My experience at Ohio State created a platform for me to have a wonderful practice but also a great experience as an optometrist. Community involvement started very early in my career, joining the practice of Dr. Jack Keith, who encouraged me to get involved with my community. I had the privilege of chairing the 1991 NEC World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club in Akron overseeing 1000 volunteers and raising almost a million dollars for the Akron community. I also served as President of the Fairlawn Kiwanis and Fairlawn Chamber of Commerce in 1986 and was named Fairlawn’s Citizen of the Year in 1988.
I am very proud of my professional accomplishments as well. Early in my career, I became Zone 3 Governor, continuing through many Ohio Optometric Association (OOA) committees and serving as President of the OOA in 1995. I was named the Warren G. and Ruth P. Morris Optometrist of the Year in 1997. I also have served the profession nationally as chairman of the American Optometric Association (AOA) Professional Relations Committee, as well as chairing two AOA Nominating Committees. I have been on the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry’s COPE Committee for the past 12 years, chairing the committee six years ago and continue to be a consultant to the COPE committee. I am also most proud of serving on the Ohio State Board of Optometry for 10 years.
I thank The Ohio State University College of Optometry for giving me the education to represent myself, as well as my profession, proudly throughout my career in optometry.