Meet Your Team

Envision is more than just an optometry practice. We are a team of dedicated Doctors, Medical Assistants, Patient Care Coordinators, Insurance Specialists, Leadership and Optical Experts who believe in Our Purpose — optimizing quality of life to better our world. Our expertise elevates the eyecare and eyewear experience from start to finish. Our optometry team focuses on your needs in terms of your best eye health and vision correction, delivered in an inviting atmosphere with impeccable patient care.

Dr. Larry Golson

Dr. Larry Golson

Optometrist & Practice Visionary (he/him)

Helping people enjoy life through better eye health and the best vision correction is the driving passion in life for Dr. Larry Golson. As a student at the Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee, he participated in three vision service trips to Costa Rica and Bolivia with SVOSH – Student Volunteers for Optometric Service to Humanity. For each trip, Dr. Golson raised his own travel expenses and collected eyeglasses, which he sorted for men, women and children.

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Dr. Eric Bryant

Dr. Eric Bryant

Tremendous Team Optometrist (he/him)

Dr. Eric Bryant is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, and served in Wilmington for over a decade delivering the highest quality comprehensive eye care. He is excited and enthusiastic to now plant his roots in the Asheville community and grow his career with the Envision Eyecare team.

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Welcome! This is our dedicated team.
Have we shared how much we look forward to providing you with exceptional eyecare? Don’t be shy, get in touch!

Christine Maiello

General Manager (she/her)

I was born and raised in the Great upstate of New York and realized and refined in the enchanted state of North Carolina. I’ve been in Asheville for almost 2 decades and our spring season amazes me everytime!

I am the GM of Envision and enjoy the continued learning about running a successful, small independent business. With my background in health and wellness, personal training/coaching, dance, and yoga instruction, I bring these elements forward to steward this business and team. I’m a solution-seeker, so figuring out what makes this place tick, from patient satisfaction and team engagement to advancement in our services and offerings and committing to our purpose of optimizing quality of life is really what it’s all about for me. 

I’ve been with Envision since 2015. We get the opportunity to serve our community at a high level while staying down-to-earth and real as the unique team that we are.  Our team is engaged, intelligent, funny, and caring and it’s a joy to see them grow personally and professionally, aligning with our core values and being a part of the process to move us forward. 



I’ve been a geeky glasses wearer since I was 7 years old. My uncle (and godfather) was my optometrist all of my life, so I feel a calling to this field and I know firsthand how important a quality experience of care can be.  Can you imagine all the glasses I’ve had over the years? I wish I kept them all to see the historical record of my style and vision! It’s always been my favorite part of seeing the eye doctor, though now I know SO much more about eye health and how this precious sense truly keeps us independent in our daily lives.

Stephanie Salas

Optical Lead (she/her)

I was born and raised in Denton, TX; a small suburb of Dallas. Asheville reminds me so much of Denton with the food, music, and wonderful people.

I got my first pair of glasses in the second grade, in 1993! They were large, metal, with aviator-style lenses.

My favorite frame line now is SALT. They’re comfortable, timeless, and look good on literally ANYONE!

My biggest accomplishment so far is my relationship with my loving wife, Morgan (They/Them).  I am so proud and thankful that I get to spend every day with my favorite person.

Spring. There is something so magical about the trees blooming in pinks and whites, and daffodils and lilies popping up across the city.

Anna Thompson

Operations Lead (she/her)

I was born and raised right here in Asheville, NC! I  graduated from Asheville High School in 2007 and received a BFA in Sculpture from UNC-Greensboro in 2012. My husband, Matt, and I have been married since 2014 and we moved back to Asheville in 2015 and have a five-year-old son (Raylan). I joined the team at Envision in 2020.

I love reading… and collecting books. I have quite the library, with over 300 books. The genres include almost everything, though her current favorites are historical fiction, high fantasy, and fairytales.

I spent my junior year of high school in Leon, Spain (and got the travel bug!). I later went on a birthday vacation to Paris, Avignon, and Milan with my stepmother, and finished my college courses in Florence, Italy. My next dream destination is Thailand, where she would love to spend quality time at an elephant rescue.

My favorite seasons are the transitional Spring and Fall. I love watching the world come to life in spring despite a lingering chill in the air, and I love the approach of colder weather and the color show that the mountains of WNC put on in the fall.

Kelci McDaniel

Clinical Lead (she/her)

I was raised in Canton, NC, and enjoy reading, hanging with friends, and horseback riding with her 21-year-old horse, Savvy.

I love how Envision creates an environment where people can feel cared for and look great doing it! 

Outside of work and hobbies, she finds fulfillment in traveling as much as possible to explore and try new things.

She has been a glasses wearer for over 20 years, and loves Monoqool frames for their durability and environmentally conscious business models!”

Andrea Cantrell

Optical Expert and Dry Eye Coordinator (she/her)

I was born and raised in Upper East Tennessee.

My favorite season is Fall.

I have my Hypnotherapy license, and I can whistle really loud using my fingers.

My favorite cuisine is Japanese.

Jackie Cantrell

Lead Medical Assistant (she/her)

I was born & raised in Hendersonville, NC

My favorite times of the year are Spring & Fall, spring doesn’t feel too hot (for a hot-natured person) but I love all fall vibes – spooky season, pumpkin carving, etc…

What I enjoy most about my work is that I can help our community every day. It’s very near and dear to my heart to feel like I have done something for the people in my community and to hear that you’ve done a good job at it.

I am Mexican-American and I am fluent in Spanish which can sometimes be handy in circumstances where I need to translate (which isn’t often) but I feel so awesome knowing I can be of help to others.

Sierra Brodland

Optical Expert & Marketing Ambassador (she/her)

I enjoy traveling, reading, writing, cooking, playing games, going to concerts, riding motorcycles, spending time in nature with my loved ones, and snuggling with my partner and cat.

Iceland, Germany, Norway, and most recently the Patagonian region of Argentina!

Words matter! What you say out loud, you actively call in, so choose your words carefully. Lead with kindness and authenticity; the right things will gravitate toward you. Cultivate joy and foster your happiness by practicing gratitude daily and living as much in the present as possible.

Amari Porter

Patient Care Coordinator (she/her)

I was born and raised in Asheville NC.

The thing I find most enjoyable about working at Envision is knowing that I am a part of a team that truly cares about the people we serve.

In my free time, I like to work out, hike, hang out with/ my little niece, and eat good food!

A personal motto for myself would be “ Be kind”. It’s a simple saying, but it’s amazing how just being kind can impact a person’s day.

Jade Sheppard

Medical Assistant (she/her)

I have called Asheville home my whole life.

I feel valued as an employee.

My social work profession at WCU used my homelessness essay as an “example of excellence” for the following semester, I was 1 of 2 students to earn an A in Anatomy and Physiology 1, I won a hair coloring contest in cosmetology in high school– it was a fire theme mohawk. I am a CNA, Med Tech, CPO, and have an associate’s degree. I was in the honors society at Asheville High and AB-Tech, and the Dean’s List at WCU.

My grandmother. She did not go to college and taught herself web design, was the creator of the Organicfest, and used to own a homeschool center called Imagine that emphasized the arts.

Gigi Medina

Medical Assistant (she/her)

I was born and raised in the Golden State of California, Los Angeles.

The opportunity to constantly learn and grow and the sense of accomplishment that comes from making a positive difference.

I enjoy long walks on the beach

My all-time favorite show is King of the Hill.

My hard-working family back home always inspires me to be better.

Moving to Asheville.

Mechal Olsen

Optical Expert (she/her)

I am a first-generation college graduate! I graduated in 2018 from UNC Asheville. I received a BA with a concentration in Photography and a minor in Art History.

I stay active and yoga is my favorite. I enjoy weight training and taking my 16-year-old dog, Moose, on hikes.

I appreciate the creative outlet I am afforded at work, where I enjoy crafting newsletters, managing our social media accounts, and selecting stylish frames for our fantastic patients! I also love the fulfilling aspect of helping our patients look and feel their best. Getting to know them personally adds a special touch to my role.

I love spring and fall. I love feeling the change in the weather and look forward to seeing all of the pretty colors both seasons offer.

Monica Curwen

Event Coordinator & Community Outreach (she/her)

I am a native of Oak Park, IL. and I moved to Nashville, TN when I was 12. I planted roots in Asheville in 1994 when I was 19 and I found my home; and as cliche as it sounds, I found myself.

I love to play! I have enjoyed sports and exploring the outdoors all my life and recently picked up the sport of roller hockey! I play goalie and my son, my husband and I have been playing inline hockey with the Asheville Hockey League since 2017.

I have worn glasses since 1995. I love BIG frames with a fashion tint. I currently love the brand, Dita. These frames pop with color and style! They are bold, vibrant, translucent, and chunky, and IMO they are everything that is fun fashion for your face!

Maddy Schipporeit

Office Assistant Extraordinaire (she/her)

I have always had a deep love for Japanese pop culture and when I was young my dad and I would rent VHS tapes of Godzilla and Sailor Moon each week.  My favorite musician is  Porter Robinson, who also takes inspiration from Japanese pop culture and furthers my love even more. From the music to the food to the art I love it all!

I took classical singing lessons for 6 years and have over a 3-octave range! I’m considered a first soprano but love to explore the deeper parts of my vocal range when singing.

I love to create art, specifically jewelry. I have a small business, Moth and Magic Jewelry, that I pour my free time into. If I’m not creating, I play video games and spend time with my cats.

I love spring and fall. I love feeling the change in the weather and look forward to seeing all of the pretty colors both seasons offer.