The qualifications for this honor are as follows:
- Must be a current paid member of the Society to Advance Opticianry
- Can not be a voting member of the Society to Advance Opticianry’s Board of Directors
- Have shown leadership in Advancing the Scope of Practice of Opticianry during the prior year
Sam has demonstrated all the outstanding leadership qualities that Ophthalmic Opticians should have. During this past year, Sam served as Chairman of the Society to Advance Opticianry’s Refraction Committee. As Chairman of the SAO Refraction Committee, he has brought Certification of Opticians as a “Ophthalmic Refractionist” to be a potential future Certification through the ABO/NCLE.
He is an industry leader and has served as President of the Registered Opticians Association of Texas, President of The Opticians Association of Texas, Secretary of the Texas Ophthalmic Professional Society, President of the Society to Advance Opticianry, Regent Board Member of the Opticians Association of New Mexico, Chairman of the SAO Refraction Committee. As a ABOM (Master Optician) in eyewear and NCLE Advanced Certified Contact Lens Fitter, he owns his own Optical business in Ruidoso New Mexico, and he still has time to Mentor other Opticians.