On July 21st, Rochester Rotary will welcome Rick Plympton, Former CEO of Optimax Systems, Inc., for a presentation titled “Start a Business – Leave a Legacy.”

Rick will share the story of how Optimax, a world leader in high-precision optics manufacturing, approached succession planning in a way that protected the company’s future, strengthened its employees, and kept its impact rooted in the local community.

After years of intentional planning, Rick and his business partner, Mike Mandina, converted Optimax to an Employee Ownership Trust in 2020. Their goal was not simply to create an exit plan, but to build a lasting structure that would ensure Optimax would never be sold, employees would continue to share in the company’s success, and the business would remain a source of jobs, innovation, and opportunity for decades to come.

Rick’s message is a powerful reminder that succession planning is not only about what happens when an owner leaves. It is also about what remains: the people, the culture, the jobs, the shared prosperity, and the legacy a business leaves behind.

Use the form below to register for this luncheon.