BERKELEY, Calif. & ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the annual meeting of the American Optometric Association, EnChroma, Inc. announced today the addition of three experienced executives to the company’s leadership team and significant growth in its domestic and international retail channels. Since last year, the number of vision practices offering EnChroma eyewear to their color blind patients by joining the EnChroma Authorized Retailer Network has nearly doubled to over 250 – and growing. EnChroma develops science-based lens technologies and high-performance eyewear for color blindness that enable the red-green color blind to see an expanded range of clear, vibrant color.
Joining the EnChroma executive team are Rob Maser, Vice President of Sales; Katherine O’Connor, Vice President of Marketing, Ecommerce and Brand Strategy; and Ann Sullivan-Cross, Creative Director.
Maser, Vice President of Sales, is a sales executive with over 30 years of experience in the eyewear and commercial insurance industries. He has built and inspired teams for $1B companies as well as startups and $100M firms. O’Connor, Vice President of Marketing, Ecommerce and Brand Strategy, brings over 20 years of marketing and brand leadership. Her broad experience includes leading the successful launch of an online retail startup, managing a $100M consumer brand and marketing teams, and crafting marketing and strategic plans across diverse industries. Sullivan-Cross, Creative Director, will oversee design and brand initiatives companywide. She has more than 15 years of experience as a lead writer and content strategist for top digital brands.
“We are very excited to welcome three dynamic and proven professionals to our leadership team,” said Andrew Schmeder, CEO and Co-founder of EnChroma. “Sales of EnChroma glasses are growing rapidly, both in the U.S. and internationally, so it is critical at this juncture to bring on industry leaders in sales, branding, and communications to support our expansion into new and existing markets.”
“Since meeting with hundreds of optical retailers at the recent MIDO and Vision Expo East industry tradeshows, we have been working hard to add authorized retailers who want a science-based solution for their color blind clientele,” said Mark Mattison-Shupnick, Vice President of Business Development. “I’ve known Rob for many years and am confident that his wealth of strategic sales planning experience, including almost 15 years in the eyewear industry, combined with Katherine’s extensive expertise in branding and marketing, will enable us to build and take our sales and marketing teams to new levels.”
“Katherine and Ann have vast experience engineering successful strategic marketing and branding for major consumer brands,” concluded Schmeder. “It’s a time of great opportunity for EnChroma. I’m looking forward to working closely with Katherine, Rob, Ann and the rest of our team to chart a strong path forward.”
One in 12 men, and one in 200 women, are color blind; an estimated 300 million worldwide. Invented in 2010, special optical filters in EnChroma lenses precisely remove wavelengths of light from the visible spectrum where the red and green cone cells in the eye overlap to restore and enhance the separation between color channels. This helps those with color vision deficiency see colors more vibrantly, clearly and distinctly, giving them access to more of life’s colorful experiences.
For a full list of EnChroma Authorized Retailers in the US, Canada and Europe, please visit enchroma.com.
EnChroma staff will be available to demonstrate and discuss its eyewear for color blindness at booth #609 at the American Optometric Association’s 122nd AOA Congress and 49th AOSA Conference taking place June 19-23, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American Optometric Association is the leading authority on quality care and an advocate for our nation’s health, representing more than 44,000 doctors of optometry (O.D.), optometric professionals and optometry students.
Media: Click here to download photos of EnChroma executives.
About EnChroma
Based in Berkeley, Calif., EnChroma makes cutting-edge lens technology and eyewear for color blindness. Established in 2010 by a Ph.D. glass scientist and a mathematician, EnChroma’s revolutionary glasses combine the latest in color perception neuroscience and lens innovation to improve the lives of people with color vision deficiency around the world. EnChroma received a SBIR grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and earned the 2016 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in recognition of the firm’s innovative impact on the human experience through technology. EnChroma also received the 2017 Beacons of the Photonics Industry Award from Photonics Media. For more information please call 510-497-0048 or visit EnChroma.com.
