LAS VEGAS—Running an optical laboratory has always been challenging, both from a technical and a business standpoint. Today, optical laboratories are facing new challenges in response to heightened service demands from eyecare professionals and their patients. To understand how modern labs are navigating in this fast changing market, Vision Monday and LabTalk magazine are presenting a special live event, Smart Investments: How Optical Labs Adapt and Grow. This one-time-only event, which ties into Vision Monday’s soon-to-be-released Modern Lab report, will be hosted by VM’s lens and technology editor, Andrew Karp and Brian Dunleavy, editor of LabTalk. It will be held in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 19 during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas.

Attendees will get an in-depth look at new data from an exclusive survey recently conducted by Vision Monday, LabTalk and the Vision Council. The findings reveal how today’s labs are remaining competitive by making strategic investments in capital equipment, digital production systems and the workforce.

Next, experienced lab managers will discuss the decision making process that informs their purchasing of new technology. Featured speakers will include Bill Heffner, founder of FEA Industries and Mike Tamerius, co-founder of P.O.G. Labs.



Bill Heffner (left) and Mike Tamerius (right).
Heffner has been involved in the optical industry for 48 years. He founded FEA industries, based in Morton, Pa. in 1984—starting the lab in the basement of his family home—and led its growth into a 70-person, multi-location optical laboratory with a national customer base. In addition to his optical expertise, Heffner is also an accomplished computer programmer and has written much of the software FEA uses in its day-to-day operations.

Tamerius has over 26 years experience in the optical industry. He co-founded P.O.G. Labs based in Creston, Iowa, in 1992 with Matt Somers. In 2015, he became the sole owner of the company, which now operates three locations. A certified optician, Tamerius has experience in all aspects of the daily operation in the lab.

Both Heffner and Tamerius are among a number of lab executives who will be featured in the Modern Labs report in VM’s September issue.

Smart Investments: How Optical Labs Adapt and Grow will take place in the Sands Convention Center from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is open now.

Coburn Technologies is the Premium Sponsor for the event.