Complete Story
07/16/2026
President's Message
Last year, I had the opportunity to be able to take 6 of my staff members to the MIDO Optical Fair in Milan, Italy. They were able to go because they had won a sales promotion we had at our offices.
To say that the Milan trip was more than what my staff had expected is an understatement. The highlight of the trip of course was MIDO, where vendors from more than 50 countries were in attendance, along with more than 42,000 attendees from more than 160 countries.
The enormity of the complex was difficult to comprehend, with 7 pavilions in 8 separate exhibition areas. I would not be telling the truth if I said we had time to visit all of them. Footwear of choice, for most in attendance were athletic shoes, as everyone covers a lot of acreage!
Our group, as guests of MEI Systems, was able to get a private tour of the MEI facility in Bergamo, Italy. They called it a “factory tour”, but this state-of-the-art facility was more like an art gallery than a factory. While touring the assembly area, we did not see one smudge of grease, drop of oil, or the usual trappings of a factory. While technicians worked on assembly, an automated inventory system, reaching a high as the ceiling pulled needed parts. The grand finale was lunch in a “cafeteria” where the food, prepared by Italian chefs, was displayed in an area befitting a 5-start restaurant. Everything about the tour and MEI was top notch.
Of course, the trip to Milan was more than business and included seeing amazing sights such as the world famous Duomo, fabulous food, and a side trip to Rome for some, and Switzerland for others. “Once in a lifetime” is the best way to describe this trip.
