Energy, Connections, and Momentum for the Year Ahead
APOMA members showed up in full force at Photonics West — the “Super Bowl of optics and photonics” — and the energy was unmistakable. With this year’s conference landing in San Francisco just weeks ahead of the actual Super Bowl, the excitement carried straight onto the exhibit floor. APOMA Executive Director Yvette Pagano was on site all week, championing members and driving engagement across a series of standout events that made this year’s conference one of our strongest yet.
VIP Cocktail Reception: Networking at Its Best
One of the week’s highlights was our VIP members-only cocktail reception in a private Marriott suite. A huge thank-you to SPIE — and especially CFO Brad Ferguson — for generously providing the space. With perfect weather and sweeping balcony views of the city, members enjoyed an evening dedicated entirely to conversation, relationship-building, and relaxed camaraderie. No formal agenda — just high-quality networking among industry leaders.
A Dedicated Space for Members
APOMA’s private breakout room proved to be a valuable home base throughout the conference. Reserved exclusively for members, the space offered a welcome retreat from the busy show floor — a place to meet with customers, recharge, catch up on email, and connect with fellow members. Attendees with smaller booths and those walking the show especially appreciated having a professional, members-only workspace.
On the Exhibit Floor: Strengthening the APOMA Network
Across all three days of the exhibition, Yvette was on the floor connecting with members and prospective members alike. Nothing replaces the value of face-to-face conversations, and the opportunity to hear candid perspectives on the optics industry — and APOMA’s growing role within it — was invaluable. Yvette extends a special thank-you to the members who introduced her to potential new companies. Personal referrals from within our network are one of the strongest drivers of APOMA’s continued growth.
Annual Meeting: Our Largest In-Person Gathering
Held January 21 before the exhibit hall opened, the APOMA Annual Meeting once again brought together our largest in-person membership audience of the year. Highlights included a financial update from Treasurer David Mohring, board election results, member engagement initiatives from Executive Director Yvette Pagano, and an exciting preview of the upcoming Tech Workshop from President-Elect Tim Kennedy. APOMA President Zach Hobbs masterfully emceed the session, keeping the packed agenda on track within a focused one-hour program. What truly energized the meeting were our exceptional guest speakers, pictured below: Brian Monacelli of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Rajesh Menon of Oblate Optics, and Jennifer L. Michels of OEOSC. Their presentations were insightful, engaging, and perfectly aligned with the interests of the APOMA community. The Annual Meeting also featured the announcement of our newest board member — read on for more details.
2026 APOMA Annual Meeting speakers: Brian Monacelli, Jennifer Michels, Zach Hobbs, Yvette Pagano, Tim Kennedy, Rajesh Menon
Matt Zabko Wins Highly Competitive APOMA Board Election -
Record Participation and Exceptional Candidates Define This Year’s Vote!
APOMA is excited to welcome Matt Zabko of Bond Optics as our newest Member-at-Large on the APOMA Board of Directors. This year’s election was one of the most competitive in recent memory. While we typically fill two open seats, this cycle featured a single opening — and a record-breaking field of 12 highly qualified candidates stepped forward to serve.
The enthusiasm extended beyond the candidate pool. Voting participation reached an all-time high, with 74% of APOMA member companies casting ballots. One member who ultimately declined to vote summed up the challenge perfectly: “There are so many great candidates, I can’t choose.” It’s a testament to the strength of our community and the depth of leadership within APOMA. We are energized by the number of members eager to volunteer their time and talent to help move the organization forward.
Matt was formally welcomed at the 2026 Annual Meeting, where — in proud APOMA tradition — he was presented with the iconic red vest, a symbol of board service he can wear with pride. We congratulate Matt on his election and look forward to the perspective and leadership he will bring to the board. To learn more about Matt Zabko and the full 2026 APOMA Board of Directors, click HERE.
APOMA Board Sports Their Red Vests: Yvette Pagano, Zach Hobbs, Tim Kennedy, Dave Mohring, Lee Steneken, Dave Shelton, Chris Russell, Matt Zabko
Walt Czajkowski Scholarship Fund Nears Its Goal -
Final Push to Support Workforce Growth and Industry Learning
The APOMA community is entering the final stretch of fundraising for the Walt Czajkowski Scholarship Fund, and the momentum has been inspiring. This unique scholarship was designed with flexibility in mind. While full-time students are encouraged to apply, the fund can also support working professionals seeking to upskill through technical training, certification programs, or conference attendance. It’s an investment in continuous learning and workforce development across our industry. All donations are tax deductible and generouslymatched dollar-for-dollar by SPIE. With a fundraising goal of $50,000, we are closing in on the finish line.
Edmund Optics — $5,000 * Larsen Equipment Design — $500
With donations and pledges totaling $21,500 — $43,000 including the SPIE match — we are within striking distance of our target! We invite the community to help carry this effort across the finish line. The fundraising drive will conclude in February 2026, followed by a call for scholarship applications in the spring. Our goal is to award the first scholarship in Fall 2026. Donors will be recognized in an upcoming APOMA LinkedIn feature article honoring Walt’s legacy and impact. Instructions for donating are available on our website:
After requesting an invoice through SPIE, contributions may be made by credit card or check.
Honoring Walt, Building What Comes Next
This scholarship is about more than funding — it’s about carrying Walt’s spirit of generosity, mentorship, and belief in the power of learning forward into the future. Every gift helps create opportunity, strengthen our workforce, and inspire the next generation of innovators in optics. Together, we are not just remembering Walt — we are continuing his work and shaping the future of our industry.
Get Ready to “Space Out With APOMA!” -
Technical Workshop 2026 Launches in Florida
Clear your schedules and get ready for liftoff — APOMA’s signature Technical Workshop is heading to Florida in 2026. Our members-only flagship event will take place October 27–30, 2026, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting workshops yet. Attendees can look forward to two dynamic days of technical presentations from leaders across the optics industry, combined with an unforgettable VIP tour of Kennedy Space Center. This unique experience will bring together cutting-edge technology, real-world applications, and the kind of high-impact networking that defines APOMA events. More details will be shared directly with APOMA members in the coming months. For now, mark your calendars and get ready to join us as wespace out with APOMA in 2026!
Voting Members: Watch for the APOMA Welcome Page Email
A New Way to Activate Your Entire Team
APOMA is making it easier than ever to get your whole company involved. As highlighted at the Annual Meeting, one of our top priorities is expanding participation by bringing more individuals from each member company into APOMA as General Members — and our new APOMA Welcome Page is designed to do exactly that. This dynamic, shareable page can be forwarded across your organization — from the C-suite and HR to engineering, technical sales, and social media teams — inviting your colleagues to plug into the APOMA network and take advantage of everything membership offers. It will also be automatically sent to new member companies to help them activate their teams from day one. The Welcome Page is currently in beta and has already been piloted with several companies. Watch your inbox for the upcoming email — and when it lands, hit forward and help power up your entire team’s connection to APOMA.
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