Bruce Steffey (l) and Reade Fahs.
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NEW YORK—Entrepreneurs Reade Fahs and Bruce Steffey of National Vision have been named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 National Award recipients in the Retail and Consumer Products category. The two were also recognized for creating affordable eyecare and philanthropic efforts to provide vision correction for those in need.

National Vision, Inc. is the fourth largest optical retailer in the U.S., operating over 800 retail locations in 44 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. National Vision has several retail divisions including America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, Vision Centers brought to you by Wal-Mart, Eyeglass World, Vista Optical inside Fred Meyer and Optical Centers on select military bases.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, one of the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, recognizes visionary business leaders who demonstrate innovation, financial success and commitments to their communities as they create and build world-class companies. The two leaders were honored at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala, the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, Calif.

“We are honored, and we were honored just to have been nominated,” said Steffey. “This is really for the 8,000 associates taking care of our customers who really need to be able to see their best to live their best.”

“It is our hope that this award will turbo charge our efforts to bring eye health and eyeglasses to millions of disadvantaged people around the world,” said Fahs.

The winners are selected by an independent panel of judges from more than 250 regional award recipients. Awards for entrepreneurial excellence were given in 11 categories. The Forum is the nation’s premier gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

National Vision has made it clear their organization exists solely for its customers, and the goal for employees is to stay with National Vision for their entire career. The company has an impressive track record with 70 percent retention rates in retail stores; only one of 25 executives has left the company, a statement said.

Also, National Vision has created a nonprofit organization called 20/20 Quest that provides vision correction for those in need. The organization collects new eyeglass frames from manufacturers that have overstock and distributes them to clinics in developing countries.

“Reade, Bruce and National Vision truly demonstrate how crucial entrepreneurs are to the world,” said Brad Duncan, EY Southeast Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Principal. “Their vision to take a chain of bankrupt eyeglass stores to more than 50 consecutive quarters of growth, while remaining committed to affordable eyecare and philanthropic efforts, is astounding. I am excited for National Vision to represent the Southeast Region and the United States overall in this category.”

EY’s worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies.