CINCINNATI—Transitions Optical sponsored the second annual “Transitions 10-Minute Skills Challenge” at the 2010 ABO-NCLE National Education Conference in Cincinnati on Sept. 17 and 18, 2010.

Frank Gimbel, defending champion of the Transitions 10-Minute Skills Challenge (l) with second place winner Robert Lyons and third place winner Rebecca Morton.

More than 50 opticians visited four stations in 10 minutes and tested their skills to be named the top optician. Participants were from all over the country, and ranged from first-year students to licensed opticians with over 30 years of experience.

Participants found the lens matching station to be the most challenging event, in the time allotted, during which competitors identified nine lens samples and matched them to the correct description. Frame alignment was the station at which many excelled. ■ ■