Meet Our Staff
Meet the experienced and friendly doctors and staff who make Watts Eye Associates the leading provider of vision care products and services in Newburyport.
Rick Masiello, RDO
Lead Optician
Rick is our optical department lead, and has been in the industry for many, many years! His knowledge, care, and attention to detail are what helps our patients’ choices in eyewear. A favorite pastime of his was playing street hockey and wiffle ball with his buddies. Something very old he has is his baseball glove- which is **** years old! Rick’s superpower of choice would be the power of invisibility. He prefers his coffee and tea iced! Rick has been with us since 2006.
Sarah Goulet
Practice Manager
Sarah is the practice manager and has really been here since she was young. This used to be her Father’s practice after all! When growing up, she loved playing softball. She played for 10 years and coached for one! Something really old she still has is the Watts Detective Agency sign (still hanging in her dining room) that belonged to her great Grandfathers and great, great Uncle’s business in Boston. Sarah recently started taking guitar lessons- so this talent is in process. Her favorite food is Palak Paneer from Jewel in the Crown. Sarah is a huge iced cold brew coffee fan- and enjoys hot sangria tea too! Sarah has been with the team since 1999.
Tara Watts, CPOA
Optical Administrative Assistant
Tara has been a part of Watts Eye Associates since 2007, and since then has worn many hats, helping in many departments. If she won the lottery, she would start an orphanage to help those in need in our local community. Three words that describe Tara perfectly are generous, kind, and caretaker. Tara’s creative outlets are diamond painting, photography, and boxing! Her top two radio stations in her car are KLove and The Shark. Tara would love it if any sweets could have zero calories. She is looking forward to her Alaskan cruise with her Mom.
Fanny Kelly, CPOA
Technician
Fanny is our Lead Technician- and really enjoys taking you through the process of tests before the doctor sees you. She is a great sponge of knowledge, and really cares for each and every one of our patients and staff! Fanny grew up in the Dominican Republic and really enjoyed visiting her Grandfather’s farm and going to summer camp with school and church friends. Something really old she still has is her baby blanket- a gift from when she was born. Fanny is afraid of snakes. A favorite dessert is her mother’s rice pudding. Fanny’s superpower would be time travel- so she could visit with people she really misses, or the power of healing, so she could heal people physically and/or emotionally. The only thing on her bucket list is to go to Europe on a holiday! Fanny likes coffee and tea- but they must be hot! Fanny has been a part of the team since 2014.
Jay Oczkowski, RDO
Licensed Optician
Jay is one of our licensed opticians, and enjoys working in our lab – cutting and putting the finishing touches on your glasses! He really enjoys Kitesurfing, skydiving, and Paramotoring to take to the skies. Jay loves Driving his 94 Toyota Supra and going to car shows. Jay’s superpower of choice would be flying- so he could get anywhere fast. His bucket list includes traveling to Bora Bora and Iceland to see the Northern lights. Jay is a huge iced coffee drinker, all day every day. He has been with the team since 2016.
Sarah Lombard, CPO
Optical Consultant and Social Media Lead
Sarah (or CC) started at WEA in January of 2016. When she was 5, she wanted to be a Veterinarian, to help all of the animals, especially horses and dogs! Sarah’s top two stations in her car are Alt Nation and Lithium on Sirius XM. Her current binge watch is Emily in Paris on Netflix. Her recent interest and creative outlet is floral design- she has been doing part time work on weekends at a local flower shop, and loving every minute of it. Sarah wishes that her favorite food, ice cream, was ZERO calories!! No longer at the front desk, she has switched to optical, and is enjoying styling and frame buying.
Stefanie Lennox
Patient Care Coordinator Lead
Stef has been a part of WEA since July of 2018. She really enjoys helping with scheduling specialty appointments, and making sure records get to the appropriate places. If Stef won the lottery tomorrow, she would partner with JBJ Soul Kitchen and open/build low to no income housing/shelters. Her most listened to station in the car is WHEB, and she is NOT a fan of roller coasters at all. Her first high school job was a cashier at century markets, and her favorite cuisine depends on her mood. Her favorite things to watch or binge watch are funny or vampire shows! Stef works diligently in the back room, and is mostly behind the scenes.
Angela Leone
Patient Care Coordinator Lead
Angela joined the team at the end of July, 2023. She had previously been in the restaurant industry for many, many years. Angela has jumped right into this new-to-her field, and has blended seamlessly into the check out desk! If she won the lottery, she would start a non-profit to help maintain group homes and alternative schools for children in care. Angela loves roller coasters. Her favorite cuisine is Chinese food, especially crab rangoon. Angela’s creative outlet is baking- and she is pretty darn good at it too! She wishes that anything sweet had ZERO calories- “it’s a Leone thing” as their family usually have more desserts than food. Help us in welcoming Angela to our crew!
Marianne Snow
Patient Care Coordinator
Marianne has been with WEA since August of 2021, and is another face you will see while checking in for your appointment with us. When she was 5, Marianne thought she was going to be an 18 wheeler driver and see the entire USA! Three words to describe her are compassionate, patient, and caring. Marianne’s favorite pastime is being outdoors and birdwatching. Her high school job was working in a Nursing home kitchen. Marianne has a small grey cat, Luna, that acts like a little kitten even though she is very old.
Desiree Raymond, CPO, NCLE
Contact Lenses
Desiree began in June of 2018. She is working on being certified to fit contact lenses and really enjoys working with patients and teaching them how to use and wear their contacts. Speaking of contacts, she prefers wearing contacts but she does not mind wearing her Kliik frames. Desiree likes Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, and Mad Men. She enjoys reading too, especially by Nicholas Sparks. She currently does not have any pets but sees a puppy in her future. Des would want to be a scientist or an astronaut (as she has her degree in Biology). She would like to meet with Katie Bouman, the woman who recently developed an algorithm for imaging black holes, or, Jennifer Doudna because she has been part of the discovery of how to use CRISPR (editing genomes).
Sheldon Castro, CPO
Technician
Sheldon is one of our technicians that will take you through the pre-testing prior to seeing our doctors. His cheery personality and easygoing attitude will help to ease any anxieties of seeing any of our doctors. Sheldon’s favorite food is beef bulgogi- it is a Korean dish that he could eat all day, every day! His superpower would be teleportation because it is super convenient. Sheldon’s bucket list includes driving on the Nurburgring in Germany and visiting Monaco for the F1 Grand Prix. Sheldon is a huge espresso drinker- he enjoys it hot or iced, depending on the weather. As long as it is espresso, he will be a happy camper! Sheldon has been with us since 2020.
Janissa Abreu
Technician
Jani has jumped right into being a technician for the doctors, and has been with us since August of 2022. The three words that describe her are compassionate, patient and efficient. Janissa loves roller coasters, and her creative outlet is baking. If she won the lottery tomorrow, she would open a homeless shelter and a bakery. When she was 5 she was pretty sure she was going to be a Broadway star. Jani’s current favorite show to watch is Schitt’s Creek. You will see her smiling face before you see the doctor.
Emily Balkus
Frame Stylist
Emily is a fabulous frame stylist here at Watts. She helps select the frames we bring in to showcase to the patients, and helps them select the pair just right for them! Emily enjoyed camping when growing up. If she had a superpower, she would choose X-ray vision 😎. Something really old she has is her grandparents’ first cedar chest! The top of her bucket list is Australia and Fiji to travel to and explore! Emily has been with the team since 2019.
Kristen Silveira, CPO
Patient Care Coordinator
Kristen joined our team at the end of September 2020. She may be a familiar face, as she worked at Anna Jacques Hospital for many years. Kristen is our resident laugher- she always has a smile on her face (even under the mask), and her laugh is very contagious! Kristen is enjoying learning all about the eye world, and loves her new Gucci glasses and Maui Jim sunglasses! She used to rescue Irish Setters but now has a gaggle of white doves named Ginger, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Cardamom. If she could do anything outside of this industry, Kristen would want to be a holistic veterinarian or open a gluten-free bakery (with a side of grain-free dog biscuits)! Kristen has long admired Winston Churchill, as he was an incredible person- artist, writer, leader, and all-around good person who stood up for what was right and for the little people. As her mom says about her, “Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee!” Kristen is mostly in the business office answering phones and scheduling appointments, but does help at check-in and check-out too!
Tatiana Flores
Front Desk Lead
Tatiana is our check in/front desk lead, and has been with us since July of 2020. If she won the lottery she would start her own pottery or candle business. Tatiana’s top two radio stations in the car are 94.5 and 96.9. She strongly dislikes roller coasters. Tati’s job in high school was at Valleyworks (helping with childcare, cleaning the community, and helping agencies with organization). She loves Chinese food, especially the house special fried rice, and would wish that all Mexican and Chinese foods had Zero calories! Tati is one of the first and last faces you may see when coming in or leaving our office.
Abby Ortiz
Optical Consultant
Abby has been a fantastic addition to our optical department. Her energy and true joy for helping patients shines through with every smile at pick up! She is a glasses girl through and through, as they are another piece of jewelry to add to your collection. Her favorite line of the moment is MODO. One of her favorite things to do is spend time with those she loves. Something she has that is very old is her journals. Abby started writing in them when she was little and still has them in a book bag from middle school. Since she wrote a lot, she really honed her penmanship skills- something she is still enjoying today! A spot on her bucket list is traveling to Alaska. Her superpower of choice would be to spread love to those who aren’t able to see it in themselves. Abby joined our team in mid-July 2021.
Jessica Greenman
Patient Care Coordinator and Contacts
Jessica’s face is another you will see upon checking in for your visit. She is brand new to our office and has jumped right into checking in and checking out like a pro. A favorite pastime of hers was camping in the White Mountains with her family. Something really old that she has is a Claddagh ring that her Mother gave her. A bucket list item for Jessi would be to pet all of the stray cats on the Island of Santorini in Greece! Something she really loves is a big ole plate of buffalo wings. Jessi wears both contacts and glasses- each has a purpose. Something you may not know about her is that she likes to draw- and she is currently learning pixel art and coding, so someday she can make a video game! Her superpower of choice would be invisibility- something she would use for good and mischief! Jessi joined the team at the end of August 2021.
Genie Kilbride
Optical Consultant
Genie is another smiling face you will see in our optical department. She enjoys helping people select frames that are perfect for them! Genie’s instinct is a secret thing that keeps her going and going. She is a huge fan of shopping- Marshall’s is a fave of hers. The oldest thing Genie has is a tea set from her Maternal Grandmother from Armenia! Genie has been wearing glasses for many years now. Something on her bucket list is going to see the hot air balloon festival on Lake Champlain in Vermont. Her favorite thing is time spent with family. Genie’s superpower of choice would be light manipulation. This would allow her to create holographic images, turn invisible, and even move at light speed while adjusting the properties that surround her. Genie has been with our team since the beginning of August.
Tricia Burnham
Patient Advocate/Patient Liaison and Insurance Specialist
Tricia joined us in January of 2022, although her real first day with us was for the Holiday Party in December! A favorite pastime of Tricia’s is reading- she loves suspense or crime mysteries. Something very old she still has is a small keepsake box that was her great-grandmother’s. Tricia prefers to wear glasses over contact lenses- all day every day, funky glasses are so much more fun! She would be an asset to have on a trivia team, as she is full of useless knowledge (that she doesn’t know where some came from)! Two bucket list items of Tricia’s would be to visit Ireland one day and to drive a Zamboni. Tricia’s superpower of choice would be to clone herself. That way one could go and spend time with loved ones, and the other could go to work- that way she wouldn’t miss a thing. Tricia really enjoys helping our patients with any insurance-related questions, and making sure they get the most out of their visit with us!
Gabe Speidel
Technician
Gabe has just joined the Watts team and is learning all there is to know about the eyes, through being a technician! He is a big fan of glasses but feels that everyone should wear what they are comfortable with. When he is not in the office, Gabe enjoys being outside during all seasons-skiing, mountain biking, hiking- just as long as he is outside. His favorite things- the 2 “O’s” outdoors and opossums! Something very old Gabe has is an oil lamp his Grandmother restored for him- it reminds him of her. Gabe’s secret talent is knowing too much about things that may only come up once in his lifetime. Gabe’s bucket list includes hiking up Mt. Denali and skiing (enjoying) the ride down. His superpower of choice would be flight- so he can save gas money and cats stuck in trees. Help us in welcoming Gabe!
Marie Barresi
Technician
Marie has been with Watts Eye since June of 2022, and helps to get our patients ready to see the doctor. When she was 5, she was sure she would be a professional athlete. Three words that describe Marie are kind, high strung, and energetic. Her go to karaoke song is Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Marie’s favorite station to listen to 106.7 and 104.1. The one food she wishes had no calories are doughnuts. Marie’s highschool job was at her father’s optometric practice, as an optician (in training). Look at her now, helping the doctors to get patients ready for their visits.
William F. Watts
Optometrist (Retired)
He is enjoying his best life off of the coast of Maine this summer 2022!