ANALYSIS: THE PHOTONICS LEADERS
‘Innovation requires the collision of
different people and different ideas’ Mark Elliott speaks to Jessica DeGroote Nelson, Senior Director of Optical Product Development at Edmund Optics, about its compelling mix of marketplace and manufacturing and how that is driving growth
What first drew you personally to a career in photonics? That is a good question. When I was a young child, I always enjoyed physics, engineering and maths and I enjoyed putting things together. I remember making my first flashlight with my grandfather, but I did not know that the field of optics existed until I was at freshman orientation at the University of Rochester. And I had these ambitious dreams: I was going to major in physics and engineering! And thank goodness, someone said, ‘Hey, maybe, you might want to tailor that a little bit. Have you ever thought of optics?’ I would love to thank that person, whoever that person is!
Is there a linear journey that you can talk us through from the University of Rochester through to your current role at Edmund Optics? At the University of Rochester, I started working between my junior and senior year for Dr Steve Jacobs, and he specialised in optical fabrication. He invited me after my senior year to join him as part of his research group. So that’s where I worked on my PhD, studying optical fabrication. Upon graduating, I knew that I was drawn to industry – it’s a little faster paced than academia. I started right out of grad school at Optimax and worked there
20 Electro Optics February 2024
for 15 years, starting off as a research scientist, running R & D, and eventually ending up as the Director of Technology and Strategy for Optimax. I then wanted to move to a bigger, global company and expand my own career development.
What was it in particular about Edmund Optics and this position leading product development that drew you to it? I had always thought very highly of Edmund and this role is one that balances a lot of things that I enjoy. I like making sure we match what the market needs with the technologies that are being developed. Edmund is also really focused on developing diversity within the company and, of course, having Mari (Marisa Edmund) being Chairman of the Board is a fantastic role model.
Edmund Optics famously began life in the 1940s, and an awful lot has changed in the world – and indeed in the company since – are there central philosophies and approaches that defined Edmund Optics then and still hold true today? Definitely. The first thing is its focus on customer success, and making sure that our service is exemplary, so every customer receives the utmost quality in order to be able to make their project successful. That has
“One of the biggest challenges that our industry faces is keeping up and being able to make sure which ‘horse to back’”
been true throughout the entire lifetime of the company. The other is I do really feel part of the family after such a short period of time. Everyone is encouraged to come in as their own self, and to be true to their own self. We really make sure that everyone’s voice is heard, because every voice is important. That culture has been part of the business for its entirety.
What have been the significant milestones that changed the organisation’s profile? The evolution has been really interesting, going from being purely a marketplace to evolving into manufacturing. Then there’s also the incorporation of engineering design surfaces and assembly as well. Some of the product lines that we have exemplify this: we are not only making the optical components, but also creating design, building and assembling for customers, as well as testing. We will continue to offer a wide breadth of marketplace items from our very valued partners, but also expand the offering to meet the customised needs of some
of our customers through manufacturing.
The company was first focused on product retailing, but how did the manufacturing side of the business develop? It started through several acquisitions across the years. Over time, the technology development portion of what we do has grown significantly.
What principles drive your manufacturing approach today? We can customise development to meet specific market needs. A lot of our investments and development strategies of late have been focused on making sure that we’re able to test optics, test systems or test the surfaces – whatever we need to test in order to make sure that we’re delivering the utmost quality for our customers.
The company’s market leading reputation in photonics, retailing might sometimes overshadow your manufacturing offering. If there’s any truth in that, how do you balance that amazing legacy? It’s definitely a happy problem in some ways – we have a very strong brand and we are going to continue to invest in and then partner with others to be able to keep it. At Photonics West 2024, one of the things you’ll see is different
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