About Visual Enhancements
How It All Started
Mike Martenson has always been great with computers. Growing up in a very tech savvy household, he learned a lot from watching his father run a hardware and software programming company that assisted large companies such as Greyhound Bus Lines. So it made sense for Mike to work with computers when he got older.
What changed the course a bit was when he was contracted to configure computers for the blind and low vision community. It was there when he met the most interesting people, but one girl stood out in particular. She was about 8 years old and suffering from a terminal illness that had taken part of her sight. The Make a Wish Foundation granted her a wish, receiving this technology to help her see her schoolwork.
As he installed the computer system, she told him about her first wish – attending a Reba McEntire concert with backstage passes. When he asked her why she was getting the equipment instead, she answered, “seeing Reba would be great, but I thought it would be a selfish thing. You see, this way when I’m gone I can pass this onto someone else that can really use it.” Those words really struck a chord in Mike, so much that he decided to stay in the industry.
More About The Owner
Mike Martenson is a graduate of the Air Force Community College in Airframe and Powerplant and has attended the University of South Carolina.
He founded Visual Enhancements, Inc. in April of 1998 when the company he used to contract for went out of business and the manufacturers approached him directly to represent them. Slowly the store has gained the trust of many people all over Georgia, servicing everything from vocational rehab centers to retirement communities, and ophamologists to low vision therapists.
In The Community
Just like the touching story of the 8 year old impacted Mike’s life, so does Visual Enhancements wants to reach out to the local community and give back. As a member of the Evans Lions Club, Mike has been a volunteer at 1 Hour Optical in August, Georgia twice a month doing low vision assessments. He has also made time to volunteer at the VIPs (Visually Impaired Persons), a low vision support group in Milledgeville, Georgia.