JORGENSON OPTICAL, TOLEDO OPTICAL AND WALMAN OPTICAL NAMED FINALISTS FOR TRANSITIONS' 2003 LAB OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner Will Be Announced at Transitions Academy in January
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Dec. 19, 2003 ¡V Up nearly 30 percent from its previous record-breaking year, the Transitions Optical Lab of the Year list of nominees has been trimmed down to the final three. These three finalists include Jorgenson Optical Supply, Tacoma, Wash.; Toledo Optical, Toledo, Ohio; and Walman Optical, Minneapolis, Minn. The 2003 Lab of the Year will be named during a special recognition event during Transitions Academy ¡¦04 at Universal Studios in Florida on Tues., Jan. 27.
The Lab of the Year title has been awarded annually since 1991. It is presented to a Transitions Optical STAR Lab at the Platinum Elite level that has made a significant commitment to growing its business with Transitions in the past year. Criteria include implementing creative marketing strategies; achieving solid percentage growth in volume and Transitions„¥ Lenses market share mix; dedication to educating its staff and customers; and showing an overall commitment to Transitions products and programs.

¡§It¡¦s fantastic to see the increase in the number of nominees and the high quality of the entry materials we¡¦ve received,¡¨ said P.J. Downes, sales director, labs/ECPs, Transitions. ¡§We¡¦re privileged that the Lab of the Year award is seeing such intense competition ¡V it¡¦s an humbling tribute to the value of our partnerships.¡¨

Past Lab of the Year winners include: 21st Century Optics (2002), Soderberg, Inc. (2001), Midland Optical (2000), McLeod Optical (1999), Balester Optical (1998), Walman Optical (1997), Three Rivers Optical (1996), Duffens Optical (1995), Benedict Optical (1994), Southern Optical (1993), Optical Supply, Inc. (1992), and W.O.S. (1991).