Academic and Career Accomplishments
Aaron Moats was born in rural West Virginia where he attended a two-room schoolhouse through the fifth grade. He moved to Ravenna in 1968 with his mother, who sought employment
opportunities. That fall he began ninth grade at Brown Junior High School. Following his 1972 graduation from Ravenna High School, Aaron attended Kent State University while
working full time to pay for his education. His love of the sciences inspired him to attend the Ohio State University College of Optometry after he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Kent State University in 1976.
During the summer of 1980, Aaron participated in Amigos de las Americas Eye Care Program and spent a month in Honduras examining the eyes of over one thousand patients. Upon receiving his Doctorate in Optometry from Ohio State in 1981, he returned home to Ravenna and joined the optometry practice of Dr. Robert H. Miller. In 1984 Aaron was chosen as a member of a seven-man cultural exchange program to South Korea where he spent seven weeks representing the United States and Rotary International. As a very active member of the Ravenna community, Aaron has been involved in many organizations and community projects and often holds
leadership and committee positions. He enjoys lending his time to philanthropic work and frequently lectures on travel and optometry. In addition to running the same optometric practice he joined out of optometry school, he currently serves as Director for Portage Community Bank.
Aaron married his wife Shelly, in 1985 and they have a son, Wesley and a daughter, Allison. Both of their children graduated from Ravenna High School and both were valedictorians.