Industry Leaders to Speak at Business Network Symposium

The head of Transitions Optical Inc., a principal for the private equity fund Prometheus Partners, and the CEO of Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research will share their know-how at the next Business Network Symposium on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at The University of Tampa. The event, which will be held on the 9th floor of the Vaughn Center on campus, begins with a continental breakfast at 7:15 a.m. and the program runs from 7:45 to 9 a.m. The symposium is free and open to the public.

Richard C. Elias is senior vice president, optical and specialty materials, of PPG Industries and CEO of Transitions Optical Inc., pioneers in the field of photochromic technology for eyewear. He serves on the board of trustees of the International Council of the Tampa Bay Region and The University of Tampa, and on the national board of Prevent Blindness of America.

Nicholas Peters is a principal for Prometheus Partners, a private equity fund established to invest in smaller middle market nationally-franchised restaurant businesses. Peters founded Prometheus Partners in 1996 and has since completed 12 platform investments, including over 300 restaurants, and over 55 add-on acquisitions, primarily in the Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and IHOP restaurant brands.

Jason Woody has served as the CEO of Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research, the leading institution for ocular science, for 15 years. He has led the institute to financial stability and unprecedented prosperity, operational success and strong industry influence, fostering collaboration among the board of trustees, directors and staff members to improve operations and product/service offering.

The event is sponsored by The University of Tampa Board of Fellows, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, the Tampa Bay Business Journal and Sodexo Campus Services. The Board of Fellows holds this networking event three times a year to allow businesses that are well known, changing or new to the Tampa Bay area the opportunity to share their accomplishments and plans with the business community.

For more information, contact Alexandra Silence at (813) 253-6200 or asilence@ut.edu.