---
title: Mike Mandina | Chairman | Optimax Systems, Inc
description: After starting two manufacturing businesses providing precision optics to photonics companies, Mike joined Optimax in 1991. Learn more...
---

# Mike Mandina

Chairman

After starting two manufacturing businesses providing precision optics to photonics companies, Mike became President of Optimax in 1991.

Since then, the company employs 400+ workers; more than 200 are highly skilled opticians. A master optician himself, Mike has received numerous honors and awards over the years for his leadership and industry success. 

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mandina-b565b97/>

![Mike Mandina - Chairman](https://www.optimaxsi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mike-Mandina_Website.webp?width=300&name=Mike-Mandina_Website.webp)

## News

 Mike has received numerous honors and awards over the years for his leadership and industry success, including finalist for Rochester’s Small business person of the year, NYS Business Hall of Fame inductee, Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster Entrepreneurship award, and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) New York State Small Business Person of the Year award.

[

Jun 6, 2019

### Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award

Yesterday, Rick and Mike were honored with the prestigious Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award, a significant ...

Start Reading 

](https://www.optimaxsi.com/news/herbert-w-vanden-brul-entrepreneurial-award)[

Oct 25, 2018

### SBC Business Person of the Year Finalist

Rick Plympton and Mike Mandina have been nominated as finalists for the Rochester Small Business Council Business Person of the ...

Start Reading 

](https://www.optimaxsi.com/news/sbc-business-person-of-the-year-finalist)[

Oct 25, 2018

### Rochester Business Hall of Fame

Rick Plympton and Mike Mandina inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame. Watch what makes their story a homegrown ...

Start Reading 

](https://www.optimaxsi.com/news/rochester-business-hall-of-fame)

## Associations

- Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster
- NYS Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board
- High Tech of Rochester’s Manufacturers Extension Partnership

- MCC
- WIRED: Finger Lakes Partnership Governing Board
- Rochester Regional Economic Council’s Photonics Work Group

## Publications

![Metrology in Optics Fabrication](https://go.optimaxsi.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Metrology-img02.jpg)

TOUCH

If you can’t measure it, you can’t make it: the importance of metrology in optics fabrication Optimax’s 30-year history

If you can’t measure it, you can’t make it: the importance of metrology in optics fabrication Optimax’s 30-year history

This paper briefly tells the story of the importance of metrology in optics fabrication at Optimax, and highlights Wyko and Jim Wyant’s contribution to early Optimax success.

[Read More](https://go.optimaxsi.com/importance-of-metrology-in-optics-fabrication-optimax-30years)

![Mfg-Floor-Sphere-0809-CNC-Machine-sq-1](https://go.optimaxsi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mfg-Floor-Sphere-0809-CNC-Machine-sq-1.jpg?width=300&name=Mfg-Floor-Sphere-0809-CNC-Machine-sq-1.jpg)

TOUCH

Apprenticeship: Precision Optics Manufacturing Technician

Apprenticeship: Precision Optics Manufacturing Technician

As U.S. manufacturing works to overcome a technical skills gap, apprenticeships are gaining favor as a post-secondary educational path.

[Read More](https://go.optimaxsi.com/apprenticeship-pom)

### Education

He holds associate degrees in optical engineering technology and engineering science from Monroe Community College and a bachelor’s degree in applied physics from Empire State College, as well as an Executive MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

### Experience

Mike Mandina is a master optician and entrepreneur. Mike was instrumental in the development of FAME (Finger Lakes Advanced Manufacturer’s Enterprise), a non-profit organization committed to workforce development.

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