ALAMEDA, Calif.— ABB Optical Group has announced the retirement of Lynda Baker, effective Dec. 1, 2014. Currently executive vice president of ABB Optical Group, Baker was instrumental in the 2007 merger of ABB Optical and Concise Contact Lens Company, where she began her career in 1965.

"Lynda is the consummate professional who leaves a legacy in the contact lens industry," said ABB Optical Group founder and CEO Angel Alvarez. "When she joined our company as part of the merger, she brought a unique perspective and institutional knowledge of an industry that is changing daily. At ABB, she has been an integral part of the team that has developed and executed targeted marketing programs, leading to unprecedented growth for our company. We will miss her insight, passion and dedication to our brand.”

Baker started her career as a contact lens technician at Concise before there was a soft contact lens market, the company said. One of seven employees, Baker was responsible for manufacturing hard lenses. As the company grew, her role developed into managing a wide variety of functions within the organization, from customer service to consulting and more. In 1980, she took an equity and leadership role in the organization as vice president/general manager, and was promoted to executive vice president in 1985.

"Lynda is an incredibly bright, hard-working, remarkable person, and I believe everyone in the industry has been touched by her and her enduring influence," said former Concise president Carl Moore, Baker’s colleague for more than 42 years. “She showed extraordinary initiative and drive during a time when the industry was dominated by male executives, and truly paved a path for women in this field. She was the glue that held our company together, and she quickly became a respected leader in the industry overall.”

Baker also served as the clinical monitor for the FDA’s approval of Paragon Vision's gas permeable material in 1981, and in 1987, served as one of the first members of Ciba Vision's Authorized Distributor Advisory Board. Over the years, Baker has served on 14 soft lens manufacturer advisory panels, and she continues to serve on the Alcon Advisory Panel today.

Among Baker’s other accomplishments are the passing the first National Contact Lens Exam (NCLE) in the late 1970s and serving on the board of directors for the Pacific Coast Contact Lens Society for 12 years, including as its first female president. She also taught a contact lens course at Canada College in Redwood City, Calif. and later served on the college's board of directors. Baker was honored with Vision Monday's Most Influential Women in Optical award in 2005.