Meet the Leadership Team Behind PDS Optical
PDS Optical is dedicated to providing Veterans with high-quality, affordable prescription eyewear built on a foundation of pride and exceptional service. We honor that commitment every day by reinvesting in our community through our business and by supporting philanthropic organizations that support Veterans and Veteran Service Organizations.
Executive Leadership
Sean Loosen | Chief Executive Officer
Sean leads the company’s growth and day-to-day operations with a focus on delivering high-quality optical solutions—especially in support of the Veteran community. He brings deep expertise in manufacturing, government contracting, and operational leadership, with a proven track record of scaling businesses and building strong, reliable partnerships. Under his leadership, PDS Optical has expanded its capabilities and reach while staying grounded in its mission to serve those who have served. As a Veteran himself, Sean is especially passionate about the company’s motto, “Veterans Serving Veterans,” and takes pride in creating meaningful impact through both service and employment opportunities. He believes in leading from the front, staying accountable, and building teams that are aligned, motivated, and committed to doing great work that matters. Sean’s leadership style has been shaped by his military background and years of hands-on experience in the optical industry, where he has developed a practical, results-driven approach to running and growing a business. Outside of work, Sean enjoys running, strength and boxing workouts, golfing, and spending time traveling with his wife and four daughters.
Rob Yopps | President
Rob grew up near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Management degree from the Carlson School of Management. Following graduation, Rob was commissioned as an Aviation Officer in the U.S. Army. During his eight years of military service, Rob flew UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. He also completed a one-year deployment to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his military career, Rob earned his MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. Rob joined PDS Optical in 2014, became part of the ownership team in 2022, and now serves as President of the company. He believes strong organizations are built through continuous improvement and long-term investment in people. Outside the office, Rob enjoys spending time with his family and staying active.
Devon Del Purgatorio | Vice President
Devon serves as Vice President and is responsible for overseeing optical services across VA medical centers, Eagle Safety, Medicare/Medicaid, and the local Louisville retail store. Born in Brooklyn, where PDS was founded, and raised in New Jersey, she attended St. Joseph’s University of Philadelphia to earn a B.S. in Business Management before obtaining her MBA from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Devon began her career with PDS Optical nearly 30 years ago, at a time when PDS was just starting its partnership with the VA. Working closely with PDS’ founders, she helped guide the company through years of growth and transformation, evolving from a small family business into the sophisticated organization it is today. As the daughter and granddaughter of Veterans, Devon takes immense pride in serving our nation's heroes with integrity and purpose. Devon lives in New Jersey with her three children, and in her free time, she enjoys volunteering at her children’s schools and spending time with family and friends, cultivating a warm, welcoming environment that she carries into the workplace to make PDS Optical feel like a family.
Steve Baker | Chief Operating Officer
Steve is responsible for the oversight of both the Kentucky and Florida laboratories. Born and raised in Louisville, KY, he attended Indiana University and the University of Louisville, earning a B.S. in Business Administration. He is a Kentucky Licensed Optician as well as ABO and NCLE Certified. Steve began working at Korrect Optical (now owned by PDS Optical), a lab founded by his father, in 1986. During his 40-year optical career, Steve has overseen the growth and expansion of the PDS Optical KY laboratory, making it—along with its sister laboratory PDS Optical FL—one of the largest independent optical laboratories in the United States. Steve also spearheaded the growth of the VA Optical Shop concept, taking the number of locations from a handful to hundreds over the course of his career. Steve lives in Louisville with his wife, Sheila, their two children, Ellie and Andrew, and their two cats, George and Louie. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, attending University of Louisville basketball games, and playing golf.
Corporate Leadership
Melissa Doyle | Director of HR
Melissa brings 34 years of HR experience to her role, including 20 years dedicated to PDS Optical. She leads HR initiatives focused on employee relations, talent development, compliance, and fostering a positive workplace culture. Melissa is a loyal and dedicated leader who approaches every situation with fairness, consistency, and professionalism. She is passionate about balancing company objectives with employee needs, creating an environment where team members enjoy coming to work while successfully navigating change. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville and holds a SHRM Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. Melissa is also an active member of SHRM and Louisville SHRM (LSHRM). Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs, as well as boating, attending concerts, and traveling to the beach.
Sarah Christman | Director of Accounting
Sarah oversees accounting operations, financial reporting, compliance, and process improvement initiatives to support the company’s mission and growth. A dedicated and trusted leader, she has provided 20 years of loyal service to PDS Optical, rising through the ranks of the department. Having served in every role within the department, Sarah brings a hands-on leadership style and a unique perspective on how to streamline month-end processes and strengthen compliance. She believes in leading with integrity, proactive problem solving, and building strong partnerships across departments to support informed business decisions. Sarah graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, music, and reading.
Jose Bravo | Director of Optical Services
Jose’s mission is to provide essential support to opticians and Veterans across the country, ensuring the delivery of affordable, high-quality eyewear. His extensive background in optics began with selling frames door-to-door and evolved through nearly every aspect of the industry, including lens casting, frame manufacturing, lab management, and retail ownership. This comprehensive experience allows him to focus on the details that drive excellence while maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction. Jose has studied three years of optometry and holds numerous certifications, including American Board of Optometry (ABO), Six Sigma Green Belt, and Florida International University Optician Training. He is a firm believer in continuous learning and driving excellence in every task. A devoted Catholic and family man, Jose is also an avid fan of competitive endurance cycling and health-driven data analysis.
Zack Wildman | Director of IT & ECommerce
Zack is the Director of IT and Ecommerce at PDS Optical, where he focuses on making sure the technology behind the scenes just works so teams can stay focused on supporting Veterans. He is known for being direct, practical, and quick to cut through noise to get things done. Zack spends most of his time helping teams solve problems, improving systems, and making day-to-day work a little less frustrating for everyone involved. His approach is simple: keep things efficient, keep things honest, and don’t overcomplicate what doesn’t need to be complicated. Zack’s background is rooted in IT and ecommerce, with experience supporting both internal operations and customer-facing systems. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, running, and swimming—anything that gets him moving and clears his head.
Laboratory & Operations Leadership
Evan Cassity | Associate Chief Operating Officer
Evan focuses on ensuring both PDS Optical labs operate efficiently and effectively in support of the company’s mission to deliver high-quality, affordable eyewear to Veterans. With 17 years at PDS, Evan brings deep institutional knowledge and hands-on operational experience as a truly home-grown “lab rat” with the ability to see both the details and the bigger picture. Evan is known for combining practical experience with data-driven decision-making to improve processes, strengthen operations, and support continued growth and service excellence. He believes the best results come from balancing measurable data with real-world experience and a strong commitment to continuous improvement. As a Licensed Dispensing Optician, Evan also serves as Vice President of the Opticians Association of Kentucky, helping oversee continuing education for licensed opticians across the state. Outside of work, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, along with restoring and repairing (and sometimes playing) pinball machines.
Bill Dufort | Director of Operations (Kentucky Laboratory)
Bill serves as a Director of Operations, overseeing all aspects of laboratory operations, safety, fiscal controls, facility management, and vendor relations. With a strong commitment to operational excellence, he works closely with his teams to break down barriers, address daily challenges, and ensure expectations are consistently surpassed. Drawing directly from his personal experience as a Veteran, Bill brings a mission-focused leadership style to his work that underscores accountability, teamwork, quality, and precision when fulfilling the needs of fellow Veterans. He strongly believes in fostering an environment where every team member is heard while maintaining high performance standards and a culture of continuous improvement. Originally trained as a Navy Optician, Bill graduated from Virginia’s Optician Journeyman Program and earned his ABOC certification in 1991, later securing a bachelor's degree in Biology to further cement his deep technical and operational foundation. Outside of work, Bill enjoys traveling, going on cruises, embarking on outdoor adventures, and spending time with his wife, grown children, granddaughters, and the family’s two Corgis.
Rob Scherer | Director of Operations (Florida Laboratory)
Rob serves as the Director of Operations for the Florida PDS Optical Laboratory, where he focuses on delivering the highest-quality eyewear to our nation’s Veterans at an affordable cost. Rob started his optical career in 1993 as a factory worker and continued working his way through every operational area of the wholesale optical laboratory business. Rob founded Premium Optics in Fort Lauderdale in 2006, which was acquired by Korrect Optical in 2015 and operates under PDS Optical. Rob attended SUNY Albany, completed the Dale Carnegie Program and is a certified Professional Opticians of Florida (POF) Speaker, sharing his expertise across a wide range of industry topics. Rob holds a deep respect and gratitude for the men and women who protect our freedoms. Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with his family and loves engaging in friendly debates with those who know him well.
David Erickson | Director of Process Improvement
David’s primary focus is to make the business run better, faster, smarter, and more scalable through the application of Lean Six Sigma principles. Known for his direct, hands-on leadership style and his ability to manage multiple improvement projects simultaneously, Dave partners with leadership to identify areas for growth and implement steady, calculated improvements to efficiency and workflow. With more than 31 years of experience in optical lab manufacturing across several states, Dave brings deep industry knowledge and operational insight. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is ABO certified. Dave believes in continuous, practical improvement and takes a straightforward, data-driven approach to solving problems. In his downtime, he enjoys recharging on international beaches where he can experience new cultures and see life through different perspectives.
What our people say
"I Really like working with PDS. The hours are good, and they will work with you if you need it. I've been here for 24 years. They are good people to work for! PDS has a friendly work environment, good bonuses and great holiday parties!"
T.J. O
"PDS is 100%. I work with a great management team and wonderful coworkers. Nothing but positive things to say about a wonderful company"
Gary C, 15 Year Employee
PDS has reignited my passion for being the best optician I can be. Serving our veterans is a calling, and PDS gave me the opportunity to answer that. I've grown both personally and professionally through this work, helping improve the quality of life for those who deserve it most. I’m proud to do what I love every day.