Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> February 7, 2001
JOHN KLOBNAK, Chief Executive Officer of Laser Vision Centers, Inc.,
graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, then began
his career as a radio news director at KASU radio in Jonesboro,
Arkansas, and later as a television news reporter, producer and anchor
at KAIT-TV, also in Jonesboro. In 1976 Mr. Klobnak returned to St. Louis
to enter the advertising business. From 1977 until 1986, he was a self-
employed media consultant serving many local St. Louis firms. In 1986,
Mr. Klobnak founded MarketVision, an advertising agency which
specialized in serving eye surgeons. In 1988, Mr. Klobnak first saw the
excimer laser, at that time an experimental device which allowed eye
surgeons to correct nearsightedness. He decided to change the focus of
his company to operate surgery centers employing the excimer laser. In
1989, the company's name was changed to Laser Vision Centers, Inc. The
company went public in 1991 and began trading on the NASDAQ exchange,
with Mr. Klobnak as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, his current
position. He also is a 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year recipient. While
waiting nearly five years for the FDA to approve the laser for use in
America, Mr. Klobnak opened centers in Canada, the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Greece. Upon approval, the company began
operating in the United States. Laser Vision now has over 300 locations
or sites which perform about one of every 10 surgeries performed in
America. Profile
Mr. Klobnak: Laser Vision Centers founded the service provider side of
the excimer laser industry back in 1988. The company prior to that
