Welcome Jennifer Keeler, CAE

I am thrilled to introduce the Pennsylvania Optometric Association’s new executive director, Jennifer Keeler, CAE. 

Looking Back

As you are aware, the POA suffered a tragedy on October 2, 2021 with the passing of our executive director, Joseph Ricci, Esquire. Joe was a well-respected professional and friend to many. He served the POA effectively, enthusiastically, and with great integrity for five years and was in the process of planning for five more. Joe was a mentor and role model to many other executive directors and leaders in and outside of optometry throughout the country. He will be sadly missed, but mostly remembered with great affection and esteem.

The moment the extent of Joe’s illness became apparent, POA President Dr. Edward Savarno demonstrated the great leader he is. Even during the grief of losing a friend and colleague, Dr. Savarno quickly assembled POA staff leadership and the POA Board of Directors to firstly take care of immediate business of the POA so we would continue to serve our members and, secondly, consider how we would move forward to best serve the POA now and in the future. With the hard work and dedication of a truly awesome POA staff and supportive POA volunteer structure, we were able to keep the association moving forward in every aspect, including completing our strategic plan, successfully hosting in-person continuing education, Board meeting, and a House of Delegates, initiating a leadership development program, receiving forgiveness of our second PPP loan, and simply maintaining all the other amazing projects our POA staff works on each day.

I also thank all the POA Past-Presidents and volunteers who offered not only condolences, but also time and talent to help us negotiate our transition. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Charles Stuckey, who is not only an active volunteer member and Past-President, but also served as our long-time Executive Director before Joe. He came out of retirement to return to the POA as our interim executive director, giving us the time to properly search for not a quick solution, but the best solution for the association going forward.

The Process

Under Dr. Savarno’s leadership, and with support from the POA Board of Directors, we embarked on the overwhelming task of finding our next executive director. After consulting with other states who recently went through the same process, we hired Executive Recruitment Services to assist us in advertising the position, gathering and sorting resumes, providing screening phone interviews, and completing appropriate background checks. This involved the input again of the entire POA Board and staff leaders. 

Looking Forward

We are so pleased to announce that Jennifer Keeler, CAE, has accepted the position of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association’s Executive Director, effective May 16, 2022! Jennifer is a Chief Executive Officer with over 25 years of experience in association management and specializes in health-related professional associations. As of the time of writing this, she is currently the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and formerly held executive positions for the World Surgical Foundation and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Boston College and has received many accolades and awards from the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology. However impressive her resume may be, she secured this position during her interview when she demonstrated her commitment to the people in this association; our members, our staff, and the patients we serve. I was asked, “Is she a lobbyist? Is she a membership person? Is she a third-party expert?” She is none of these things, but she is all of these things. My answer is she is an executive director. She is a leader. She is willing to learn. She is willing to get the job done in a cooperative and positive manner. She will lead the POA forward for a better future for optometry in Pennsylvania.

Here are a few words from previous supervisors, peers, and staff describing Jennifer and her work: intelligent, professional, fair, honest, hardworking, compassionate. She can be trusted, gives and receives respect, believes in collaborative leadership, empowers, mentors, coaches, and strives to grow professionally. 

Please, everyone, join me in welcoming Jennifer Keeler to the POA!

Tracy Carpenter Sepich, O.D.
POA President

A fond adieu

Have you ever noticed that once you finally figure something out, something changes and you have to adjust? It feels like the last year flew by so quickly. As an association, we started the year virtually, with the pandemic halting yet another Spring Congress. Questions of “will there be a vaccine” lapsed into “which one did you get?” And then there’s the mask thing. One would have thought that someone would have at least mentioned that people had to wear masks in healthcare facilities. Through it all, the POA moved forward. The Children’s Vision bill gained traction and now has 40 co-sponsors thanks to the hard work of our legislative team. The Keyperson Committee and Legislative Affairs Committee collaborated to make “How To” educational videos for legislator meetings. The Children’s Vision Care Alliance (CVCA) also grew, developed talking points, a pediatric near point card, and reached out to school nurses. We began working with ophthalmology on public health issues. The Early Drop Legislation will allow our patients to renew their drop prescription if they run out of drops before the end of the month. I hope that this blossoms into an ongoing collaboration between the eye care professions on matters of public health. 

Just as the strategic plan was set to begin implementation, the unthinkable occurred. We lost our executive director, Joe Ricci, to COVID-19. This virus is a cold, unfeeling malady that has left many to pass quietly on a ventilator without the comfort of family. It was a terrible blow to the POA and to me, personally. However, the Board of Directors are the guardians of the organization, and the Personnel Committee met immediately to develop a plan to maintain the integrity of the POA. With the full support of the Board, past presidents, and many others, we moved mountains: message triage, emergency meetings, and the formation of an executive director search committee—none of which would have happened so smoothly without the POA staff. I called the POA office so often that Deb and Ilene became Debilene. It was a rough few weeks, but we all pulled together to make it work. Our immediate past executive director, Dr. Charlie Stuckey, has stepped up and will be the interim director for the next six months. Over the years, he has been an ED, friend, and mentor for many of us and lends some calm to an otherwise high stress and tragic event. The search committee is actively moving forward to attempt to fill the shoes left behind by Joe. 

I have the unique perspective of not only moving the POA through a pandemic, but also losing our executive director to the virus. If there is one thing I learned about the POA during this time, it’s that it is a family and everyone is essential. Countless calls offering condolences, help, and guidance. It was an all hands on deck situation and the POA structure, once in place, moved forward like clockwork.

I want to thank the POA Board for all of their support and effort, the POA staff… well, for all that you do, and all of the members that offer their time and talents to this great organization. It’s time for me to say a fond adieu to my time at the helm. Expect big things next year. The foundations have been set and you are in some of the most capable, hard-working hands as we move into 2022.

Until soon,

Ed

Executive Director Search

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) is searching for an Executive Director who exhibits excellence in organizational management, strategic thinking, and relationship building. The POA represents the interests of over 1,200 optometrists across the state of Pennsylvania. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director has overall responsibility for the execution of our strategic plan with emphasis on membership development and retention, legislation and insurance/third party related issues.

Candidates should possess proven leadership in some or all of the following areas: membership development, finance, legislation, third party and non-dues revenue income. The candidate should also possess the ability to manage staff, work with our volunteer structure, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget. Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree with MPH, MBA, MPA, OD or JD preferred. Management experience in not-for-profit association administration, government relations, health services, public administration, or closely related area. Small business experience and/or experience in legislative and regulatory environment with emphasis on health policy and insurance issues is a plus. Availability for travel and required after-hours work including weekends. Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience.

Please send cover letter, resume and references to Kelsey Rodkey at poaeyes@gmail.com by August 8, 2016.

Executive Director - National Search

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA), a non-profit professional organization representing 1,200 doctors of optometry, is seeking an executive director.  POA advocates for and provides benefits to its member optometrists, and advances eye and vision care for the citizens of Pennsylvania. Candidates must have experience in membership development, finance, legislative, non-dues revenue and third party payer issues. The executive director works closely with the Board and manages staff, and must be comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders, including members, legislators, third party payer representatives, allied health professionals and paraoptometric staff. Doctor of Optometry degree preferred but not necessary. Position available January 1, 2015. Submit curriculum vitae to attn: Ilene, Pennsylvania Optometric Association, 218 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 by October 31, 2013.