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Our Team
- James K. Kirchner, O.D., President/CEO
- Carolyn M. Maduza, Chief Financial Officer
- Bob Ferrigno, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing
- Louise Sclafani, Vice President of Professional Affairs
James K. Kirchner, O.D.
President/CEO
Dr. Kirchner brings to SynergEyes more than 35 years of experience in the optometric community both in private practice and in other optometric business ventures. He is ideally suited to guide the company in delivering life-changing vision products and focusing on the practice of optometry and the commitment to independent eye care professionals.
Dr. Kirchner previously served as the senior vice president of clinical and professional relations at SynergEyes. He provided professional leadership of product development and product management. He also represented SynergEyes within the ECP community.
Most notably, he was the founder of EyeCare Specialties, a multi-doctor, multi-office optometric practice in Lincoln, Nebraska where he was the senior partner and Chief Strategic Officer before he sold his interest in 2010. His practice was focused on Primary Care Optometry, with an emphasis in contact lenses and the treatment of eye diseases.
Prior to joining SynergEyes, Dr. Kirchner was Chief Professional Officer for Eyefinity, a VSP Global company. He has also been President and CEO of multiple startup companies, many outside the ophthalmic industry.
Dr. Kirchner has taken an active role in state, regional and national optometric association volunteerism throughout his career. He is a Past-President of the Nebraska Optometric Association and the North Central States Optometric Council; a ten state regional Optometric Association. Dr. Kirchner served as Chair of the American Optometric Association’s Communications Group Executive Committee for four years. He had previously Chaired the AOA’s Vision USA committee as well as chairing numerous AOA committee’s and task forces. Dr. Kirchner has served on the Nebraska Board of Optometry, the licensing and regulatory agency of the Nebraska Department of Health. He served as Chairman of the Board for three years.
He was named “Optometrist of the Year” in 1996 by the Nebraska Optometric Association. Most recently in 2008, Dr. Kirchner was honored by receiving the Nebraska Optometric Association’s “Distinguished Service Award” for lifetime work and achievement on behalf of the profession.
Carolyn M. Maduza
Chief Financial Officer
Carolyn Maduza brings to SynergEyes more than 20 years of successful experience in publicly traded and privately held companies with revenues ranging from start up to $100 million and multi-national in scope. Ms. Maduza will be responsible for growth strategies for SynergEyes, fund raising and capital management, and performance improvement.
Ms. Maduza’s industry expertise includes medical diagnostics, biotech, healthcare IT and enterprise software. Her early career includes systems design, accounting and auditing (CPA), Wall Street corporate banking and investment banking. She has also served as Audit Committee Chair and Financial expert for various Boards of Directors in similar sectors.
Most recently, Ms. Maduza consulted as strategist and interim Chief Financial Officer for Biomatrica, NanoCellect Biomedical, GenMark Diagnostics, and Helixis.
Prior to consulting, Ms. Maduza served as Chief Operating Officer for Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Alteer Corporation and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Stratagene.
Ms. Maduza holds a Master of International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management, a B.A., Business Administration, from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and a Certified Public Accountant, State of Illinois.
Bob Ferrigno
Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing
Bob Ferrigno brings to SynergEyes multi-disciplinary expertise in contact lenses and medical devices, as well as broad business management experience. In this integral role for SynergEyes, Bob will be responsible for the leadership and ongoing development of high performing Sales and Marketing teams worldwide.
With more than 20 years’ experience, Bob joins SynergEyes most recently from CooperVision where he served as President of North America. Formerly of Becton Dickinson (BD), a global medical technology company, he has held numerous global positions during his extensive career in sales, marketing and Research & Development.
Louise Sclafani
Vice President of Professional Affairs
Dr. Sclafani is an alumnus of ICO and has spent the past twenty four years at the University of Chicago where she was an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Optometric Services. Her clinical interests include contact lenses, corneal disease, emergency eye care, dry eye and surgery co-management. She was awarded the status of Diplomate by the American Academy of Optometry in the Cornea and Contact Lens and Refractive Technology section and is an international lecturer on these topics. She is the recipient of teaching awards from the University of Chicago and the Illinois College of Optometry.
Her excellence in optometry was recognized by receiving the Illinois Optometric Association Optometrist of the Year and the AOA Legends Award. Dr. Sclafani’s leadership and advocacy roles for optometry include serving as Chair of the CLCS of the AOA, President of the IOA and President of Women of Vision. She is a frequent contributing author for numerous publications including Review of Contact Lenses, Contact Lens Spectrum, and Primary Care Optometry News.