April 16, 1993 was my first day in the Army's optical laboratory specialist course. What's your story?
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
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.
There was a day when the 3 "O" stayed out of each other's business. Now, Opticians want to refract, OD want to do surgery and MD want to be God (ok, that part hasn't changes)...we had three opticians, to MDs and an OD on the same street back in DC...and we ALL got along.....
"Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde"
I started making glasses for my OD father's patients in the fall of 1960; it's how I earned my allowance in high school. I got my license in Massachusetts in 1972 and I have been a dispenser and/or lab-rat in some capacity ever since.
Of course, if you count my filling in as the "Good Friday receptionist" at my Dad's office, my starting date is somewhere around 1957 . . .
Andrew
"One must remember that at the end of the road, there is a path" --- Fortune Cookie
It's tougher today to find a good optician then a good OD.[/QUOTE]
Couldn't Agree More!!!
"Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde"
Started summer of 1972 regrinding fusing blocks at the Red Wing Optical division of Precision Cosmet owned by Benson Optical (all three long defunct).
Started out of high school in 1965.
J. R. Smith
Started at American Optical in Southbridge, MA in 1956, part time after high school and full time on summer vacation.
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
This June will be 20 years! Hard to believe!
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
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.
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=°
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.
lets see if I remember it's been so long....probably like may of last year(2014).
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.
March 1959 and still going strong.
2006 went from paining houses to selling frames at the LC, learned alot. 2010 got into a private practice learned alot more.
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
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!
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.
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
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.
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