The AAO named Elizabeth M. Lucas, CAE to serve as the interim CEO while the association searches for a permanent replacement.

Elizabeth M. Lucas, CAE has joined the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) to serve as interim chief executive officer. Lucas will be the association’s chief executive from Lynne Thomas Gordon’s upcoming retirement until the appointment of a permanent CEO.

“Our search is progressing well and we expect to announce the AAO’s next permanent CEO by April 2024,” said Myron D. Guymon, DDS, AAO president. “In the interim, AAO management will be in very capable hands.

Lucas has served as the CEO or executive director of national and worldwide organizations including:

  • Soroptimist International of the Americas
  • American Massage Therapy Association and Foundation

The AAO CEO works closely with volunteer leaders, especially the board of trustees, and is responsible for advancement of the AAO strategic plan by staff teams in finance, membership/member services, business development, advocacy, marketing/ communications, education/events and technology.

“Liz Lucas brings 30 years of strategic leadership experience and 20 years as a CEO and executive director with organizations that, under her leadership, experienced membership growth and increased financial strength through innovation and marketing,” said Guymon. “She created and managed organization-wide processes for ideation, vetting, pitching, development, launch and support, which will make it easy for her to grasp AAO leadership and governance processes.”

Photo courtesy of the AAO