MEET THE TEAM

The Opticians Association of Alaska is led by a dedicated team of professionals committed to advancing the field of opticianry and supporting our members. Our team brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion to our mission.

Paul Holman

President
Wasilla

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Paul Holman LDO, ABOC, NCLEC, FNAO

​I am very privileged and honored to serve as your OAAK President since 2022. I am currently employed as the ZEISS Lens Rep. for Alaska; Montana and Northern Wyoming and have resided in Wasilla, Alaska since 1997, serving in this field since 2005. I feel an extra special thanks to the OAAK members who have asked a Lens Rep. to represent your Opticianry association. I have a great passion for our occupation and want Opticianry in Alaska and in the US to continue to grow through partnership into the future. We are all stronger together and thank you to my fellow board members and members of the OAAK in steering our association into the future through representation and education.

Marcia Smith

Vice President
​North Pole

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My optical career began in Georgia in 2007 at Valdosta Technical College's opticianry program.  I got my first job in an optometry clinic through some instructors who taught a class at my school, and soon I was working full time in a huge private practice optical that stocked 6000 frames, going to school four nights a week, and working weekends at my retail job. I earned my ABO in 2008 and my NCLE in 2009, passing both tests on my first attempt.  I graduated from my program in 2009 with a 4.0 GPA, thrilled to have a career in a field I was passionate about that would transfer with me from state to state as the military moved my husband.  I was also excited to be in a field that offered better work/life balance than retail, as my husband and I welcomed our first child in 2010.

My husband retired from the Air Force in September 2024 after serving over 24 years on active duty. We are excited to not have to move for once, and I hope to be able to use my connections on the board to advocate for military spouses working as opticians on issues of transferability of their apprenticeship hours from state to state. Currently every time a person moves to a new state, apprenticeship hours reset to zero.  I also hope to work with the newly formed UOA on accreditation of schools of opticianry and the ability to transfer credits between schools and complete courses online. 

Julie Knighton​

Secretary
​Wasilla

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I am excited to join the board of the OAAK as the secretary.  I bring decades of optical experience and a love for helping people see.  From working in a family optical to working in the bush Alaska, I am very passionate about my job. I hope to share my love for our profession to inspire the next generation to help build a strong optical community here in Alaska.  As a former president of the Lions Club, I want to help the community and those in need.

Sandi Acquistapace​

Treasurer
​North Pole

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My name is Sandi Acquistapace. I am the treasurer for the OAAK and have been
since 2017. I work in a private practice setting and have been a board certified
optician since 1988. I came to this wonderful state in 2002 and love everything
Alaska. It gives me great satisfaction to serve the diverse and talented opticians
of Alaska and help make the OAAK the strong and professional organization it
has become.

Jean Pearl Justo

Board Member
​Anchorage

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Thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Jean Pearl Justo, currently employed as an Optician at Northern Lights Eyecare and been loving living in Alaska since 2014. I am truly blessed and thankful for this association for having me as a Board Member and extra special thanks to our OAAK President Mr Paul Holman for all his efforts and hard work for us to be stronger together and being better together, energized and by connecting members pointed the way toward our mission. I do believe it’s a forward-looking mission but our association is also a mission firmly rooted in our professional values and it’s history of compassion, devotion to provide the best care and willingness to make bold moves.

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Oscar Villasenor

Board Member
​Soldotna

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My name is Oscar, but I go by Oz. I've been making eyeglasses for a few years now in Soldotna, Alaska at Eyewear Express and am passionate about pursuing a lifelong career. I'm very interested in being a part of a growing association in Alaska.

Samantha Anderson

Board Member
​Fairbanks

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I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have been in the optical world since 2009 and Spectacle licensed since 2020. I understand the difficulty of studying for OCPP/ABOC and working full time, but I am so happy I completed and passed my tests and wished I had done it sooner.  I have been active with the board since 2019. I enjoy spending time with my teenage son, walking my spoiled rotten dog, and fly-fishing with my husband. Looking forward to meeting all the opticians in Alaska and inspiring others.
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