Micro Optics of Florida has been a service and sales dealer for microscopes in the state of Florida since 1976. It was founded by Mark Fosbender as a Zeiss dealership in 1976, before he and his partner Rick Celestine signed on with Leitz-Wild Microscopes in 1980. They sold and supported the Leica line of microscope products throughout Florida from that point until 2012, when the company returned to representation of Carl Zeiss Microscopy.
Over time, the accumulation of knowledge and firsthand experience has helped build a large collective understanding of customer priorities, and the optical technology that best suits a variety of needs.
Micro Optics of Florida is also a family company. From our front office administration, to our sales force in the field, we have always had a number of family members present in the company. Rick joined Micro Optics as Mark’s business partner, and also his brother in law. Mark’s brother, John Fosbender, spent years as the service manager, and Vicki Celestine (Mark’s sister) worked with the company for a number of years.
In time, a second generation of microscopy specialists emerged. Mark’s son Eric Fosbender, as well as Rick’s sons Jonathon and Robert Celestine, began to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge the company had developed over the years. Through hands-on training in the service department, internal microscopy training with the elder members of the company, and factory training with both Leica and Zeiss for applications as well as technical service, the younger generation moved ahead born into the digital age of microscopy.
Upon the retirement of Mark Fosbender and Rick Celestine, this second generation of microscopy experts stood ready to take the reign and continue to grow the company in pursuit of knowledge and successful development of customer-oriented product solutions.
Since the switch to Carl Zeiss Microscopy products and the succession to a new generation, Micro Optics of Florida has added some key personnel, and continued its theme of high end locally supported microscopy and imaging solutions provided by a small and motivated team of qualified individuals.
For more information on these individuals, please review our Microscopists’ Bios. For help with your microscopy and digital imaging needs, please contact us!