Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 46

Thread: How long have you been in the industry?

  1. #1
    ABOM Wes's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Earth
    Occupation
    Optical Laboratory Technician
    Posts
    3,194

    How long have you been in the industry?

    April 16, 1993 was my first day in the Army's optical laboratory specialist course. What's your story?
    Wesley S. Scott, MBA, MIS, ABOM, NCLE-AC, LDO - SC & GA

    “As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.” -Albert Einstein

  2. #2
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    NC
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,951
    Graduated with my AAS in Ophthalmic Dispensing degree in 1975. Started work in June of that year for I believe was about $170.00 a week. Huge money, about the same as I pull in now 40 years later, and I own the place. One of my college Professors told us, you will never get rich doing this, but you will never be un-employed, and both are true. I have been un-employed a total of 5 days in 40 years, by choice. I have been fortunate to never work for a corporate, only independent opticians or Ophthalmologist, and now for myself.

  3. #3
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    St. Cloud, Minnesota
    Occupation
    Ophthalmic Technician
    Posts
    3,089
    Started summer of 1972 regrinding fusing blocks at the Red Wing Optical division of Precision Cosmet owned by Benson Optical (all three long defunct).

  4. #4
    RETIRED JRS's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Vancouver, WA
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    862
    Started out of high school in 1965.
    J. R. Smith


  5. #5
    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Gold Hill, OR
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    4,401
    Started at American Optical in Southbridge, MA in 1956, part time after high school and full time on summer vacation.

  6. #6
    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Gold Hill, OR
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    4,401
    Quote Originally Posted by obxeyeguy View Post
    One of my college Professors told us, you will never get rich doing this, but you will never be un-employed, and both are true.
    Back in the fifties and sixties it was said that being an Optician was a license to print money! Things sure have changed. Of course back in the day we didn't have merchant MD's, they knew their place in the optical pecking order.

  7. #7
    OptiBoard Apprentice OptiMon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Central Jersey
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    24
    Started as a 17 year old Junior in High School. I was a PT frame stylist with EyeLab in NJ. Jumped in the lab at 18 and have always had a job in the industry with an in house lab. I have been independent for 13 years now with no Dr. & I am proud to say, we do not accept insurance for payment
    "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!"
    - Dr. Seuss

  8. #8
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    PA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,607
    This June will be 20 years! Hard to believe!

  9. #9
    OptiBoard Moron newguyaroundhere's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Pittsburgh
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    477
    Started December 8th, 2003 when I was 19. Was looking for a different part time job than what I had. Initially I applied to work at Sunglass Hut. (I didn't realize SGH and LC were owned by the same company). I was called in for an interview, sat down with the LM for an hour, the Assistant LM for another hour and then filled out their questionnaires they had (They still used the paper form, instead of the online/phone system they use now). A week later I was offered a job and had to go for a drug test within 48 hours. The rest is history
    Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity

  10. #10
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,816
    Started as a junior in high school in 1976, working in a large lab. My first job was fining glass lenses for an entire 8 hour shift.

  11. #11
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Occupation
    Optical Laboratory Technician
    Posts
    1,012
    02/17/1994 - 09/1998 - part time after school being a "hey you" at a local wholesale lab, 09/1998-08/1999 - Visionworks lead lab tech, 08/1999 - present (a bunch of stuff currently lab manager) Pearle franchise or licensed operator as we are called now.
    Clinton Tower

    The intellect to live free is in short supply
    ALT248=°

  12. #12
    Master OptiBoarder mdeimler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Three Mile Island, PA
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    720
    As a 17 year old I refused to flip burgers and couldn't just cut grass anymore, so I became a retail lab rat. 26 years later, I'm still a lab rat.

  13. #13
    OptiWizard
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    349
    lets see if I remember it's been so long....probably like may of last year(2014).

  14. #14
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere over the Colorful Spectrum of Light
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    536
    July of 1995 for me. So just short of 20 years. Been there done that, lab, large retail, insurance/HMO vision, management, and now for the last 7 years private practice. Maybe someday I'll grow up and do something worthwhile, haha.

  15. #15
    Optiboard Professional Bill West's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Beyond the Sunset
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    859
    March 1959 and still going strong.

  16. #16
    Rising Star
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Grand Rapids
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    57
    2006 went from paining houses to selling frames at the LC, learned alot. 2010 got into a private practice learned alot more.

  17. #17
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Just outside the norm
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    112
    Legally? Since August 1992, right after I graduated high school. Helped my mom at her work ordering lenses in 8th grade, and was fitting and edging in high school though. I was under 18, so I technically wasn't allowed to use lab equipment. Time flies!
    "You can't think about it, you just gotta let your brain do the work....."
    my dad

  18. #18
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter SharonB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Snow belt of NY
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    730
    04/01/1970 - I left my job as a middle school teacher, and took a "temporary" job as a receptionist in an OD's office. I worked one day at the front desk... and then I discovered the lab!The rest is history.
    Lost and confused in an optical wonderland!

  19. #19
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    106
    After a year in Her majesty`s army as a conscript, I was a gunner( M109 howitser), I could not decide what to do next. An optical chain in a nearby town had a opening for an apprentice-optician. That was in june 1993. I have worked some 12 years for that company, getting my degree while working. I was a store manager twice and later assistant regional manager. That last job almost killed my love for opticianry. Since then I have been working for small independent employers. Recently I aplied for a new job at a luxury optical store, I start there next week.

  20. #20
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Jubilee's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    United States
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,197
    Started at LC in 1994 while working on my BA from Purdue. Lab work was a good change of pace from the food industry, and loved it. Thought I would leave for my "real career" a few times, but optics always calls me back in some form or another. Can't believe its been 21 years now.
    "Some believe in destiny, and some believe in fate. But I believe that happiness is something we create."-Something More by Sugarland

  21. #21
    OptiBoardaholic
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    St. Joseph, Michigan
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    244
    Between my first and second year in the opticianry program at Ferris State College in Michigan, I got a summer job working for an OD. He taught me how to adjust eyewear, which got me ahead of the class for the 2nd year at Ferris. I interned for an independent optician who kept me on after graduation. From there, I got a phone call from an ophthalmology office asking me to take over their optical dept. I was there for 18 years. The owner of Expert Optics stopped in my office one day and said they wanted to open a branch lab in South Bend, Indiana, and said he wanted me to manage it. I worked the lab for six years, and decided to go back to retail in 2001. An ophthalmology office was opening a new optical department in St. Joseph, Michigan, so I sent my resume to them. They gave me a tour of the new facility, still under construction, and asked if I wanted to come on board. I've been here for 14+ years, now. All told; from 1975 to present, I'm celebrating 40 years in the industry, and it's been ALL good!
    The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

  22. #22
    OptiBoard Professional Flux3r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Dallas
    Occupation
    Optical Laboratory Technician
    Posts
    145
    Aug 2010, working for a family friend after being laid off.

  23. #23
    OptiBoard Apprentice
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    For Collins
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    24
    I started in 1978 as a junior in high school. The Pearle manager in the mall where I was a waitress asked me to work with him. I have been ABO certified since 1990. I currently work for a MD and love it.

  24. #24
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    washington
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,916
    June of 1996, working for an optometrist in a Walmart, after school and weekends, doing all the billing, I/R's, contact lens ordering, pretesting, scheduling and filing. Ripe old age of 16.

  25. #25
    OptiBoard Professional Robert Wagner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Beaverton, Oregon
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    268
    Since 1973 how many remember "U4 and out the door" ????
    There are many things in life that catch your eye... but very few things will catch your heart.... Pursue those!

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Long-time OptiBoard Member and Industry Veteran Alan Waxman Passed Away
    By Steve Machol in forum OptiBoard News and Announcements
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-23-2014, 02:27 PM
  2. Why oh why optical industry???!!!
    By Prentice Pro 9000 in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: 09-12-2013, 05:35 PM
  3. 3D and our Industry Lemmings
    By Barry Santini in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 06-02-2011, 01:53 PM
  4. Consistency in our industry
    By Spexvet in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 03-07-2006, 04:11 AM
  5. Applications in Industry
    By ioconnell in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-22-2005, 02:42 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •