Anthony Rebaldo has been a licensed ophthalmic dispenser since 1973 and 56 years of both retail and lab experience. He is a 1966 alum of New York City College Technology (when it was known as New York Community College) and hopes to aid future opticians with his many years of experience.

Gary Friedman is an adjunct instructor in the Vision Care Program in the Business Department since Spring 2007. He received his New York State Ophthalmic Dispensing License in August 1992 and his New York State Contact Lens License in 2012. Mr. Friedman has National Certification with the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners. Mr. Friedman began working in the optical field in 1988 for a major optical company. He assisted this business in starting up several locations and continued his professional career in various optical companies to increase their performance and business growth. In 2007, Mr. Friedman opened a private optical practice.

Mr. Friedman received an Associate degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Suny Buffalo as well as an Associate degree from New York City College of Technology in Ophthalmic Dispensing.

Mr. Friedman is affiliated with New York State Society of Opticians and the Optical Alliance of New York. He is on the committee for the Vision Technology self-study program associated with William H. Maxwell Career & Technical Education High School and Clara Barton High School. On a personal note, Mr. Friedman is a Free and Accepted Mason for the past 30 years.

Dr. Francine Doti is a clinical optometrist and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the vision care technology program. She is a licensed optometrist in the state of New York. Dr. Doti earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from New York University and a Doctor of Optometry degree from the State University of New York College of Optometry. She has been in practice in NYC for over twenty-five years.

Herbert Fletcher works for Younger Optics, the world's last remaining independently owned lens manufacturers, as a Transitions Brand Ambassador. He started in the optical field in 1987 with L'Amy, as a warehouse manager and then entered the Opticianry program at Middlesex Community College in 1989, passed the ABO and NCLE exams in 1990, and participated in a Contact Lens Fellowship Program at Yale University Contact Lens Clinic. He graduated with Honors in 1991, passed the State Licensing Exam in 1992, and has worked in the Optical Community for the last 32 years.

During his years in the industry, he has proctored the State Licensing Exam for over 10 years, taught review courses for the State Licensing Exam, and has tutored many opticians for their ABO, NCLE and State Licensing Exams. He is also an ABO Certified Speaker and has presented hundreds of in-office presentations to educate doctors and staff about the importance of vision and our responsibility to it. He has worked for Independent Guild Opticians, ophthalmology practices, small chains, national chains, and as Lab Rep.

He enjoys working for an independent manufacturer and having the opportunity to work with people from around his territory who have different perspectives on the profession. He is currently a member of the advisory committee for Middlesex Community College. I am a member of the COA and SOCO, both Opticianry organizations in CT.

Farhana Akhtar is a 2008 graduate of City Tech's VCT program and earned a bachelor's degree in health services administration with Cum Laude Honors. She is a Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO) in both Eyewear and Contact Lenses and has been in the optical field for 15 years. She also managed several chains throughout NYC and is currently with LensCrafters as a Licensed Optician and former Store Market Manager.

Natalia Jimenez is originally from Bogota, Colombia. She obtained an associate degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing from City Tech in 2013. Natalia worked in a small private practice in Baldwin, Long Island for a year before earning her New York license, and then moved on to Lenscrafters as an optician. In 2015, she received her Bachelor's in Health Care Administration, started a position at Long Island Pediatric of Ophthalmology, and in 2018 began teaching at City Tech as an adjunct professor in the dispensing clinic and materials labs — where she taught for three years. Natalias responsibilities included teaching students not only how to neutralize lenses, but also edging and adjusting frames. She became very passionate about working with students from different backgrounds and discovered that one of her strengths is the ability to share her knowledge and experience. In June of 2020, during the pandemic, Natalia received a master's degree in Health Care Administration at Saint Joseph College.

Irma Lopez is a graduate of the Vision Care Program at New York City College of Technology and earned her Ophthalmic Dispensing License in 2016. Completing the program was an incredible journey that shaped her to be the optician that she is today. She started in the field as a technician and is now a Licensed Team Lead at LensCrafters at the Wall Street location. She has been in this field for six years and enjoys helping clients with their vision needs. She feels that finding a stylish pair of glasses is an art! She is looking forward to serving on the Vision Care Advisory Council at City Tech and giving back to the place where it all began.

Ciera Watford is a licensed Optician in New York and a certified CTE educator. She is also a graduate of the Vision Care Technology and Health Services Administration program at City Tech. After graduating from the VCT program, Ms. Watford worked in various optical settings, such as private optometric offices and nursing homes, as she gained valuable experience as an Optician. Currently, Ms. Watford teaches Vision Technology in the two-year high school program. Her passion for teaching Vision Technology to others began three years ago when she used her social media platforms to host virtual ABO preparation sessions and work as a social media influencer for Transitions Optical.

Drew Paul has a BSBA from Northeastern University and an AAS from the VCT program at New York City College of Technology. He began working in the optical field during college as a part time Lab Tech at LensCrafters. After spending his first few years postgrad in various sales jobs, outside of the industry, he decided to get back to the optical world and enrolled in City Tech's VCT program. During his time at City Tech, he also worked as a part time optical salesmen for Tortoise and Blonde, and since graduating from City Tech in 2016, he has been working for Shamir Insight as an Account Executive. His role at Shamir pairs his optical knowledge and outside sales skills. He enjoys working with ECPs across the tri-state area to teach them about new lens technology and how to better grow their business. He is excited to be a member of the VCT Advisory Board and hopes that his experience will be of service to the department and students at City Tech.

Mark Kaplan is the senior sales representative for Coburn Technology, a diversified manufacturer of lens surfacing products and the distributor of the Huvitz brand of lens edging and diagnostic products.

Since 1988, Mark has established relationships with Opticians, Optometrists and Ophthalmologists in the New York and New Jersey areas, originally in ophthalmic laser modalities. He excels in sales, product knowledge, application and customer service to his customers.

Mark takes pride in his associations with schools, educators and students. He has made >1000 eyeglasses at the Special Olympics in New York and Connecticut and enjoys training his customers on the products he represents. He has a BA in Chemistry and a minor in Biology and Math.

You can connect with Mark via email, mark.kaplan@coburntechnologies.com or by calling him at 516-238-2232.