

2.5 NVG supports the cost of the training and helps Mitra Mata Opticians to set up their stores with specialist business training, merchandising and marketing materials. By the end of 2018 there will be 1,200 Mitra Mata providing quality affordable vision care in Indonesia.

Source: Essilor

Blackfin Supports Andrea Bocelli Foundation

Blackfin logo

Blackfin continues its philanthropic work with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. Every year, since 2015, the company has lent its support to the Foundation to help it achieve its mission, namely to give everyone a chance to express themselves as best they can, creating opportunities for growth and nurturing talent.

Ever since it was created, Blackfin has supported the Voices of Haiti, a choir of sixty talented children aged between 9 and 15 who come from some of the poorest areas of Port-au-Prince. Thanks to music, the sixty-strong members of the choir have found a way of escaping violence and poverty, working hard to develop their talent. They have followed a structured course of study with tenacity and discipline and have achieved a great accomplishment: Voices of Haiti are featured in Maestro Andrea Bocelli’s latest musical project, his new album “Sì”, which was released on October 26, 2018.

“It is a great honour for us to support the Foundation and we are particularly excited to see – and hear – the magic of these youngsters who, under the guidance of Andrea Bocelli, have been given the chance of a new life. It is a message of hope and values, a message which the Maestro spreads throughout the world, testimony of his generosity, something that makes us Italians very proud. This mindset reflects our way of doing business and is the embodiment of our concept of neomadeinitaly”.

Source: Blackfin

Neff & Tessel Optometrists Joins the FYidoctors Family

FYidoctors announces that Neff and Tessel Optometrists, located in Guelph Ontario, has recently joined the FYidoctors family.

This acquisition adds to FYidoctors growing presence in Southwestern Ontario. Equipped with a range of diagnostic technology, a wide selection of designer and exclusive label frames and internal freeform lens designs, our newest location demonstrates FYidoctors’ continued commitment to the southwestern Ontario region.

Drs. Neff and Tessel have been partners since August 1998, a practice of over 20 years. Providing exceptional service to their patients and families, they strive to stay up to date with the latest technologies, enhancing the patient experience in their offices. Services include contact lens fittings, binocular vision training, sport and safety eyewear. Says Dr. Tessel, “Joining FYidoctors allows us to deliver the very latest in eye care technology, through support and training, while we continue to offer the best optometric care available. All of this, while retaining our local, family feel in our practice and our community.”

Dr. Tessel continues, “Over the years we’ve enjoyed the community focus of our practice, supporting local sports teams and numerous events as an appreciation for the support. We receive many recommendations from our patients to their family and friends and frequent comments on how wonderful the staff is and how they appreciate our attention to detail. We care for our patients and their families, we care for our staff; basically, we care”.

Dr. Tessel further states, “We’re tremendously excited to take this next step in growing our practice by joining the FYidoctors family. We wanted to join a team that understood the importance of optometrist-led care and shared our values. FYidoctors has proven its commitment to investing in the latest technology and innovation to deliver the best patient care, and we look forward to further building our practice and continuing to serve our community with the FYidoctors team.”

Dr. Alan Ulsifer, Chairman & CEO of FYidoctors, adds, “I continue to be humbled by the growth of our company in Ontario. Drs. Neff and Tessel and their team bring our first practice to the city of Guelph. This practice is well known and respected in the community and we are excited to help them grow even more in their community. This year will be our biggest growth year it the history of our company and Ontario practices are a key reason for this growth.”

Source: FYidoctors

Centennial President Steve de Pinto Passes Suddenly

Steve De Pinto
January 14, 1955 – November 18, 2018

It is with great sorrow that Centennial Optical announces the sudden passing of  President,  Steve de Pinto on November 18, 2018.  Mr. de Pinto was a a leader, mentor and friend of many at Centennial Optical and beyond.

After completing his MBA degree at the University of Toronto, Steve became the driving force in building Centennial’s lens business as Vice President, taking on the overall management of the company in 2006, when he became the company’s President and CEO.

Avid chess player, reader and thinker, Steve embodied Centennial’s founding principles of integrity, fairness and true partnership with suppliers and customers, as established by his father Roger, who founded Centennial in 1967. Steve cared deeply about the employees of Centennial and applied the same principles of fairness and respect with each member of the Centennial family.

Highly respected throughout the industry, Steve established many successful relationships with suppliers and customers. The Centennial Optical team is committed to continuing Steve’s legacy, working together with our partners to grow Centennial as he envisioned, providing the best in products and service to the optical industry.

Steve de Pinto is survived by his parents Roger and Denise de Pinto, his daughter Arielle, son Shael, sister Carole, partner Tracy Calvert, and an extended family. Much loved, Steve will be greatly missed by all.

Donations in tribute to Steve may be made to the Odette Cancer Centre of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at www.donate.sunnybrook.ca/ tribute.

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