What part of the country do you represent?

 I represent Northern and Central Indiana as well as the state of Michigan. I carry all Gap, Fila, Yalea, Fila, Lucky Brand, Police, Jones New York, Tumi, John Varvatos, Diff, Fula, Zadig & Voltaire, Escada. and Just Cavalli.

How did you get into this industry?

My optical career began three days after high school graduation when my mother told me it was time to get a job and put myself through college. A friend worked for the local eye doctor where I was hired and trained to be an optician. After college, I realized I loved the industry and pursued a career in optical frame sales, first, being hired by a small family-owned company on the East Coast, Windsor Optical, then recruited by Marchon and Marcolin (they were one company back then!).  My career path continued as I worked with Essilor as a Laboratory and Lens consultant for 14 years and then moved on to different management positions with other frame companies.

What is your favorite thing about Eyewear?

There’s so much I love about eyewear, especially the fashion side. Frames are an accessory that covers 1/3 of your face and is the first thing people tend to notice. Eyewear can give someone a great new look, as well as a whole new outlook on themselves.  In addition, to the cosmetic benefit, we are helping people, see better, feel better, and look better.

I was legally blind for the first 35 years of my life, and after several successful surgical procedures, eyewear is still a critical part of my life. In a recent survey, people said of all senses, sight was the most precious and the one they fear losing the most. We have the opportunity to help people see, and that is very rewarding. 

What is your favorite thing about being a consultant for De Rigo Rem?

The opportunities, resources, respect, and culture, and not in that order.  In my experience, I have been with companies where these attributes were not practiced, and the impact was significant.  De Rigo Rem genuinely cares for our people and our partners who support us.  The respect is authentic. I can truly feel the family dynamic and the desire to work together to build something great.

What brings you fulfillment in helping your customers?

I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with customers.  There is such diversity and opportunity in every market. To me, the bottom line is finding out what is most important to my customer and designing a plan to help meet their goals.

I’ve worked in many markets across the country, and the one constant is the appreciation to work with people who care. In my college years, my major originally started out in communications and journalism. I find great joy in still being able to investigate, uncover and discover what is important to my customers, and then build a plan to assist with helping to achieve their goals.  It’s so rewarding to build relationships with our customers.

Tell us something fun about you.

My hobbies are gardening, swimming, oil painting, and antiquing.  Fun fact about me, early in my career I was schlepping about 10 bags in downtown Chicago when a police officer stopped me on the streets and asked me for my ” Peddlers license”.  I was too young to even know what that was. The officer told me that unless was told unless I got my employer to verify via fax that I had one, they’d ” bring me in”.  Thankfully, my company verified my employment as an eyewear sales consultant, selling direct to businesses, and not a “peddler” who sells goods on the streets. My verified employment meant that I didn’t require the license and I didn’t have to visit the police station.

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