Meet the Team
Thoren Optical & Safety Products is owned and operated by two local opticians with over 60 years of combined experience serving the Pioneer Valley.
Larry Pion, RDO #4165
After a two-year Ophthalmic Dispensing Degree at Worcester Industrial Tech, Larry became a MA licensed optician in 1982. He worked for Eyecare Associates in Holyoke, Amherst Optical, and Jilson-Thoren Opticians in Springfield, before starting a 35 year career with Kens’ Eyewear at the Hamp Plaza, Northampton location. Being in the same location from 1984-2019, Larry had a chance to make many great friends and developed relationships with entire families.
In June 2020, a co-ownership of Thoren Optical & Safety Products began. This allows those relationships to continue to flourish. It is an exciting new chapter in customer service where Larry is able to use his well-developed skills to continue fitting the perfect eyeglasses and troubleshooting people’s optical issues. Larry feels as though he has come full circle being back in Chicopee, now owning the same place where he got his first pair of glasses as a toddler!
Kerry Bilski, RDO #5818
After several years of on-the-job training, Kerry took the American Board of Opticianry test and became a licensed optician in May of 2000. She spent a good majority of her career working at Vision Showcase in Hadley, MA where she learned her craft from her mentor, Susan. In 2010, Kerry moved to Kens’ Eyewear in Hamp Plaza, Northampton for nearly 10 years. Kerry remained there even after the sale of Kens’ Eyewear in 2019.
Having spent so many years working for local, independent optical shops, the corporate life was not for her. In June 2020, an opportunity came up to continue being able to help people with their eyeglass needs in the same way she was used to, in a small, local shop. Customer service and satisfaction are of the utmost importance to Kerry and she is able to offer that to her clients on a daily basis while doing what she loves