Management Team

NVI's senior management team has over 100 years of combined experience in host environment, freestanding and mall environment retailing, both domestically and internationally.

Reade Fahs - President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Fahs joined the company in April 2002 as President and Chief Operating Officer and was named Chief Executive Officer in January 2003. Prior to joining National Vision, Mr. Fahs was the Chief Executive Officer for First Tuesday (a European Internet Company) and the Managing Director of Vision Express - one of the leading Optical Chains in the United Kingdom. Prior to Vision Express, Mr. Fahs spent over 10 years with Lenscrafters where he led the Advertising, Strategy, and New Product Development functions. Mr. Fahs holds a B.A. degree in English Literature from Harvard College.

J. Bruce Steffey - Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Steffey has over 30 years of experience and has been with the company since 2002. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Steffey was the Senior Vice President of Store Operations at Zale Corporation and the Senior Vice President at Service Merchandise. Mr. Steffey holds a B.B.A. degree in Management and Marketing from Wake Forest University.

Chuck Criscillis - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Prior to joining the Company in 2004, Mr. Criscillis served a total of 18 years as Chief Financial Officer of Barry Real Estate Companies, Suburban Lodges of America and Crown Crafts, Inc. Prior to this, Mr. Criscillis was a Partner with Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Criscillis holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky.

Mitchell Goodman - Senior Vice President, General Counsel
Mr. Goodman is responsible for the legal and regulatory affairs of the Company. Mr. Goodman joined the Company in August 1992 as General Counsel. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Goodman was Vice President, General Counsel for NuVision, Inc., a retail optical firm based in Michigan. Mr. Goodman holds a B.A. degree in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.Litt. in philosophy from Oxford University, and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

Desmond F. Taylor - Senior Vice President, Merchandising
Mr. Taylor has over 30 years of experience and has been with the company since March 2004. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Taylor worked as CEO for Optoplast PLC, Commercial Director for Dollond & Aitchison and Store Development Director of Vision Express. Mr. Taylor holds a F.B.D.O. degree in Optical Dispensing from City College in London.

Paul Gross - Senior Vice President, Marketing
Mr. Gross joined NVI in August 2002. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Gross was Vice President for PC on Call LLC and Senior Director of Marketing at Lenscrafters where he worked for over a decade. Mr. Gross holds a B.A. degree in Journalism from Georgia State University.

Robert W. Stein - Senior Vice President, Professional and Managed Care Development
Mr. Stein has over 25 years of experience and has been with the Company since 1992 when he joined as Director of Human Resources. In January 1993, he was appointed to Vice President, Human Resources and in 1999 he became Senior Vice President. Mr. Stein has been in his current position since August 2003. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Stein worked for NuVision, Inc. Mr. Stein holds a M.B.A. in Operations Administration from the University of Michigan.

Robb Patton - President, FirstSight Vision Services, Inc.
Mr. Patton is responsible for the general management of the Company's subsidiary in California. Mr. Patton joined the company in 2002. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Patton worked at United Healthcare and Aetna Health Plans. Mr. Patton holds a B.A. degree in History from Azusa Pacific University.

Sharon Petitt - Senior Vice President, Retail Operations
Sharon Petitt is the Senior Vice President of Retail Operations for America's Best and has been with the company for over 10 years. Ms. Petitt has over 20 years of management experience and responsibility in the optical industry, including ECCA and private practices where she held various positions including Manager of Training, District Manager, Manager of Store Operations, Regional Director and Regional Vice President. Ms. Petitt is a graduate of Southern College of Optometry where she received an Associate of Applied Science.

Michael C. Thomas - Senior Vice President, Retail Operations
Mr. Thomas has been with the Company since 1993 when he joined as Regional Vice President. In December of 2007, he was appointed to Senior Vice President, Retail Operations. Prior to joining NVI, Mr. Thomas spent over 10 years with US Vision as Group Vice President. Mr. Thomas holds an A.S. degree from the University of Arizona.

Charlie Foell- Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Distribution
Mr. Foell joined National Vision in 1998 as Director of Distribution and was appointed to Vice President of Manufacturing and Distribution in 2003. He has served as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Distribution since 2009. Foell has extensive experience in various management disciplines including Logistics, Operations Management, Labor Relations, Management Training, Special projects, and Financial planning. Prior to joining the NVI team, Mr. Foell spent 25 years supporting independently owned retail locations. He holds a Business Logistics degree from Penn State University.

Debra Woyce - Senior Vice President, Retail Operations and Replenishment
Ms. Woyce has been with National Vision since the beginning in 1990 and has played a pivotal role in establishing store operations. In 2007, Ms. Woyce took on the added responsibility of managing the inventory/replenishment team. Prior to joining National Vision, she was an Account Executive for Automatic Data Processing. Ms. Woyce holds a B.A. degree in Journalism from Georgia State University.