The Newton Group has been proudly serving eye care professionals since 1982. From our beginning in the basement of Dr. James Bond’s practice, we quickly grew to become an industry leader in providing services for the independent practitioner community. Today, we are one of the largest purchasing alliances in the country, processing and shipping thousands of frames, lenses, and soft contact lens orders daily for members nationwide. With your interests being our top priority, we provide a full range of business solutions and tools to help your practice thrive. We truly understand the constantly changing needs and new challenges facing our members in this dynamic industry, and we are your partner for success.
Distribution
Take advantage of substantial savings by purchasing from The Newton Group, one of the largest authorized contact lens distributors in the country. We stock product from all of the major contact lens manufacturers, including Alcon (Ciba Vision), Bausch & Lomb, Cooper Vision, Vistakon--Johnson and Johnson Vision, Clerio Vision, and X-Cel Specialty Contacts. We pride ourselves on great quality service and attention to your account needs.
Ophthalmic Buying Group
No matter how large or small your practice, we can help you become more profitable by combining your purchasing power with a large and varietal combination of other practices. Building off of our foundation of purchasing power, distribution, and centralized billing, we aim to provide you the tools to not only to compete, but to thrive. Our goal is to assist you in the frame management of your practice as well, while still allowing you to maintain complete control so you can spend more time in the exam room and be provided the information and tools you need. With our team's help, let us work together to help increase your cost savings opportunities, strengthen your staff's service ratings and performance levels, and capture the larger share of your local market(s). Together, this unique community is truly stronger.
Transition Consulting Services
Please contact us if you have any interest in making the transition of ownership of your practice a smoother and easier process. Whether planning to sell your practice to an existing doctor or perhaps considering joining a new team or buying yourself, it is our pleasure to discuss your business needs in fine-tuned detail with you upon request.
Meet the Team
Randi Bond, President/Owner
While born in southern California, Randi considers herself a native Iowan (Newtonian to be exact). Attending pre-school and K-12 in Newton, plus having two local eye doctors as parents, she grew up being a close part of this “small city” of Iowa. Randi attended college at USC (University of Southern California) and received a B.S. from the Marshall School of Business. Her degree includes work in the Marshall Honors program for undergraduate students, as well as a major in Marketing with an emphasis in Sales Management. Originally a customer service representative and high school staff member of the distribution team, Ms. Bond returned to The Newton Group, Inc. (TNG) in 2011 for a short period to develop a new website and re-brand the company; formerly known as NPP (Newton Professional Purchasing). With technology having begun to significantly change the eye care industry sales and general landscape, this vital design provided an integrated system for TNG’s members to use. Randi also spent about 15 years developing the brand and sales model for her family’s entrepreneurial new inclusive resort in the Ozark Mountains, Stonewater Cove (stonewatercove.com). After fully creating a strong 5-star brand with her focus on this project on Table Rock Lake, Randi came back to both revive and expand her network and love for the eye care industry and ophthalmic community at TNG. Now working as the Director of The Newton Group, Inc. for the last few years, it is her goal to increase and strengthen the eye care industry as a whole (because, as she would say, “the eyes are the window to the soul…, and doctors are healers: You can do the math”). The new site and web portal for contacts and billing that she had originally designed is still in use today, and was again re-branded by Ms. Bond in 2018 for a refreshed look. TNG understands the importance of accuracy and functionality, whereas the site is now continuously updated as technology grows. Having The Newton Group be a transformative part of her early years, as well as being heavily involved in the luxury travel industry as well as the music recording industry, great customer service and managing to a high level of attention to detail are her strong suits; serving to ensure that The Newton Group, Inc. be a vital partner for eye care practices everywhere.
Tammy Mortensen, General Manager
Tammy started with The Newton Group in 1996 as the membership coordinator. Since that time she has held multiple positions in the billing department, finance department, and computer department. She earned a degree in Information Technology and has further education in Accounting. Currently she is the General Manager as well as the Controller. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband and family. Tammy and her husband both enjoy photography and geocaching. They have been able to combine the hobbies by traveling extensively across the U.S. in pursuit of the "find" along with taking landscape and wildlife photos. Five weeks in Alaska was her most memorable trip. Tammy also enjoys spending nights in her observatory viewing and taking photos of the night sky.
Brent Holtsclaw, IT Director
Brent was born in Newton, IA - raised in and graduated from MHS in Marshalltown, IA. An Army Veteran, Brent was positioned as a Radio Teletype Operator in an Armor Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division; Germany & 24th Infantry Division Artillery, Georgia. After serving in the military, Brent studied Computer Science at Marshalltown Community College. Mr. Holtsclaw started at The Newton Group, Inc. in October 1990 and is now head of the IT department.
Drew Zimmerman, System Administrator
Drew started with The Newton Group in late 2022. He was raised in Prairie City, IA and went to Kaplan University to obtain his Associates Degree in Information Technology - Networking. After getting into IT, he fell head first into studying a wide range of subjects within the field. This includes networking, programming, hardware repair, software troubleshooting & more. Outside of work Drew enjoys being outdoors whether that's camping, mushroom hunting, or enjoying a good cigar.
Customer Service, Billing, and Distribution Team
Terri Hernandez, Distribution and Customer Service Manager
Terri has worked at The Newton Group since 1999. She started working in the Distribution area of the company, and a few years after moved to the Customer Service department. She enjoys talking to many different offices that Newton works with and getting to know the office staff. Outside of work, she has two kids that keep her very busy with all of their sports (Soccer Mom) and extra-curricular activities in the community. Terri enjoys shopping, hanging out with family and friends, being outdoors, reading, and going to any kind of sporting events.
Deb Damman
Deb started at The Newton Group December 1997 and works in Distribution; now department lead. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their family and being outside.
Genny Miller
Genny joined the Newton Group in 2021 after a two decade long career in food manufacturing compliance. Genny enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her only grandson and her two goddaughters. Genny also enjoys reading anything that teaches her something new.
Brenda Chisholm
Brenda has been with The Newton Group since 1990. She started in the distribution department and moved to customer service. Outside of work she loves to spend time with her family, including 2 daughters, her grandson, 1 dog, and 1 cat. Brenda has lived in Newton her whole life and enjoys getting a massage, going to movies, shopping with friends, and watching the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears on TV with her husband during her free time.
Amber Taylor
Amber has been with the Newton Group since August of 2021 in Customer Service. She was born and raised in Newton, IA and graduated in 2001 from NHS. Amber is married to Brandon, and together they have 3 children, Manolis, John, and Lilly, as well as 1 dog, Chief, and 1 cat, Herky. Amber enjoys spending time with her family, doing diamond paintings, and shopping. You can always catch her cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers.
Jessica Rigby
Jessica joined the Newton Group customer service team in January 2023. She was born and raised in Newton and is currently living here with her fiancé and two school-aged children. She enjoys music, attending concerts, motorcyle rides with her fiancé, roadtrips and family game night.
Emily Light
Emily recently joined our customer service department in July of 2022. Emily was born and raised in Newton, as well as the Quad Cities. She graduated high school early. Emily decided college wasn't the best fit for her, she went on to start her own small business. Her friends and family classify her as a workaholic. When she's not at The Newton Group you can catch her working in Des Moines or traveling for her small business. Emily also enjoys spending time with her 3 dogs, reptiles, and her family; as well as taking care of all her plants at home.
Cindy Bruns
Cindy is happy to say she has been working at The Newton Group since April 2017. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband, Tim. She enjoys spending time with family and doing volunteer work for our Veterans.
Justin Danley
Justin has been with The Newton Group since the summer of 2019. Justin works in our distribution department and is committed to get orders out in a professional timely manner. He is an environmentalist outside of work and is interested in anything to do with saving the planet.
Kathie Johnson, Billing Department Lead
Kathie came to The Newton Group in 2017 with a background in retail management and accounting. She worked in the Distribution department for about a month before moving into the accounting department where she is currently working with the company. Kathie grew up in both Marshalltown, IA and the Burlington, IA areas. She moved back to the Marshalltown area for work back in 2002 and then returned to college earning a four year degree in accounting. Kathie is married with no children and enjoys gardening, bicycling, running, and especially quilting. She also enjoys math, science, and reading "how to" books and learning new skills; as well as reading Christian based novels and mysteries. Kathie has six siblings of which she is the middle child; three older brothers, two younger brothers, and one younger sister.
Kristen Sandoval
Kristen joined the accounting department of The Newton Group in 2023. She was born and raised in Newton Iowa. After graduating high school she attended Iowa State University for two years then transferred to DMACC to finish out her degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Kristen has two little girls. She also has two dogs and two cats but only one husband. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time with her girls and husband at the park as well as fishing and reading just for the fun of it.