We've got over 400+ combined years of optical experience!
Thomas (Tom) M. Ryan, President and Owner of Hi-Tech Optical, Inc.
Tom is a life long Saginaw business man who has been involved in Hi-Tech Optical since 1987 when he and another investor purchased the company from White-Haines Optical. Mr. Ryan has since bought out his partners and is the Companies sole owner. In 1982, Mr. Ryan started Phase Liner of Michigan, Inc. a Michigan Corporation which is involved in Energy Reducing Strategies. Phase Liner has worked for many of the top 500 companies in America including Ford Motor, General Motors, Chrysler Corporation, Target Stores, K Mart and many other industrial and municipal accounts. Tom is an avid developer and has a number of commercial rental properties in Michigan and Florida. Tom served three years in the US Navy including a one year term in Vietnam in 1968. He and his wife of 41 years have three children and eight grandchildren.
"I'm very proud of each of our Hi-Tech employees and the tremendous job they do in satisfying our customer needs. I would like you to know that I am personally involved in the day to day operations of the company and, I along with all our staff, will do whatever is necessary to make sure you’re completely satisfied with each and every pair of safety glasses we produce for you." Tom Ryan
Marshall Brown, General Manager
From 1979 to the present Marshall Brown has been with with Hi-Tech Optical, Inc.
Mr. Brown started in the finish department as a production employee for White Haines Optical.Marshallthen became Sales Manager, then Assistant Manager under Neil Coon (former owner). After Neil retired,Marshall took over as General Manager. As General Manager,Marshall oversees the day to day operations of Hi-Tech Optical, including maintaining an exceptional relationship between three very different aspects of the business: the retail sales floor, a full service optical laboratory and a professional optometrist’s office. This includes the oversight of all laboratory operations, manufacturing, customer service, pricing and sales activities, materials usage, shipping and receiving, capacity planning, production scheduling, safety and customer service and employee relations. Both of Marshall's parents worked in optical field, his Mom worked at NuVision and Pearle Vision, and his Father worked in optical for most of his life.
William (Bill) Harman, Systems Manager
As a graduate from University of Michigan with dual degrees, Bill is multi-talented working in technology, accounting, and broadcasting/marketing. He began his career in Mid-Michigan working for WNEM-TV 5 as their on site, and in the studio, cameraman. As technology emerged, Bill was at the forefront learning and implementing accounting using computers. He then obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree from Saginaw Valley State University. In 1982, he founded Innovative Businesses Corporation where he provided business management consulting, accounting, and tax services for businesses throughout Michigan. Bill was also involved in MBA Systems where he developed and deployed email systems throughout theUS. Bill joined the team at Hi-Tech in 2011 and is currently working as the technology manager and assists in their accounting. His association with the firm really began earlier with Hi-Tech needing his expertise in technology. Bill's thirty years of business experience and technology management assists the company in implementing streamlined processes to the lab environment.
Sela Reikowsky, Midland Office Manager
Sela has been in the optical business for 40 years. In July of 1970 through 1987, she worked for White-Haines Optical where she started out doing frame inventory control, answering phones, taking orders, etc. Sela also worked in the finishing department putting glasses together and tinting lenses.
In March of 1987, Hi-Tech Optical, Inc. took over the business. At that time, Sela started supervising inventory control of the lenses and inputting computer data, preparing weekly payroll, answering telephones, customer service and filling in for the Doctor's office during vacations doing dispensing.
In January 1991, Sela Reikowsky was contracted out to Dow Chemical Company to manage their safety store in Midland, to sell and dispense safety glasses and street wear. That's where you can still find her today.
Brian Schneider, Lab Manager, ABO Certified Optician
Brian has 22 years experience in the optical industry. He started cutting lenses at NuVision Optical inSaginawin 1989. He then also worked at Pearle Vision as Lab Manager. Previously Brian worked at Hi-Tech Optical as Surface Manager. He then worked at Lens Crafters a short while before returning to Hi-Tech Optical as Lab Manager. As Lab Manager, Brian oversees Hi-Tech Optical's Surface and Finish Departments.
Dean Sheehan, Regional Sales Manager
In the early sixties, Dean took his apprenticeship at Bausch & Lomb. After his apprenticeship, he moved to Menlo Park,Californiato work for Jenkel Davidson Optical, where he was in charge of fitting and manufacturing eyeglasses & contact lenses in many of their 82 retail stores in northern California. Mr. Sheehan then managed Kaiser Permenente in Sunnyvale, Californiafor several years before managing an office for a private ophthalmologist in Mountain View, California for six years. From there, Dean helped to start up a new company called Lens Crafters and then in 1988 managed Franklin Optical as retail and lab manager until the company was sold in 1992 to Benson Optical. Dean went to work for Benson Eyecare Corporation helping to create a vision insurance plan called Superior Vision and as that transpired part of the company was sold to Dispensers Optical Safety Corporation where he became a regional manager. In July, 2008 Dean Sheehan joined Hi Tech Optical, Inc. as Regional Sales Manager.
Merwyn Hirsch, Surfacing Manager
Merwyn started at General Optical in 1984 as an Optical Technician: fining, generating and polishing plastic lenses and machine repair. In 1985, he started at TK Optical in the surfacing department: blocking, finish, polishing and generating and machine repair. In 1987, Mr. Hirsch started at Riverfront Optical as a production and surface room manager and a group leader in the UAW. He attended Gerber Coburn Technical School where he learned to calibrate and repair Step One Blocker, SGX Calibrator, frame tracer and professional edger. Then in 1997, "Merv" started at Hi-Tech Optical, Inc. as a surfacing manager's assistant: Surfacing Department, Coating and Lensometer. In 2008, he attended Optronics School for calibration and machine repair. He started in the finish room doing blocking, edging and assembly. Merv attended Satisloh Academyfor calibrating and V75 Generator repair. In 2010 he attended Surfacing University Seminar for OLA in Las Vegas for traditional surfacing and to look into Digital Surfacing Equipment and automatic edgers.
David Asher, Director of Provider Networks, Outside Sales
David began his career in the optical industry as an optician at Pearle Vision in Saginawin 1989. After working for various optical chains throughout the 90's, David came to Hi-Tech Optical as a dispensing optician in January of 2000. Mr. Asher was promoted to outside sales in 2006, and became Director Of Provider Networks in 2011. In this capacity, David coordinates Hi-Tech Optical's extensive service network of Provider Doctors across the nation.
Shirley Schwalm, Office Manager
Before coming to Hi-Tech Optical, Inc. in 1999, Shirley served as Office Manager for Town and Campus Mall in Saginaw, MI. She started as a part time employee as Human Resources and after becoming a full time employee, Shirley took on the Office Manager and Accounts Payable role.
Denise Cieslinski, Production Office Manager & Customer Service Manager
Denise started her optical career in 1976 at Phoenix Optical, then leaving to work at Art Optical. She did take some time off but entered the workforce once again in the optical field at NuVision. She left after a few months to work at Hi-Tech Optical in 1987. She started in surfacing department as a production employee. After Hi-Tech Optical merged it's office buildings, Denise became Production Office Manager and Customer Service Manager.
Kaye Lent, Accounts Receivables
Kaye started in 1977 in White Haines Optical's shipping department. She then worked in the billing department, as well as lens production, and has been with Hi-Tech Optical since its inception. In 2006, she began working in accounts receivable.
Cristie Wineland, Marketing Director
Cristie graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design in 2009. She brings design knowledge and marketability from time spent at 989 Design and the Saginaw Spirit where she worked as a Graphic Designer. As Hi-Tech Optical's Marketing Director she oversees advertising, events, website, social media, contract bids, and also coordinates new account setups with customers and providers.
Kandi Simmons, Optician
In 1992, Kandi started at NuVision Optical in East Tawas as a Lab Technician. She worked in a mini lab in the finishing department. In 1995, Ms Simmons became the Lab Manager. In 1997, she became an optician for the retail store. She was then promoted to Assistant Store Manager in 1999. In 2000 Kandi was again promoted to the Store Manager and held that position until 2004 when Kandi joined Hi-Tech Optical, Inc. in Saginawas an Optician and Retail Manager.