Leadership Team

Thamarr Griffith

President

Thamarr Griffith

President

Thamarr is a veteran MedTech leader with more than two decades experience and a deep track record of growth and innovation. Her vast experience and expertise make her the ideal visionary to steer Volk Optical through a transformational new phase that will leverage the best of Volk’s platform and performance to reach new heights.

Thamarr's ability to navigate complex landscapes and identify emerging opportunities positions the Volk company for continued success. Prior to joining Volk, Thamarr held key positions at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, where she successfully launched MedTech devices in both domestic and international markets. Her experience in this renowned organization provided her with invaluable insights into global markets and a deep understanding of the industry's evolving landscape. Before her tenure at Johnson & Johnson, Thamarr founded and led a strategy consulting firm, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and strategic acumen. She also held significant roles in Corporate and Business Development at Stryker and commercial roles at ZOLL Medical, Purdue Pharma, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. This diverse background has equipped Thamarr with a comprehensive understanding of the entire value chain, enabling her to drive innovation, forge strategic partnerships, and maximize market opportunities.

Thamarr's educational background further underscores her commitment to excellence. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati, after earning her undergraduate Business Administration degree in Marketing & International Business from Florida International University. Achieving additional certifications in Innovation and Project Management is only one example of her continuous pursuit of knowledge.

As the President of our company, Thamarr brings a wealth of experience, a strong vision for the future, and a passion for transforming healthcare. Her leadership has already begun to make a profound impact on Volk, and she continues to guide our team towards achieving new levels of success, growth, and innovation.

Peter Chen

Chief Financial and Operating Officer

Peter Chen

Chief Financial and Operating Officer

Peter leverages over two decades of leadership and finance experience to drive bottom-line performance. He previously held both operations and finance positions both in Fortune 500 and private mid-size companies. His knowledge and high degree of fluency in finance, information systems and operations management, driving strategic planning executions, are ensuring that our organization is well-positioned for sustainable growth and success as Volk invests in groundbreaking technologies to further our mission of eliminating preventable blindness.

Peter completed his Bachelor degree in Accounting, Computer Information Systems, and International Business from Indiana University-Bloomington and earned his MBA in Finance from New York Institute of Technology and Master degree in Big Data and Business Intelligence from European Business School of Barcelona. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Ohio, a Certified Management Accountant, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a Six Sigma Lean Black Belt Professional.

David Avila

Chief Commercial Officer

David Avila

Chief Commercial Officer

With a career spanning over three decades in the ophthalmic industry, David is a seasoned leader. His experience in leadership, sales, marketing, and commercial management allows David to be a driving force behind growth and profitability at Volk.

David's impressive track record includes pivotal roles in renowned companies like Moria, Alcon, and Johnson & Johnson. At Volk he will continue to propel teams to surpass financial objectives and achieve substantial sales growth, even in highly competitive environments.

Having navigated diverse global markets, including the USA, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, David’s global perspective equips him with the insight to formulate and execute strategic plans tailored to different markets. His commitment to enhancing customer support, pioneering innovative commercial strategies, and fostering the development of high-performing teams make him a valuable asset to our leadership team.

Terry Kooyman

Vice President of Operations

Terry Kooyman

Vice President of Operations

Terry brings over two decades of expertise across the manufacturing, engineering, and machining sectors to his role as Vice President of Operations at Volk. His wealth of experience in engineering, quality assurance, lean manufacturing and process optimization makes him well-positioned for driving performance and results.

With a background deeply rooted in Ohio, Terry has orchestrated transformative changes and growth through process enhancements, scrutinizing manufacturing capabilities for mergers and acquisitions, and implementing cutting-edge solutions to propel teams forward for tangible results.

Terry's extensive leadership experience, strategic acumen, proven track record in profit enhancement, and commitment to operational excellence elevates Volk to new heights, setting the stage for remarkable achievements in the industry.

Peter Hones, PhD. 

VP of Engineering and New Technologies

Peter Hones, PhD. 

VP of Engineering and New Technologies

Peter Hones is a distinguished industry leader in ophthalmic engineering and innovation, joining Volk with a wealth of experience in developing revolutionary medical devices from conceptualization to industrialization. With a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from the Swiss Institute of Technology, Peter has spearheaded research and technology endeavors at renowned global enterprises including Honeywell, EssilorLuxottica, Sperian, and SightGlass Vision. He has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking solutions.

Peter has served as Chairman of the Leadership Council at Essilor of America, providing invaluable guidance on talent management initiatives. His experience driving strategic technology investments while on the Board and the Corporate Innovation Committee at Sperian, and role as Senior Vice President of R&D and Technology at SightGlass Vision demonstrate his ability to lead innovation across industry leaders and pioneer revolutionary solutions.

With over 18 years of progressive leadership experience in R&D, engineering, and innovation, Peter brings unparalleled expertise to Volk. His fluency in English, French, and German enhances his ability to collaborate effectively with global stakeholders. As Vice President of Engineering and New Technologies, Peter is poised to lead Volk into a new era of innovation and excellence.

Apoorva Agarwal

Regulatory Lead

Apoorva Agarwal

Regulatory Lead

Apoorva Agarwal is a seasoned Regulatory Affairs professional with over a decade of expertise and leadership in the MedTech industry. Apoorva brings an extensive educational and professional background to Volk with advanced studies in Quality Assurance and International Regulatory Affairs, a master’s in pharmacy, and training in US Quality System Regulation from Advancing Safety in Health Technology (AAMI). Apoorva is a recognized thought leader in the industry and is an active member of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

Prior to joining Volk, she held positions in global and mid-sized medical device companies demonstrating knowledge in various regulatory aspects for high-risk class medical devices. In her current role, Apoorva is a critical regulatory resource for the multiple aspects of medical devices with a global profile, overseeing regulatory affairs for 150+ countries.

As our Regulatory lead, Apoorva will drive critical projects, including European Union Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) and UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) transitions, and will have the opportunity to showcase her proven track record to navigate complex regulatory changes on a global scale to ensure Volk’s regulatory compliance and elevate our position as a leader in the medical device industry. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and global collaboration makes her a valuable asset to the Volk team.

Maggine Fuentes

Human Resources Lead

Maggine Fuentes

Human Resources Lead

Maggine Fuentes is an expert with over two decades of experience in Human Resources. Committed to advancing organizational objectives and fostering cohesive teams, Maggine is a strategic HR expert with a proven track record of driving positive transformations and cultivating inclusive cultures. She is well-positioned to lead Volk toward our goals while maintaining an exceptional work environment.

With a solid foundation in Human Resources Management from John Carroll University and a master's degree in business administration from Lake Erie College, Maggine is well-equipped to lead Volk towards its goals while ensuring an exceptional work environment. Her passion for creating positive workplace dynamics is reflected in her dedication to driving organizational success through strategic HR practices.

Maggine's extensive experience in providing strategic advice, guidance, talent management, and organizational effectiveness will lead Volk to new heights.