Optica Foundation Appoints Executive Director of Development: People In the News: 8/13/25

Photonics.com
Aug 2025WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 13, 2025 — The Optica Foundation appointed Cara Green executive director of development. Green will manage fundraising for the Optica Foundation as it launches students and early-career professionals into their careers through mentorship and guidance. Green previously worked in fundraising for the American Geophysical Union and the Pennsylvania State University.

Cara Green. Courtesy of The Optica Foundation.

ORLANDO, Fla. — LightPath Technologies appointed Stephen Mielke vice president of engineering. Mielke has worked in R&D, product development, marketing, and sales, with companies ranging from component suppliers to capital equipment manufacturers. Before joining LightPath, he served at Luminar Technologies where he led the development of the optical architecture for Luminar's automotive lidar. At Zygo Corporation, Mielke served as director of engineering, leading a team of 30 engineers developing optical metrology tools.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Kopin Corporation appointed Erich Manz CFO. Manz will replace Rich Sneider, who announced his retirement in May. Manz recently served as the business unit CFO of Allegro Micro Systems, where he spent more than 25 years in various roles.

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Phosio, a company that specializes in lens coating materials for AI-enabled eyewear, appointed former vice president of Meta, Joe O’Keeffe, executive chairman. At Meta, O’Keeffe led the display and optical systems R&D for AR glasses, playing a key role in shaping the company's Orion glasses. Before Meta, he founded and scaled photonics companies, including InfiniLED.

KISTA, Sweden — Sivers Semiconductors appointed Heine Thorsgaard CFO. Heine joins Sivers from Napatech, where he served as CFO since 2018. Before his time at Napatech, Heine held CFO and financial executive leadership roles across the IT, technology, and professional services sectors for more than 15 years.

Nelson Gabela. Courtesy of FOSA.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) appointed Nilson Gabela, senior manager of market and technology development, optical cable at Corning Incorporated, chairman of FOSA's board of directors. Simultaneously, the association named David Chen, CTO of Go!Foton, vice chairman. The appointments follow the transition of Jon Beckman, director of instruments business operations at VIAVI Solutions, who stepped down as chairman.

More news & features