Get to know us
Meet Our StaffWelcome
We work to provide the best support possible.
We are committed to prioritizing our staff and cultivating a positive work environment to empower them in providing the best possible care to our patients. We invite you to explore our staff webpage to get better acquainted with the dedicated individuals who make our healthcare team exceptional.
Ellen Goad, LDO
Practice Administrator
Born in Atlanta, Ellen grew up in Covington, Ga. She moved to Athens to pursue a degree and graduate from UGA.
Ellen passed her Georgia State Boards to become a Licensed Dispensing Optician in 1990. Her career with Thomas Eye Center began in 1998. Since then she has become a consultant, author and advisor to the optometric industry.
She is married to Stephen and mother to two sons, Mason and Jackson. Ellen enjoys time with family, traveling, reading and creating spectacular patient experience.
Nikki Ryals
Clinic Manager
Nikki has spent most of her professional career in pharmacy, having recently transitioned into optometry. She grew up in Winder where she graduated with a Presidential Volunteer Award from Apalachee. During her time off she enjoys reading, watching the Braves with her husband, and being surrounded by her rescue pups, Molly, Junior, and Loretta.
Ana Karina Morales
Front Office Lead
Ana was born in Mexico, and grew up in Athens, Georgia. She graduated from Cedar Shoals High School in 2018. Ana has been with our team since 2021. Her primary language is Spanish, but she is bilingual in English, and loves to translate for our Spanish speaking patients.
She currently lives in Jefferson, Georgia with her husband, Hector. She enjoys her spare time with family, outdoors, and shopping.
Becca Yearwood
Gallery Lead
She began working in the optometry field in 2007 part-time while she was in college. She loved her job so much and the connections she made with patients that she decided to stay in optometry. She has worked as a technician and in optical and loves all aspects of this field. She enjoys being able to come to work everyday and help patients. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, and hanging out with friends.
Ashley Smith
Patient Care Coordinator
Ashley was born and raised in Winder and graduated from Winder Barrow High School in 2010. She has been in customer service and patient care for 13 years. She started her career with Thomas Eye Center in February 2022. She and her husband Cody have 2 dogs and 3 cats. She loves true crime, reading, and is a passionate collector (not a hoarder) of oddities and curiosities.
Caylee Womack
Insurance & Billing Coordinator
Caylee grew up in Between, Georgia and now resides in Statham, Georgia. She has an Associates degree in Health Sciences, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. When she is not working on insurance claims, she is at home with her 2 cats (Shadow and Pookie). Her hobbies include reading books of all genres and cooking new recipes.
Kim Johnston, LDO
Licensed Optician
Kim was born and raised in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. She moved to Georgia and obtained her state license for opticianry in 2000. She currently resides in Statham with her husband Mike.
She enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with her 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Mackenzie McKnight
Optician Apprentice
Mackenzie is a native of Winder. She is a 2021 graduate from Winder Barrow High School. She is currently in Georgia’s Optician Apprentice Program and studying for her ABO exam. When not at work, Mackenzie enjoys taking care of her pet squirrels and going fishing.
Emma Banta
Patient Care Coordinator
Emma was born and partially raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia, and is currently earning her Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Auburn University. While not working or doing schoolwork, she loves reading, playing with her two cats, and enjoying live music.
Kyle Fordham
Patient Care Coordinator
Kyle was born and raised in Jefferson, Georgia. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 2013. He is very outgoing and loves to help our patients with anything they need. He is the first to greet our patients at the door. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and spending time with his girlfriend and cats, Blue and Grey. His favorite video game is The Last of Us.