Transitions Academy: Feeling the love

After a two-year hiatus, there was perhaps more reason than normal for delegates at the Transitions Academy conference in early June to feel emotional about being together again. It was no surprise that Transitions looked to tap into that positivity with the theme for the event: Eye Care Love Forever.

Some 850 delegates from 45 countries made the trip to the JW Marriott Grande Lakes resort in South Orlando for the festival of all things photochromic. The crowd did not need much reason to get into the mood when the event opened, but that did not stop host and TV entertainment reporter Miriam Isa. She held a Q&A with attendees that caught participants out as they were shown on three digital walls on the stage.

Before official proceedings got under way, Transitions took a moment to recognise the work of the company’s outgoing general manager, Jose Alves, who retired earlier this year. Alves had spent more than 30 years with the company, starting as a production manager in 1991 before progressing within the company, holding several senior roles in the process. He played a key part in growing the Transitions brand in Latin America and was promoted to general manager in 2004, before assuming the position of general manager for the Americas in 2015, which involved looking after North America and global channel management. A visibly emotional Alves recognised the role that practitioners have played in building the Transitions brand while receiving a special service award from Chrystel Barranger, president EMEA wholesale and president of Transitions Optical at EssilorLuxottica.