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Sharon Hunt – 2020 AAO Outstanding Contribution Award
At its virtual Annual Session, the American Association of Orthodontists honored Sharon Hunt posthumously with the 2020 AAO Outstanding Contribution Award.
Ms. Hunt was a transformative leader who had a vision. The criteria for this award was designed to recognize a person like Sharon. The Southern Association of Orthodontists is very pleased that its beloved former Executive Director was honored in this manner.
Sharon served the SAO, AAO, and the specialty of orthodontics
with passion, intelligence and dedication. She became the SAO Executive Director in January 1996 and served until October 2014 when she retired. During those years, she was responsible for many innovative programs. Sharon developed and executed a Futures Study which was shared throughout the orthodontic community. She took the initiative to complete this Futures Study and interviewed people in all phases of orthodontics in order to predict future trends in the specialty. The results of this study have been used by both the SAO and the AAO to make proactive changes to improve member services and benefits. In 2007 she designed and launched the SAO Leadership Program. A total of 99 SAO members have completed this program. Sharon served on the AAO constituent/component Task Force in 2016-2017 and served the Southwestern Society of Orthodontists as a Director of Finance and Delegation. Sharon Hunt was a leader’s leader. Outside of orthodontics, she served the Georgia Society of Association Executives as its 2003 President. She was also active in starting a Leadership Academy for this organization. In 2014 GSAE honored Sharon by renaming their ‘Emerging Leader Award’ to the ‘Sharon Hunt Emerging Leader Award’. She was a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Award of Excellence from 2008-2014. She was the 2015-2017 Chair of the Administrative Council of Embry Hills United Methodist Church. During this time, she initiated many consent agendas and strategic discussions for the Administrative Council of the church. She also served as Chair of the Finance Committee of Embry Hills as well as secretary of her condominium association.
Sharon was a true servant leader who transformed the lives of
those she touched. She was dearly loved by all SAO members, by her fellow church members, her bridge group, her garden club, and all with whom she came into contact. She will forever have a fond spot in the hearts of the many she touched on her life’s journey. The SAO was blessed to have had Sharon in its midst for so many years. The membership of the SAO was very excited to see her awarded the AAO Outstanding Contribution Award was our own Sharon Hunt.
