Rochester, New York, the cradle of American optics and photonics—our past, present, and likely future
Joseph Spilman, Optimax
Abstract
Rochester, New York, has a rich and storied legacy as a pioneering center for optics and photonics, dating back to the early 20th century. Rochester’s contributions to the field have been transformative, including innovations in laser technology, optics manufacturing, imaging, and imaging science. The city’s optics community has played a crucial role in advancements for diverse applications, from healthcare and aerospace to telecommunications and national defense.
Today, Rochester remains a global leader in optics and photonics, supported by a thriving and collaborative ecosystem of academic institutions, government organizations, and industry. As the demand for optics and photonics solutions continues to grow, Rochester’s unique blend of talent, research infrastructure, and industry presence positions it as an essential player in the future of global optics and photonics technology.
This talk explores the origins of Rochester’s optics community, tracing its roots to the establishment of Bausch & Lomb, Eastman Kodak, and the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, the first educational institution in the United States dedicated to optics.
About the speaker
Joseph Spilman is the President of Optimax Systems, Inc. Mr. Spilman is responsible for daily operations, near-term growth and profitability, and long-range strategic positioning. During his 20+ year career in the Optics and Photonics industry, his experience includes additional sales & marketing roles at Optimax, a capital-intensive start-up at ArmorLine Corporation, and various roles at II-VI Incorporated (Coherent).
Joseph serves on numerous industry-focused boards and committees for Optica, SPIE, NY Photonics, and others.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Optics from the University of Rochester's Institute of Optics and a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Rochester Institute of Technology's Saunders College of Business.
Parking and location
The talk will be held in the Room 106 of Bausch and Lomb Hall (UR River Campus). Parking is available in the lot across the street in Intercampus Drive Lot, and is free for talk attendees (no pass needed).
There will be a special pre-talk dinner hosted by the Institute of Optics at 5:45 pm in the Goergen atrium. Please register here to attend: https://form.jotform.com/243165575077059
