Management Team
Rob Katz
Chief Executive Officer
Rob acquired 100% interest in Medical Eyeglass Center in October of 1998 and began to use his expertise to build the infrastructure, management team and systems necessary to maximize the potential of Medical Eyeglass Center. Oversaw the expansion of MEC from a regional northeast entity to a national organization with managed clients across the country. Rob believes in investing in systems, additional personnel and seasoned management to properly support the robust expansion plan. With now over 100 locations, Medical Eyeglass Center is well positioned to achieve our next set of goals under Rob’s leadership and eclipse the 200 location threshold and beyond.
Joe Russell
Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations
As a seasoned sales and marketing executive, Joe provides leadership and guidance to Medical Eyeglass Center. Currently, Joe is the Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations for Medical Eyeglass Center. He is responsible for Medical Eyeglass Center’s client relationship management and new account development. Joe also provides leadership with corporate marketing and communications and dispensary sales growth activities. Previously, in 2011, Joe took on the position of President for Advanced Lifestyle Wellness Network, LLC. There, he supported the development, commercialization and implementation of leading eye care technologies to improve patient education and satisfaction. The prior year, Joe was Vice President of Hoya Surgical Optics, formulating and leading all sales operations and strategic planning activities. He was responsible for creating and implementing effective marketing programs and enhancing customer value. In 2008, Joe was the associate director of Abbot Medical Optics, leading marketing and strategic planning activities for AMO’s global IOL business in Japan, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. He was accountable for product development, overall marketing strategies and connecting with various department heads.
Ron Greenberg
Executive Vice President, Client Acquisition & Business Development
Ron’s capacity with Medical Eyeglass Center is analyzing the performance of optical dispensaries nationwide and identifying those prospects that can benefit from a relationship with Medical Eyeglass Center. Ron has worked in many facets of the eye care industry for the past 30 years ranging from sales, sales management and national leadership roles with Allergan Surgical to starting HealthCapital Financial Group and Patientfinance.com, which was ultimately sold to GE and added to the Care Credit portfolio. Much of Ron’s experience is working within the practice environment and addressing services that optimize the patient experience while enhancing the financial performance of the practice.
Ross Cappuzzo
Executive Vice President, Business Operations
Ross joined MEC’s Executive Leadership Team in January 2019 as its Executive Vice President of Business Operations. From MEC’s Headquarters in Westfield NJ, Ross and his team are responsible for the oversight of the Business Operations of the company, which includes the inventory merchandising team, lab operations team, insurance claims and posting teams, and the IT department. He also supports the oversight of the finance team. All merchandising, vendor relations and logistics activity falls directly under his domain, and he is solely responsible for establishing and maintaining the financial audit processes and procedures deployed between the operations and finance departments at MEC.
Ross comes to MEC with over 30 years of experience in optical dispensary development and management, most recently as President and partner in a multimillion-dollar optical and contact lens business for a market leader in vision care in the central New Jersey market. Previously, Ross served as Vice President and co-owner of Optical Dispensing Services which managed 30 optical locations primarily within Ophthalmology practices throughout the Northeast.
Catherine Varakian
Senior Vice President, Finance and Human Resources
Catherine joined the MEC team in July 2020 and serves as the Vice President of Finance and Director of Human Resources. In this role, she oversees the management of the companys financial reporting, daily accounting activities, payroll, and benefits administration. She spent most of her career in the financial services industry, initially at a Wall St investment bank, and most recently as the Assistant Treasurer at a private wealth management firm where she managed the companys accounting and HR activities. Catherine and her team are based in our Westfield, NJ headquarters where they provide support to MECs growing network of optical dispensaries.
Kelley Cordes
National Director, Operational Excellence
Kelley joined the Medical Eyeglass Center team in 2015. She is a Florida Licensed Optician and has over 28 years of experience in the optical industry managing all aspects of multi-unit optical dispensaries ranging from retail optical dispensaries to private ophthalmology practices. As a part of the Commercial Leadership Team, Kelley is focused on all areas of field operations and procedures to ensure all personnel are operating at the highest level of expertise and efficiency. As a part of her role, she will also work with management to proactively analyze, identify and implement opportunities and solutions to meaningfully drive process improvements throughout the company.
Johanna Hathaway
National Director, Merchandising and Administrative Operations
In 1993, Johanna started selling eyeglasses, and within three years, she was managing a large Pearle Vision location, leading to other management roles including LensCrafters. Johanna is a New Jersey licensed optician with ABO/NCLE certification. She is a tenured member of the Medical Eyeglass Center team, starting as an optician in 2005, and overseeing a multitude of client locations. As the Director of Merchandising and Administrative Operations, and a licensed optician, Johanna oversees and manages Medical Eyeglass Center’s vast array of frame inventory and coordinates all merchandising within Medical Eyeglass Center client locations.
Jerry Mingo
National Director, Lab Operations
In 2003, Jerry started working at Medical Eyeglass Center. Currently, he is the Director of Lab Operations. He is responsible for assisting and overseeing all facets of the business that pertain to ordering and delivering eyewear to Medical Eyeglass Center’s clients and offices. Before working for Medical Eyeglass Center, Jerry was lab director for HHI, Inc. from 1999-2003. For ten years prior, he was a lab manager for Hillman’s Eyes Super Optical. From 1983 to 1987, Jerry worked for Tri Lite Optics Wholesale Optical Lab.
Christinia Bonnell
National Director, Commercial Operations
Christinia joined the Medical Eyeglass Center team in November of 2021. She has extensive knowledge in management development, staff retention, as well as growing and developing leaders. She has managed multi-location businesses ranging from privately owned ophthalmology practices with their own optical systems to private equity purchases managing newly integrated optical systems. As an Army Veteran, she has a strong process management background as well as implementing standard operating procedures to effectively drive business and growth. In the position of National Director of Commercial Operations she will focus on strong independent leaders working within our partnering practices to optimize the patient experience, provide strong partnerships within our practices to optimize business growth, and engaging leaders to grow, retain and develop their people and practice.
