Meet Our Staff

Valerie has extensive experience as an optician, and has been a vital part of Family Optometry since 2008.. She enjoys helping patients with frame selection and contact lens training. She also assists the doctors by performing ordered tests such as fundus photography and optical coherence tomography that aid in the diagnosis and management of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other ocular conditions.

Her laugh has become the unofficial soundtrack of our Wabash office. Outside of work, Valerie trains in karate and jiu-jitsu. Valerie has been married to Marion team member, Tommy, since 2001. They have two children, Tristin and Trinity.

Megan has been with Family Optometry since 2017.  After initially serving in various capacities, she has found a permanent home as an optometric technician in our Wabash office.  She has been married to Derek, her high school sweetheart, since 2004.  Megan and Derek have 2 children; Gavin and Leeah.  After spending three years each in Georgia and Texas while Derek served in the Army, their family has returned to their roots in Wabash. Megan enjoys spending time with family and crocheting. She has coordinated blankets for soldiers returning from deployment and continues to look for ways to use her hobby to help others. 

Kerri joined our practice in 2021 and has worked in the optometric field since 1999.    Her expertise and professionalism, along with her warm and patient spirit, have made her a fantastic addition to our team.  Kerri handles patient checkout responsibilities and assists with scheduling, responding to patient needs over the phone, and helping ensure proper filing of insurance claims.  She loves being part of a supportive and motivating team committed to caring for people.

Kerri and her husband, Jason, have two children, Jillian and Jake.  If Kerri’s not at work, she is probably attending one of her kids’ many sporting events.  She also enjoys spending time with her family, long walks, and relaxing on the beach.  

Heather joined our team as an optometric technician in 2022, and very quickly came to love her work family.  Heather finds joy in being able to help others through her work each day, and her fluency in Spanish enables her to provide special assistance to our Spanish-speaking patients.  

Heather was born in Ft. Knox, Kentucky before moving to Indiana when she was 17.  She is the mother of three beautiful children: Jasmine, Danni, and Giovanni.  Heather loves Netflix nights with her kids, dancing to Hispanic music, going to shooting ranges, and horseback riding.  She enjoys visiting her family and friends in Mexico, and travels there nearly every year.  

Sam joined our Wabash office in 2022, and serves as our front desk receptionist.  She had extensive experience in the medical field prior to joining our team.  Sam does a fantastic job assisting patients over the phone or in person, as well as managing our schedules and identifying and authorizing insurance benefits for patients prior to their appointments.  She loves interacting with new people, and enjoys the opportunity to do that throughout each day in her position.

Sam married her high school sweetheart, and together they have a fun-loving son.  She enjoys spending time with her family, going on small trips/family vacations, watching movies with her boys, and shopping.  

Deb is a 35 year veteran of the optical field and has been with Family Optometry for fourteen years as our lab technician. While Deb helps out wherever needed, she now spends most of her working day in our in-house optical lab, where she cuts lenses with each patient’s exact prescription to fit into the frame they choose.

Deb’s kindness and sweet spirit are a blessing to patients and coworkers alike. She enjoys reading and baking in her free time. Deb feels blessed to still be working at a job she enjoys.

Crystal joined our office in 2021, initially working as an optometric technician before transitioning to her current role as front desk receptionist.  Her versatility, friendly personality, and willingness to do whatever is needed help keep our office running smoothly.  She loves being able to help people in a variety of ways, and being part of a team that is committed to helping one another and feels like family.

Crystal grew up in the country outside of Warren, IN.  For the past 14 years she and her husband, Jason, have lived only a few miles from the family home where she grew up.  Together they have four children:  Kaleb, Lacey, Reese, and Paizley.  Outside of work, she enjoys going to her children’s sporting events and activities, and spending time on the motorcycle with her husband and friends. 

Leah enjoys being the friendly face that greets patients as they enter the office. Her warm personality makes her a great addition to our team.

Leah will be the one who is most likely to answer the phone, schedule your appointment, call to remind you of your appointment date and time, and answer any questions you may have before visiting the office.

She was born in Wabash and has recently returned to the area with her three sons. Leah enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and going to see her brothers play in their rock band.

Emily joined our family in July of 2015. A natural “people-person,” Emily enjoys preparing patients for their time with the doctor during pre-testing and helping them choose the perfect pair of frames.

Emily studied in the performing arts in NYC before returning to her Indiana roots. She can occasionally be seen on stages throughout the area when she isn’t spending time with her family, especially her spectacular niece and nephews.

Meagan has worked as an optometric technician with Family Optometry since February 2020, and she is a treasured part of our team.  She is fantastic at making people feel at ease as she completes pretesting for the doctors at the beginning of the eye exam.  She also works in our optical area, assisting people with frame selection and explaining the different lens options that are available. 

Meagan is in an amazing relationship with her best friend and high school sweetheart.  Her favorite way to spend free time is to be with her closest friends and family.  Meagan enjoys crafting, experimenting with baking recipes, and making people laugh.

Jill has worked in the Huntington office with Dr. Hughes since 1988, and became part of our Family Optometry team with the addition of Dr. Hughes’ practice in 2018. Over the course of her career, Jill has developed expertise in nearly every area of the office, including conducting preliminary testing for patients, frame selection and glasses ordering, and office management. If you have a question, Jill probably has the answer.

Outside of work, Jill serves as a sign language interpreter and relishes the summer months when she can enjoy the water.

LeeAnn has worked in the Huntington office with Dr. Hughes since 1999, and became part of the Family Optometry team in 2018 with the addition of Dr. Hughes’ practice. LeeAnn most often works at the front desk, warmly greeting and checking in patients. But she brings a variety of skills to our office, and you may also see her dispensing glasses or otherwise assisting with patient care.

LeeAnn loves being outside, and enjoys camping and spending time with her two children and six grandchildren.

Jessica has served as an optician with Family Optometry since 2018, and has worked in the optical field since 2007.  Jessica is patient, taking time to listen to each person and understand their unique preferences and needs.  She takes joy in helping people find the right frame style, and her years of experience help her make any adjustments that might be needed for a perfect frame fit.

Jessica has lived in Huntington since 1998.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their four legged “kids.”  She and her husband are big Disney fans, and also enjoy going to Renaissance Festivals and spending time riding their Harley motorcycle. 

Kati joined our team in 2021, and quickly became an integral part of our team.  Kati is quick to learn, and soon after joining us was able to perfectly fill both the patient checkout and optometric technician roles.  Her broad skill set, flexibility, friendliness, and humility make her a great asset to our practice.  

Kati is a Huntington native who enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, working out at the gym, and playing guitar.