AOA names Jon Hymes as executive director

Article

The American Optometric Association (AOA) Board of Trustees named Jon Hymes as the organization’s executive director.

Jon HymesSt. Louis, MO-The American Optometric Association (AOA) Board of Trustees named Jon Hymes as the organization’s executive director.

Hymes has served as AOA’s interim executive director since February. For the preceding nine years, he managed the organization's Washington, DC, office, the base of operations for its widely recognized federal, state and third-party advocacy teams. He will continue to be based there.

Hymes succeeds Barry Barresi, OD, PhD, executive director from 2007 through 2013, who resigned to join Ocuhub, a subsidiary of TearLab Corporation.

AOA executive director to step down, join new company

Hymes appointed Renee Brauns, AOA’s chief operating officer, to the newly-created position of associate executive director, effective July 29, 2014. Brauns, who acted as interim deputy executive director this year, joined the AOA in 1999 and has overseen St. Louis operations as chief operating officer since 2010.

Hymes joined the AOA in 2005 as Washington Office Director and has been the organization's lead advocacy strategist He spent a decade on Capitol Hill as a Congressional chief of staff and legislative and communications aide. For five years, he advised Rep. Norman Lent  (R-NY) He is a graduate of Syracuse University.

Newsletter

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Recent Videos
Dr Luke Lindsell discusses retinal therapy and geographic atrophy at Controversies in Modern Eye Care 2025
Neda Shamie, MD, speaks on cataract and refractive surgery at CIME 2025.
Dr Selina McGee shares thoughts on pharmacological presbyopia correction at Controversies in Modern Eye Care 2025
Paul Hammond, OD, FAAO, presents a poster at ARVO 2025 on the creation of a conversion factor between 2 OCT devices to monitor glaucoma progression
What to know about legislative moves that have been made through May this year.
CIME 25: Dilsher Dhoot, MD, FASRS, is excited about emerging retinal therapies.
Robert Maloney, MD, MA, at the 2025 Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting
Dr Jacob Lang at the 2025 Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, at Controversies in Modern Eyecare 2025
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.