Russ Tolar

Russ Tolar is a second-generation Optician. He graduated from Durham Technical Community College in 1978 and has spent the next 40-plus years of his career in the many different facets of the optical business. Mr. Tolar is a Certified Optician with the American Board of Opticianry (AB0) and has been licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina since 1979. He has also held licenses in Ohio, Virginia, and Georgia. He earned his Mastre Ottica (Master Optician) status with the Italian Opticians Association in 2000. Mr. Tolar became a Professional Registered Optician in 1994, an Honored Fellow with the Opticians Association of America (OAA) in 1998 . He is celebrating his 20th year as a member of the NAO, having joined in 1999. He has been actively involved in professional organizations in various positions of leadership over the years including President of the OAA and Chairman of the OAA Formal Education Commission. He has served as President of the North Carolina Opticians Association,