Management Team

Todays management team is still committed to continue the
tradition of "sincerity in service" established over 70 years ago by
Harry Katz and Russell Klein!

CORRINE HOOD, PRESIDENT

Corrine began her career at Katz & Klein in 1966 while attending CSUS. She began as a bookkeeper assistant and then started working in the lab in 1969. Her quickness in learning and her interest in the optical field earned her a partnership in 1972. Ellis Katz, Harry’s son, passed on the role of president to Corrine in 1985. Other accomplishments include:

Served as lobbyist for the California Optical Laboratories Association (COLA) 1983-1988
President of the California Optical Laboratories Association (COLA) 1986-1988
President of the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) 1997
Received the Optical Good Fellows Award 1994
Lab Talk Magazine Advisory Board Member
Listed in Who’s Who of women business leaders
President of Soroptimist International of Greater Sacramento 1996
Optical Pioneer Award 2002
Listed one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Optical 2003
Licensed Dispensing Optician
Recipient of VSP's People First Award 2007
Member of Global Optics Board of Directors - 2007 to present

MIKE FRANCESCONI, VICE-PRESIDENT

After a successful sales career with Levi Strauss, Mike switched gears and came to work in sales for Katz & Klein in January, 1978. In just two years, Mike was promoted to sales manager. Wanting to learn more of the nuts and bolts of the lab, Mike in 1984 became production manager of lab operations. In 1987, he became a partner in Katz & Klein. Finally, in 1990 Mike became vice president while still overseeing the sales department. Other accomplishments include:

President of the California Optical Laboratories Association (COLA) 1996-1998
American Board of Opticians (ABO) approved speaker
California Optometric Association (COA) Vision Project Board Member 1998 to present
Optical Pioneer member
Member of the Global Marketing Committee 2002 to present
Received the Optical Good Fellows Award 2007
President of the Optical Laboratories (OLA) Board of Directors - Member 2007 to present
Member of Romulus Italian Organization that raises money for various charities in the Sacramento area - 2006 to present
Member of Piemonte Reale Benevolent Society that raises money for various charities in the Sacramento area - 2010 to present

Sales

Heide

Heide began her optical career in 1979 while attending Chico State University, majoring in telecommunications. Trained under a Master Optician, she saw herself behind a lensometer instead of in front of the camera
There she learned how to block, generate and grind lenses in an Optical Wholesale Laboratory. Nearly 30 years later she has come full circle as an Account Executive for Katz & Klein Optical Laboratory, Inc.
Heide enjoyed life in the Sacramento area as a Dispensing Optician for 13 years when Silhouette came knocking. She thoroughly loved her sales position with them in both the Southern California coastal regions and Northern California & Nevada. She was with Silhouette for over 11 years, winning numerous Sales Awards throughout.
Heide joined Katz & Klein in 2004. With her extensive optical background Heide blends her skills with customer care, provides training solutions and loves to keep her accounts abreast of the latest and greatest in optics!