PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Transitions Optical Inc. has named the finalists for its annual Transitions Innovation Awards, which recognize both individuals and companies for their innovative efforts and programs to support the Transitions brand over the past year. The finalists will be honored and the winners announced during Transitions Academy 2019, which is scheduled for Feb. 3-6 in Orlando, Fla. This marks the 23rd annual Transitions Academy event.  “The creativity and passion demonstrated by this year’s finalists for the Transitions brand is truly remarkable, especially how they have embraced the rejuvenated brand and expanded product offerings,” Jose Alves, general manager, Americas, Transitions Optical, said in an announcement. “We are grateful to have these individuals and businesses for their partnership and for all they do to promote the brand both inside and outside the office.”

The awards finalists for the 2018 Awards and categories are:

2018 Transitions Brand Ambassador (which celebrates an individual who best showcases their dedication to being an influential advocate of the Transitions brand).

The finalists are:

• Amanda Rights, OD – Blue Ridge Vision (Boone, N.C.), OptomEyesLife
• Sheena Taff, Optician – Roberts & Brown Opticians  (Vancouver, British Columbia), Optician About Town
• Justin Tenczar, Optician – Berkshire Eye Center (Pittsfield, Mass.)

Eyecare Practice of the Year (which recognizes independent eyecare practices and retailers that are actively promoting healthy sight to their patients and who have demonstrated excellence in supporting the Transitions brand). The finalists are:

• Napoleon Family Vision (Napoleon, Ohio)
• Nicola Eyecare (Kamloops, British Columbia)
• Weaver Eye Associates (York, Pa.)

U.S. Retailer of the Year (which is awarded to a U.S. retailer in recognition of their active support of the Transitions brand and a demonstrated commitment to enhancing the vision of their customers and communities.) The finalists are:

• Costco
• Henry Ford OptimEyes
• National Vision, Inc.

Canadian Retailer of the Year
The Canadian Retailer of the Year (which is awarded to a retailer in Canada for actively supporting the Transitions brand and demonstrating a commitment to enhancing the vision of their customers and communities). The finalists are:
• Costco Optical
• Iris

Best in Marketing
Best in Marketing (which honors an individual or company for their creative and strategic marketing tactics to effectively promote the Transitions brand or Transitions family of products). The finalists are:
• Sheena Taff, Optician – Roberts & Brown Opticians (Vancouver, British Columbia), Optician About Town
• Value Optical – (Trinidad and Tobago)
• Vision Source

Best in Training
The Best in Training award (which celebrates an individual, company or educator who has shown creativity in developing or offering training and education opportunities that include dispensing photochromic lenses, the Transitions brand or Transitions family of products). The 2018 finalists include:

• Iris – (Canada)
• Professional VisionCare – (Columbus, Ohio)
• Professional Eyecare Associates of America (PECAA)

Transitions Optical is the leading provider of photochromic (smart adaptive) lenses worldwide, having been the first to successfully manufacture and commercialize plastic adaptive lenses in 1990, according to the announcement.