ST. LOUIS—The AOAExcel board of directors has unanimously elected Samuel D. Pierce, OD, to chairman of the board for AOAExcel. This move was effective earlier this month, with Dr. Pierce now in position to lead AOAExcel, a company owned by the American Optometric Association (AOA). AOAExcel specializes in providing benefits to AOA members in their professional and personal lives. Pierce succeeds Joe Ellis, OD, who was the founding chairman of the board for AOAExcel dating back to 2012.

Ellis was appointed by the AOA board in January 2012 as the first AOAExcel chairman. He had previously served as AOA president from 2010-2011 and will remain active with the AOA by continuing to serve as chairman for the AOA’s Political Action Committee.
 
Pierce served as the 97th president of the AOA from 2018-2019 where he created the AOA’s Future Practice Initiative, which has already led to scope expansion in several states. He also served on the AOA’s Board of Trustees from 2009–2020 and previously served on the AOAExcel board from 2014–2017. He is also past president of the Alabama Optometric Association and served as a member of the Southeastern Congress of Optometry Board of Trustees.
 

Samuel D. Pierce, OD.    
Pierce currently practices for MyEyeDr. in Trussville, Ala.
 
“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to be named the next chairman of the board for AOAExcel,” Pierce said in the announcement. “While Dr. Ellis left huge shoes to fill, I’m dedicated to bringing even more value to AOA membership through AOAExcel that helps ODs enhance their lives.”
 
“Dr. Pierce has the insight and vision to drive growth and innovation in AOAExcel, building on the strong foundation Dr. Ellis has created over the course of his almost 10 years as chairman,” AOA said in the announcement. “Because of his commitment and the strength of the organization, AOAExcel is a sought after member benefit that supports member doctors across the country. We look forward to its next evolution under Dr. Pierce’s leadership.”
 
Ellis noted that while “it’s my time to step down and let others lead AOAExcel into new heights, I’m certainly proud of everything AOAExcel has accomplished. AOAExcel has continued to add member benefits over the last few years, and I’ve been especially proud of how they have financially supported the AOA.”
 
AOAExcel is a member-benefit of the AOA that helps doctors of optometry practice smarter and more efficiently in both their personal and professional lives with AOAExcel’s proven tools of success, including a myriad of products and services through their endorsed business partners.