History

In 1979 Tom Baur, a researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, started  Meadowlark Optics as an after-hours venture in a spare bedroom of his Longmont,  Colorado, home. For a project he was leading in measuring the magnetic fields in the sun’s spots, Baur needed an optical device called Pockels cells, which he designed for his own work, and to meet the project demands of other astronomers. Based on the success of that one device, Baur began to design and make other products. When operations outgrew the spare room, he remodeled his barn, replacing the hayloft with offices and workrooms. As the Meadowlark band of polarization experts grew and the world learned more of our ultrahigh-quality work, Baur accommodated the growth by revamping his chicken coop.

 

As the company continued to grow, one might say we flew the coop. While still calling the small town of Frederick home, Meadowlark has been creating world-class polarization optics from a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility since 1998. To ensure precision and top quality, our  20,000-square-foot headquarters boasts the latest in clean rooms, optical fabrication,  metrology facilities, and a breath-taking view of Colorado’s Front Range. 

 

In the twenty-first century, Meadowlark products help position customers worldwide to pioneer their own innovations. These include our advances in liquid crystals with one-of-a-kind polarization controllers and the Liquid Crystal Stokes Polarimeter. Likewise, our outstanding metrology services measure waveplates to subnanometer precision. One-thousandth of a wave of retardance is our standard accuracy. 

 

In being true to our beginnings, we remain a pioneer in photonics, an innovator of optics solutions, and the only manufacturer of thin-crystal Pockels cells. Our current work in polarization, as our beginnings with the Pockels cells once were, is steeped in the technological possibility that is yet to unfold, which is why we are committed to our customers.

Company Leadership

Our team at Meadowlark Optics is committed to our customers, our science, and one  another. We’re a family of engineers and professionals working together to make great  things happen. When you contact us, you will see the difference that having a tight-knit  organization makes in your customer service experience.

Executive Leadership

Tom Baur

Chairman, Founder

Garry Gorsuch

CEO, President

Kelly Gregorak

VP, Sales & Marketing

Dana Smith

VP, Operations

Solutions Team

Ron Stepanek

Solutions Engineer

Tyler Walls

Solutions Engineer

Kristin Wilson

Sales Assistant

Jeremy Billis

Sales Representative

Satoko Stroud

Sales Representative Bay Area

Engineering Leads

Daniel Phipps

Polarization Components Product Manager

Anna Linnenberger

Senior Scientist International

Services

Meadowlark Optics is a world-class metrology and engineering services company. Our  talented engineering staff has assisted in solving many extremely difficult polarization  related problems. If you know (or suspect!) the polarized nature of light is causing issues, ask us! We are here to help and be part of your polarization solution.

Awards

Meadowlark Optics is continuously being recognized for our impact and ingenuity in the photonics industry and has received multiple awards for our innovative world class polarization solutions.

SPIE honors Tom Baur for a lifetime of leadership in polarization optical components.

2017 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting: State of Colorado recognizes Meadowlark as an international thought leader in light-based technologies (significantly contributing to the Colorado economy through international trade).

Photonics Company of the Year Award - Presented to the company or institution that CPIA feels has recently contributed the most to the Colorado photonics industry

Five-time winner of Photonics Spectra’s Circle of Excellence Award for New Products

Laser Focus World’s Commendation for Excellence in Technical Writing

Three-time winner of Laser Focus World’s Commercial Technology Achievement Award

One of R&D Magazine’s Most Technologically Significant New Products of the Year - with Lawrence Livermore

Recognized by the State of Colorado for participation in Adam’s County Commissioners’ 8th Grade Career Expo for 10 consecutive years

Photonics Service Award to CEO Garry Gorsuch for 16 years of dedicated service and contributions to CPIA