Press Release — 89 North Names Julie Martin Vice President
Williston VT — July 15th, 2021
89 North, an optical engineering design and manufacturing firm, has recently promoted Julie Martin to the role of Vice President from her previous role as General Manager. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chroma Technology, a leading manufacturer in optical filters using thin film coating technology. The two firms work closely together in developing tools and technologies that allow scientific & industrial customers to harness the unique attributes of light.
Martin has been with 89 North since its inception in 2009, when the firm began as a spin-off to Chroma’s precision optical filter business. At the time, Chroma was looking to create an in-house microscopy solutions offering that could straddle both the light illumination and light filtration aspects of fluorescence microscopy, and sell them on to the world’s most advanced scientific laboratories.
Since that time, and under Martin’s capable guidance, 89 North has created diverse microscopy solutions, including the LDI line of laser diode illumination solutions, PhotoFluor, and Heliophor products — the lattermost of which won the prestigious SPIE Prism Award. This prize is granted in recognition of photonics products that ‘make a difference, solve problems, and improve life’. It was an honor well suited to a firm that is known for its uniquely progressive, employee empowered culture.
“Julie has a unique set of skills that have served our firm well” commented Newell Lessell, CEO of Chroma Technology. Every day she demonstrates not only her ability to lead the creation of industry-pioneering and award-winning optical engineering solutions for a varied and demanding client base, but she accomplishes this with a selfless leadership style that is team focused and empathetic.”
Martin has directed the day-to-day operations of light source equipment development and manufacturing, and has recently supervised an expansion of the firm’s purview from a narrow focus on scientific microscopy solutions to a broader emphasis on industrial applications and OEM manufacturing solutions. Her promotion recognizes the success of these efforts, and the opportunities that the firm is now increasingly embracing, in fields as diverse as high content bioanalytical analysis, automotive manufacturing, and industrial quality control.
About 89 North
89 North is an award winning optical engineering design and manufacturing firm residing in the Burlington Vermont area. Originally focused on products for the laboratory sciences market, the firm is now assisting an ever-expanding number of firms deploy optical engineering solutions across their industries.
About Chroma Technology
Chroma Technology is a leading manufacturer and OEM supplier of highly precise optical filters using thin-film coating technology. The firm provides solutions for industries ranging from the life sciences and agriculture to manufacturing, inspection, security and aerospace. The firm, which was recently awarded the Outstanding Vermont Business Award, was founded in 1991 as a 100% employee-owned company, and has recently completed a $22 million expansion of its facilities in Bellows Falls Vermont.