Stephen Fantone

Chief Executive Officer at

Optikos Corp.

72 year

82 connections

Commercial Services

Electronic Technology

Producer Manufacturing

Profile

Stephen Dennis Fantone is the founder of Optikos Corp., established in 1982, where the title held is President & Chief Executive Officer.
Current jobs include Director at Hertz Foundation, Trustee at Sea Education Association, Inc., Advisor at Luminate Accelerator, and Chairman at Pioneer Institute, Inc. Former jobs include Chairman at Benthos, Inc. (1995–2006), Independent Director at Zygo Corp.
(2011–2014), Independent Director at Rofin-Sinar Technologies LLC (2005–2016), Treasurer & Director at The Optical Society of America (2011–2013), Principal at Polaroid Corp., and President at The Optical Society of America (2019–2020).
Education history includes a doctorate from Rochester Christian University conferred in 1979 and an undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology conferred in 1974.

Stephen Fantone active positions

Companies	Position	Start
Sea Education Association, Inc. Sea Education Association, Inc. Other Consumer ServicesConsumer Services Sea Education Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to marine science education, oceanographic research, and environmental stewardship. The private company is based in Woods Hole, MA. The company offers interdisciplinary academic programs for high school, pre-college, undergraduate, and gap-year students, emphasizing hands-on, experiential learning aboard two Coast Guard-certified tall ship sailing research vessels and through shore-based studies. These programs integrate ocean sciences, blue humanities, and environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, coral reef conservation, ocean plastics, and marine policy, often in collaboration with local scientists and communities. The vessels are equipped with wet and dry labs, classrooms, and advanced facilities to support scientific data collection and student learning. The organization maintains a research agenda, contributing long-term datasets on marine debris, sargassum ecosystems, and coral reef ecology, with data accessible to researchers and educators. Sea Education Association partners with colleges and universities to provide academic credit and support faculty and advisors. It also offers professional crew training, employment opportunities for maritime and scientific personnel, and public outreach through lectures and events.	Director/Board Member	2010-01-27
Hertz Foundation Hertz Foundation Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Provides social services	Director/Board Member	2010-01-27
Optikos Corp. Optikos Corp. Electronic ComponentsElectronic Technology Provides engineering, manufacturing and metrology services for optical systems	Chief Executive Officer	1982-09-08
Pioneer Institute, Inc. Pioneer Institute, Inc. Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Operates as a research organization which improves civic discourse and intellectually rigorous and data driven public policy solutions	Director/Board Member	2020-11-11
Luminate Accelerator Luminate Accelerator Investment ManagersFinance Luminate invests in companies located in the United States. The firm targets companies operating in a broad range of sectors. It provides financing in the form of convertible note for early stage capital requirements with an investment size of USD 0.1 - 2 million. The firm also makes follow-on investments.	Consultant / Advisor	-

All active positions of Stephen Fantone

Former positions of Stephen Fantone

Companies	Position	End
The Optical Society of America The Optical Society of America Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Provides publications, meetings and membership programs in optics and photonics	Private Equity Investor	2020-11-30
ROFIN-SINAR TECHNOLOGIES	Director/Board Member	2016-11-06
ZYGO CORPORATION	Director/Board Member	2014-06-19
The Optical Society of America The Optical Society of America Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Provides publications, meetings and membership programs in optics and photonics	Director/Board Member	2013-11-30
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Linked companies

Private companies	12
Zygo Corp. Zygo Corp. Electronic Equipment/InstrumentsElectronic Technology Designs, manufactures and supplies advanced optical measurement systems, ultra precise optical components, sensors & assemblies	Electronic Technology
Rofin-Sinar Technologies LLC Rofin-Sinar Technologies LLC Industrial MachineryProducer Manufacturing Develops, manufactures and markets industrial lasers and supplies for material processing applications	Producer Manufacturing
Rochester Christian University Rochester Christian University Other Consumer ServicesConsumer Services Functions as a College/University	Consumer Services
Benthos, Inc. Benthos, Inc. Industrial ConglomeratesProducer Manufacturing Manufactures equipment used in oceanographic and undersea environments	Producer Manufacturing
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Finance/Rental/LeasingFinance Functions as a College/University	Finance
Polaroid Corp. Polaroid Corp. Electronics/AppliancesConsumer Durables Manufactures, wholesales and retails instant and digital imaging products	Consumer Durables
The Optical Society of America The Optical Society of America Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Provides publications, meetings and membership programs in optics and photonics	Commercial Services
Pioneer Institute, Inc. Pioneer Institute, Inc. Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Operates as a research organization which improves civic discourse and intellectually rigorous and data driven public policy solutions	Commercial Services
Optikos Corp. Optikos Corp. Electronic ComponentsElectronic Technology Provides engineering, manufacturing and metrology services for optical systems	Electronic Technology
Sea Education Association, Inc. Sea Education Association, Inc. Other Consumer ServicesConsumer Services Sea Education Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to marine science education, oceanographic research, and environmental stewardship. The private company is based in Woods Hole, MA. The company offers interdisciplinary academic programs for high school, pre-college, undergraduate, and gap-year students, emphasizing hands-on, experiential learning aboard two Coast Guard-certified tall ship sailing research vessels and through shore-based studies. These programs integrate ocean sciences, blue humanities, and environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, coral reef conservation, ocean plastics, and marine policy, often in collaboration with local scientists and communities. The vessels are equipped with wet and dry labs, classrooms, and advanced facilities to support scientific data collection and student learning. The organization maintains a research agenda, contributing long-term datasets on marine debris, sargassum ecosystems, and coral reef ecology, with data accessible to researchers and educators. Sea Education Association partners with colleges and universities to provide academic credit and support faculty and advisors. It also offers professional crew training, employment opportunities for maritime and scientific personnel, and public outreach through lectures and events.	Consumer Services
Hertz Foundation Hertz Foundation Miscellaneous Commercial ServicesCommercial Services Provides social services	Commercial Services
Luminate Accelerator Luminate Accelerator Investment ManagersFinance Luminate invests in companies located in the United States. The firm targets companies operating in a broad range of sectors. It provides financing in the form of convertible note for early stage capital requirements with an investment size of USD 0.1 - 2 million. The firm also makes follow-on investments.	Finance