Meet Our Team

Dr. Marija Novakovich

Developmental, Pediatric and Neuro-Optometrist​​​​​​​

Dr. Marija Novakovich specializes in Functional Vision Care at Clarendon Vision Development Center, treating patients of all ages. Her specialties include binocular vision exams, vision therapy, neuro-optometry, and dry eye treatment with a focus on individualized care which is guided by her patient’s vision needs and life goals. Her patients love working with Dr. Novakovich because of her patience, compassion, and ability to help them understand their eyecare needs. She is passionate about providing successful treatment outcomes that impact a patient’s daily life. Even for her youngest patients, Dr. Novakovich believes that kids need to understand their visual experiences too!

Dr. Novakovich completed her residency in Pediatrics, Vision Therapy and Vision Rehabilitation from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Prior to her residency, Dr. Novakovich completed multiple externships, working within private practices and large healthcare systems in the areas of binocular vision, strabismus and amblyopia treatment, visual processing disorders, vision therapy, pediatric eyecare, neuro-optometry and disease management. She attained her Doctorate of Optometry at Indiana University where she also completed her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology.

Dr. Novakovich is a member of the American Optometric Association and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Dr. Novakovich is from Crown Point, IN where she enjoys spending her weekends with family and friends. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, trying new foods, and loves to read. “I’m always open to any book recommendations!”

Marzenka Styrczula

Patient Liaison, Vision Therapy and Myopia Management Counselor

Marzenka supports our patients and their families throughout their program of care at Clarendon Vision Development Center. She also serves as an advocate within the community for the Practice and its Developmental Optometry, Myopia Management and Neuro-Optometry Optometric Rehabilitation specialties.

After graduating from Dominican University with an MBA in Marketing, Marzenka spent her career in B2B Marketing & Business Development at some of the country’s largest media brands. In that time, her passion for supporting children and families evolved as she worked with non-profit clients like World Vision and served on the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago Auxiliary Board.

Once she discovered how prism lenses and Vision Therapy greatly improved her own daughter’s vision and daily life, Marzenka felt guided to support others who can benefit from specialty ocular treatments.

Marzenka is married with two daughters. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, biking and spending time at the beach with her family.

Vanessa Morgan

Vision Therapist

Vanessa brings her passion in helping patients reach their full potential to her role as a Vision Therapist at Clarendon Vision Development Center.

​​​​​​​As an experienced elementary educator and parent of four children, Vanessa has the agility to adjust her therapy sessions based on a patient’s needs, while also making the experience fun and engaging. “The more engaged the patient is, the better the results will be,” she says.

She was first introduced to vision therapy as one of her children progressed through the program and can personally attest to the value the therapy brings to patients. She supports the multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach that Clarendon Vision provides to our patients and amplifies the importance of the relationships we have with professional organizations like schools, occupational therapy clinics, neuropsychologists and many other professional disciplines. This ensures our patients are receiving the best possible care and that their therapy benefits all aspects of their lives.

In her previous teaching positions, Vanessa worked with children from kindergarten to 6th grade, with a specific interest in special needs. She earned a BA Honors Degree in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from the University of Central England, Birmingham, U.K.

Aside from being a busy mother to four children, Vanessa also enjoys reading, gardening, fitness and traveling with her family.

Adriann Quintana

Vision Therapy Department Head/Vision Therapist

As a Vision Therapist at Clarendon Vision Development Center, Adriann pulls from her passion and experience in teaching and working with children to build and maintain meaningful relationships and help set meaningful goals for her patients. “Knowing that I can be an important part of a person's growth and development and make a positive impact is what excites me to be a vision therapist,” she says.

Adriann’s experience as a teacher of primary students adds value to her current position because being skilled at meeting a child right where they are developmentally and being able to choose appropriate activities to help them grow in therapy is key to their success. If you ask her patients, they will tell you, “Adriann is kind, personable and makes therapy fun!”

Adriann holds a degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Early Childhood Education. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, being outdoors, reading and finding opportunities to learn new things.

Miriam Ortiz

Vision Therapist

Miriam joined Clarendon Vision Development Center as a Vision Therapist to further her passion for helping people and working with children. “I love to help people and, as a Vision Therapist, I feel that I can make a positive impact on my patients’ lives,” she says.

Leveraging her experience as an elementary school educator, Miriam is comfortable being adaptable to the needs of others and brings this skill to the therapy room to meet the needs of each patient. Plus, if you asked her patients, they would say that she is funny and ensures that her patients are feeling comfortable. In addition to helping her patients, Miriam also enjoys working at Clarendon Vision because of the tight network of kind-hearted and supportive professionals on the team, who are willing to help each other out.

Miriam holds an M.A. in Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University and a B.A. in English from The University of Illinois at Chicago.

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She grew up on the north side of Chicago and recently moved to the area to be with her fiancé. In her free time, she loves to paint, draw, play board games, hike, and canoe.

Linda Mullins

Medical Receptionist/Optical Assistant

Linda is one of the first people you might meet or talk to here at Clarendon Vision. Along with her experience working as an optical assistant, Linda leverages her compassion for people of all ages and her sunny disposition while interacting with patients.

At the office, she is known for making patients see better, feel great and laugh while they are here. At Clarendon Vision, “we go the extra mile to make our patients feel like family,” says Linda.

A Chicago native her whole life, Linda currently lives in Naperville. Outside of the office, she enjoys a BIG cup of coffee, traveling with her friends, and spending time with her husband and 3 daughters

Amanda Lenckus

Patient Care Coordinator

Amanda will be one of the first people you will see when you walk through the doors of our Practice. Always with a smile, Amanda goes above and beyond to assist every patient. “I make it a point to remember all of our patients by name and strive to provide a great experience,” she says.

Amanda received her Associates Degree in Arts from Moraine Valley Community College. After living in San Diego, California, for several years, she returned to her home state and joined our team.

Amanda loves spending time with her family and spoiling her dog, Teddy. She also enjoys walks, movies, animals, and spending time at the beach.

Merideth Scaglione

Optometric Technician

Merideth is our Optometric Technician at Clarendon Vision. In her role, Merideth is patient-focused and dedicated to make every patient feel comfortable and satisfied throughout their experience here.

Merideth has been working in the medical field since 2010 and loves working in optometry because she gains satisfaction from the work that she does. “When patients come in frustrated with not knowing or understanding their diagnosis and by the time they leave our practice, they have answers; I know they appreciate the work we put in and it feels good to truly help our patients.”, she says.

Merideth graduated summa cum laude from the University of Saint Francis with a degree in business management and marketing. She was inducted into the national honors society for business administration.

Born in Chicago and raised in Bolingbrook, Merideth now lives in Romeoville with her husband and 8-year-old daughter. When she is not at work, she enjoys swimming with her family in their pool, reading, spending time with friends and family and shopping for shoes – she owns more pairs than she would admit. She is also an advocate for myopia management often telling everyone she knows about treatment options and risks associated with the eye disease when left untreated.

Rita Drew

Optician

As an Optician at Clarendon Vision, Rita’s main goal is for patients to receive the best quality care and service. She finds her role most rewarding when patients are happy with their optical services beyond their own expectations.

Rita has been with Dr. Spokas and the Clarendon Vision family since 2004. Her care for our patients and commitment to find the perfect solution for their optical needs is evident as patients will tell you they trust her and enjoy working with her.

Originally from Lithuania, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Kaunas Technological University and began her career as an Optician in 1997, Rita moved to the United States in 2000.
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Rita lives in Willowbrook with her husband and 2 beautiful children. She enjoys reading and yoga, as well as spending time in nature with her family and friends.

Abasi Kelly

Optician

Abasi Kelly has joined the Clarendon Vision Development Center team as an Optician, bringing with him 7 years of optical experience and his passion to help patients live a better life by aiding them with their vision needs.

If you have the opportunity to work with Abasi as your optical consultant, be ready for top-notch, tailored service (coupled with some good entertaining conversation). His goal for each patient is to provide the most beneficial optical solution so the patient leaves confident and comfortable with their purchase.
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When not at Clarendon Vision, Abasi enjoys video games, meditation, self-development, and spending time with family.

Samira Jimenez

Practice manager
Samira joined the Clarendon Vision team as our Practice Manager, bringing 20 years of professional experience in the medical field of which 13 years were in optometry management and strategic operations. As a team leader, Samira enjoys working with people, including patients, partners, and staff. She is determined to provide quality solutions and outcomes for any situation by ensuring she treats everyone’s needs as if they were her own.
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In her time here at Clarendon Vision Development Center, Samira has found the Practice to be one-of-a-kind in its passion, commitment, and quality of the individual's overall eye care. This aligns with her commitment to quality service, education, leadership, development, teamwork, and a passion for continuous growth. “I love that we educate our patients and the community about a holistic multidisciplinary approach to various pediatric, neurological, visual, and medical conditions.”

Samira has completed advanced training for eye care professionals through the Essilor ECP Management Development Program. This program is focused on strategic planning and operations, tracking and reporting, financial management, retail strategies, training strategies, and customer excellence. She is pursuing her master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Capella University with Honors.

​​​​​​​When not at Clarendon Vision, Samira enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, going to Sox games, dancing, and going on “mom” dates with her son and daughter.