It will serve over 10K ECPs.
PROVIDENCE, RI and BOCA RATON, FL — Nautic Partners LLC announced that it has created Healthy Eyes Advantage, an independent alliance to support eyecare professionals.
Healthy Eyes acquired substantially all of the assets of Block Buying Group; C&E Vision Services; HMI, including Red Tray and Club Zero; and Vision West.
Healthy Eyes will serve over 10,000 independent eyecare professionals. The organization is “the largest alliance of eyecare professionals in the country,” according to a press release.
“Together, the four buying groups provide purchasing services and management support to more than 10,000 optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians across the country with over $500 million in purchasing power,” said Jeff Rinkus, CEO of Healthy Eyes. “These numbers give us an opportunity to partner with leading industry suppliers to develop innovative purchasing programs that will further reduce our members’ largest expense, their cost of goods. We will also be building a peer network of independent practitioners to assist with marketing, managed care, staffing, accounting, and other practice management challenges.”
In addition to Rinkus, who is the former chief operating officer of ABB Optical, the Healthy Eyes team includes Andrew Alcorn, former CEO of Block Vision and chairman of Superior Vision; and Dr. Joe Mallinger, former CEO of Vision West, past president of the California Optometric Association and president-elect of Optometry Cares, the AOA’s Charitable Foundation. In addition to the executive team, Michael Block, founder and CEO of BBG and pioneer of the eyecare buying group industry; and Brad Shapiro, principal of C&E and Vision West, have joined the board of Healthy Eyes and are serving as senior advisers to the company.
Healthy Eyes is based in Boca Raton, FL, with offices in San Clemente, CA; San Diego, CA; and Vicksburg, MS.