JOIE MERRYMAN - Manager

Years with Dr. Schwartz Optometrist and Associates: Since 2004
Currently wears soft contact lenses as well as a fashionable pair of glasses. Her current glasses are a Modern Sadie in burgundy.

Joie handles all aspects of insurance and patient billing. Joie originally worked for Dr. Schwartz when she was in high school. She kept in touch after she left and remained a loyal patient. At the time when she began looking for work again, Judy called her about a bill that was not covered by her insurance. By the end of the conversation, Judy was offering her a job. Joie describes it as fate. "It was like coming home again, Everyone here has always been like a family and I couldn't be happier". Joie and her husband Kevin have two beautiful children who are 13 and 10 and 2 dogs Chili and Fiona sharing in the blessings of their household.

SARA BALMFORTH - OPTICIAN/ CONTACT LENS SPECIALIST

Years with Dr. Schwartz Optometrist and Associates: Since 2000
Years of experiance: 17
She currently wears a Christine Dior frame and Acuvue Oasys contact lenses

Sara helps patients and advises them in fashionable frame styles and proper lens selection. As a contact lens specialist, she also dispenses contact lenses. Sara handles all the ordering of contact lenses for the office. She also meets with all the contact lens company representatives to discuss the latest technology and contact lens developments. Sara is a is a people person and truly loves what she does and the people she works with. She is a Sterling Heights native with a wonderful husband, Dean, and Dog named Sonnie.

MARIE THOMAS - OPTICIAN

Years with Dr. Schwartz Optometrist and Associates: Since 2008
Marie wears the Easy Clip in Ruby Red. She has a standard plastic lens with a premium anti-reflective coating and transitions.

Some people say that Marie is a Jack-ette of all trades in the office. She helps the front desk staff with checking in patients, verifying insurance benefits, and confirming the next days appointments. She also provides reinforcement in the lab when her skills are needed. She does all of this in addition to assisting patients select eyewear that is both fashionable and functional. If that wasn't enough, she also teaches classes on insertion and removal of contacts to patients. She loves her job very much and always goes the extra mile for her patients. Marie believes in one sentence that is taped to her desk that she tries to live by:

"Dance like no one is watching, love like you'll never be hurt,sing like no one is listening,and live like it's heaven on earth."

RUTH GROSS - FRONT DESK COORDINATOR & DOCTOR ASSISTANT

Years with Dr. Schwartz Optometrist and Associates: Since 2004
Ruth doesn't wear any glasses or contacts, she had LASIK surgery in 1998

Although patients often ask her if she's new to the practice, this is actually the same Ruth that started with Dr. Schwartz back in 1996 - she just changes her hair color a lot! Ruth is fascinated by how much of a persons well being can be seen through the eyes. She loves working with the doctors to show patients that we care so much more about them than simply selling them a pair of glasses. Ruth enjoys working with all of our patients - whether they are 5, 55, or 95 years of age.

CHRISTINA - OPTICIAN

Years with Dr. Schwartz Optometrist and Associates: Since 2012
Years Experience: 8
Christina wears a tortoise Kenzie and purple Bebe glasses

Christina is a "Jack of all Trades" when it comes to our office. She may be seen making appointments, checking patients in, checking insurance, pretesting, helping pick out glasses or just about anything else other than doing the eye exam herself. Christina truly enjoys helping patients with their vision needs.

JENNIFER EDWARDS - LAB TECHNICIAN

Years with Dr. Schwartz Optometrist and Associates: 11
Years Experience: 20
Jen is lucky enough to not need any glasses or contacts

As lab technician, Jen makes quality prescription eyewear, completes adjustments and repairs, and works with our patients to make sure they are satisfied with their eyewear. Jen loves working in the lab. She loves seeing the enjoyment on a patients face when they pick up their new glasses. It makes her feel like she has done her job well. Jen enjoys pizza, outdoor concerts and roller derby. Her time skating with Detroit Derby Girls Pistol Whippers even earned her a movie role in Drew Barrymore's "Whip it"