The Transitions® Innovation Awards program recognizes and celebrates partners and individual optical industry professionals from Canada and the U.S. who have shown the highest level of commitment to innovating their business.
Independent eyecare professionals and practices
Optical industry professionals and educators
National and regional retailers
Optical laboratories
Managed Vision Care companies
Lens manufacturers and buying groups
2024 Transitions® Healthy Sight Ambassador
This award goes to an individual in Canada* or the United States.
*In Quebec, an eye care professional subject to the Professional Code and a code of ethics may participate in the 2024 Transitions® Academy or submit an application for the Transitions® Innovation Awards but must do so at his or her own expense. This includes Transitions® Academy registration fees, flights, accommodation, or any other related expenses. In the context of the Transitions® Innovation Awards, if your application is selected as one of the finalists for the Transitions® Innovation Awards, the attendance fee will be at your own expense and will not be covered by Transitions.
Retailer of the Year, North America
This award will be presented to one retailer with 20 or more locations in Canada* or the United States.
*In Quebec, an eye care professional subject to the Professional Code and a code of ethics may participate in the 2024 Transitions® Academy or submit an application for the Transitions® Innovation Awards but must do so at his or her own expense. This includes Transitions® Academy registration fees, flights, accommodation, or any other related expenses. In the context of the Transitions® Innovation Awards, if your application is selected as one of the finalists for the Transitions® Innovation Awards, the attendance fee will be at your own expense and will not be covered by Transitions.
Eyecare Practice of the Year, North America
This award will be presented to one independent eyecare practice or retailer with 20 or fewer locations in Canada* or the United States.
*In Quebec, an eye care professional subject to the Professional Code and a code of ethics may participate in the 2024 Transitions® Academy or submit an application for the Transitions® Innovation Awards but must do so at his or her own expense. This includes Transitions® Academy registration fees, flights, accommodation, or any other related expenses. In the context of the Transitions® Innovation Awards, if your application is selected as one of the finalists for the Transitions® Innovation Awards, the attendance fee will be at your own expense and will not be covered by Transitions.
Channel Partner of the Year
This award is presented to an optical laboratory, Managed Vision Care company, lens manufacturer or buying group in Canada* or the United States.
*In Quebec, an eye care professional subject to the Professional Code and a code of ethics may participate in the 2024 Transitions® Academy or submit an application for the Transitions® Innovation Awards but must do so at his or her own expense. This includes Transitions® Academy registration fees, flights, accommodation, or any other related expenses. In the context of the Transitions® Innovation Awards, if your application is selected as one of the finalists for the Transitions® Innovation Awards, the attendance fee will be at your own expense and will not be covered by Transitions.
INNOVATION
Implementation of innovative technologies, processes or ideas
Strategic and creative marketing, education, or social media programs and promotions
QUALITY
Quality of education provided to optical employees, patients or customers
Efforts to promote healthy sight in their local community
SERVICE
Sustainability efforts
Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
Support and involvement with public service programs
Amplifying peer-to-peer conversations and patient interactions
EDUCATION
Demonstrates alignment with Transitions’ educational initiatives, such as the Transitions® Certification Program
Incorporates Transitions Optical’s resources into staff and industry training
Promotes participation in training events, such as CE seminars and educational opportunities provided by lab and lens manufacturer partners.
Empowers patients and customers to understand the importance of light management as a vital component of healthy sight.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
Nominees will be evaluated solely on the criteria listed for each Transitions® Innovation Award. In evaluating nominees, Transitions will give no consideration to the volume or value of past, current, or anticipated business generated by the nominee for Transitions or any of its affiliates. Similarly, selection as a Transitions® Innovation Award finalist or winner does not impose any obligation to purchase, order, arrange for, or recommend any products or services from Transitions or any of its affiliates.
Ric Peralta has worked in and around the optical industry for close to 35 years. He is currently an optician at Focal Point Optometry and the owner of the Optical Jedi blog, which started as an education blog but is now a forum for industry education through speaking engagements and private consultations.
Ric Peralta has promoted Transitions® lenses since their first generation. He has a great passion for Transitions that he channels through connecting with his patients by sharing his personal experience wearing Transitions lenses, as well as training colleagues and industry peers at events - including one four-hour speaking engagement with almost 400 attendees.
Vision Source is a network of 3,000 private practices across the United States. Vision Source supports the network by partnering and collaborating with industry experts such as Transitions to provide unique opportunities for Vision Source members.
In 2023, they implemented strategic contests for Vision Source Representative Facilitators to scale merchandising and education on Transitions® lenses, resulting in practice implementations that positively impact patient care. They also maintain an updated Transitions resource page with frequent member communications to showcase their commitment to support practice success and professional development, enabling Vision Source practices to reach their full potential in light management solutions in their local markets.
Véronique Desrochers has been a prescription optician since 2006 and has been the owner of Optique Cloutier since October 2013. Optique Cloutier is a dynamic and passionate team of 4 opticians, 3 optometrists and 2 assistant optometrists.
The entire Optique Cloutier team are advocates for Transitions brand values and proudly wear Transitions® lenses. They shared their passion through initiatives like doubling their training efforts and becoming Transitions® Certified Specialists, organizing “Transitions Day” events, and incorporating new Transitions demo tools alongside an eye-catching window display that led to over 99% patient satisfaction with Transitions lenses.
Harvey & Lewis Opticians is a fourth-generation family-owned business with eight locations across Connecticut.
As a 2022 Best in Training winner, Harvey & Lewis Opticians continued their upward trajectory in 2023 with ambitious initiatives. They conducted an in-office mini-Transitions® Academy training for all their employees across eight locations, created custom Transitions lorgnettes featuring the full product portfolio, and executed a Transitions-centric back-to-school event.
New Look has been established since 1986, and currently has a large network of more than 400 opticians and optometrists serving 92 stores in 4 provinces. They have also been named the Transitions® Innovation Award Canada Retailer of the Year three years in a row.
In 2023, New Look went above and beyond to show their commitment to Transitions. They kicked off their year with a training session on Transitions for their over 90 store locations, created a Transitions® plano lens collection to target younger wearers, and expanded their existing Transitions Ambassador program to coordinate 28 events across Canada.
Walmart Vision Center is a leading US optical retailer offering customers value, convenience and style.
Walmart Vision Center launched a multi-platform omnichannel campaign to boost Transitions brand awareness. This included educating store associates, enhancing Transitions visibility both in-store and online, and co-branded campaigns like a Back-To-School promotion that achieved over 12 million impressions.
Vision Source is a network of private practice doctors and staff that supports their network by providing education and resources to enable the Vision Source practices to reach their full potential. Vision Source supports 3,000 practices across the United States.
In 2023, Vision Source had an incredible commitment to training, leading to notable results like doubling their Transitions® Certified live trainings and course completions on the Vision Source Learning platform with over 26,000 hours of learning.
