Essilor of America's new president, Laurent Vacherot, welcomed attendees.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--The Arizona desert provided a spectacular setting for Essilor of America's 2006 national sales meeting, which the company used as a platform to launch its new wavefront-enhanced progressive lenses, Varilux Physio and Varilux Physio 360. Seven hundred and five people attended the four-day event, including a mix of Essilor sales consultants, independent Varilux wholesale distributors and members of Essilor's research and development, marketing and various other business units.

The meeting's first morning was energized by a surprise appearance by actor William Shatner, best known as Star Trek's Captain Kirk, who was on hand to introduce the new lens technology.

Attendees also participated in break-out sessions about freeform surfacing technology, how to grow the anti-reflective lens market and other topiics.

--Andrew Karp

    
Actor William Shatner, best known as Star Trek's Captain Kirk (c), joked with Essilor's Bob Colucci (l) and Mike Daley after he was 'beamed up' to introduce the new Varilux Physio lens. Essilor International's Dominique Meslin (l), and Thierry Cordevant of Essilor Canada had a brief tete-a-tete between sessions.
 
Advance Optical's Joe Duffy (l) and Art Kolko (r), met Tri-Supreme's Jay Graber on the way to the awards banquet. Interstate Optical's Rob Art (l) catches up with Jim Rabbitt,center, and Steve Shawler, both of Essilor, during a break at Essilor national sales meeting.