Staff
Meet the GPLI Team
Dr. Ed Bennett
Executive Director and President
Dr. Ed Bennett has been Executive Director of the GPLI for 37 years and will be passing on the torch to Dr. Harthan at the end of the year. He is Professor Emeritus at the UMSL College of Optometry and is a valued educator, writer, and leader. He has earned numerous accolades, including induction to both the National Optometry Hall of Fame and AAO Hall of Fame. In his spare time, he enjoys practicing his golf swing and listening to live music.
Dr. Jenn Harthan
Incoming Executive Director
Dr. Jenn Harthan has been selected as the next executive director of the GPLI and has already begun working with the team in order to hit the ground running in January. She is a Professor at ICO and Chief of the Cornea and Contact Lens Center for Clinical Excellence at the Illinois Eye Institute. In her spare time, Dr. Harthan loves to spend time outdoors (winter is her favorite) and attend Chicago sporting events with her husband and daughter.
Dr. Tom Quinn
Associate Director
Dr. Tom Quinn joined the GPLI in January 2023. He is a great asset to the team and has brought with him a lot of fun, passion, and experience to create a truly dynamic leadership team. He has dedicated his career to meeting the needs of patients requiring specialty lens care, and he is excited to now be in a position to help others take advantage of the many benefits offered by two of the best tools we have at our disposal: GP and custom soft contact lenses.
Beth Anderzhon
Administrative Director
Beth joined the GPLI in October 2021 and has enjoyed becoming a part of the eye care community, bringing with her a strong background in design and nonprofit work and a passion for making a difference in peoples’ lives. She loves her husband, three kids, and eight pets very much (it’s a full house!) and enjoys photography and playing games in her free time.