In the realm of heroes, vision is the superpower that lights the path to greatness, transforming lives and shaping destinies. For some, the quest for perfect vision can be elusive, but Dr. Derron Lee and Dr. Leanne Lee have made it their heroic mission to enhance the sight of their community, their patients, and those they champion through their philanthropic endeavors.No, they haven’t found the secret to X-ray vision just yet, but they are committed to changing lives, one lens at a time.
A Dynamic Duo
Like most epic superhero stories, this one begins with two ordinary kids who didn’t realize they’d crossed paths before.
“We began dating in 1992 when we attended the same high school; it was only then we realized he had already met at a sixth-grade science camp,” Leanne says with a laugh.
Now, 32 years later, this dynamic duo is still going strong, writing their own love story—complete with capes and costumes and a profitable business.
With a deep love of science and the desire to help people, Leanne accepted several internships while she and Derron attended UC Davis together for their undergraduate degrees. “I did a little bit of everything; I tried pediatrics, OB/GYN, emergency medicine, and optometry — I knew I had a love for children, so I wanted to make sure the field I picked had that element.” Intuitively, Leanne knew the question she had to ask each doctor at the end of her internship: “If you knew what you know today, would you still pick this field of medicine?”
Dr. Karrin Vallin was the only doctor who gave a resounding yes to her field of choice: optometry. And that was all Leeann needed to hear. “And Derron was smart enough to follow my lead,” she says with a laugh.
Leanne worked for Dr. Vallin in the summer months as a receptionist, and Derron was able to intern with her husband, Dr. Mark Waldmire, who was also an optometrist. One young optometrist couple learning from an established one—their course was within sight.
“When we finished our undergraduate degrees, we moved to New York City together to attend SUNY College of Optometry.” Living in New York City was a time in their lives the couple cherished, so much so that many people didn’t expect them to move back to California upon graduation — until the events of September 11, 2001.
“The tragedy of 9/11 shook not only us but the world. It was one thing to see it on TV, but witnessing it happen right in front of you changed us. It’s not something you forget.” Leeann pauses, before adding, “We loved New York, but we missed our families. We wanted to be closer to home, and that was Stockton.”
In 2003, Leeann and Derron graduated, made the move back to sunny California, and worked to get their practice off the ground. The Lees have been practicing doctors for 21 years and business owners for 17 years.
“After our cash flow started to improve, Rachel introduced us to Profit First, and it has been a game-changer for our business.”
Profitability… and Beyond!
You’d think a medical degree would give you everything you need to handle a private practice. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Operating a practice, finding a location, managing the finances, knowing who to pay and when—these new doctors needed someone who knew what their next steps should be.
“I read a lot of Simon Sinek and would encourage others to do the same. Everyone knows what we do as optometrists, but they don’t know why. I found that to be incredibly important to share with those in our community.”
Leanne goes on to explain that sharing that “why” with their staff, partners, and customers has led them to not only better treat patients but also create lasting relationships that extend far beyond the walls of an office.
While the Lees were pouring their hearts into discovering their “why” and managing a rapidly expanding patient roster, their financial records and accounting practices were screaming for attention. “We had a family to raise, a practice to grow, employees to manage, and patients to support—our books simply got lost in the shuffle,” Leanne admits. Owning and operating an optometry practice is like navigating a maze with no clear map, and the pitfalls were everywhere. That’s when they sought out Scott Colonna, a business coach and fellow optometrist, who recommended they call Rachel Siegel at Go Figure Accounting. This call would change everything.
“Rachel is a great listener,” Dr. Leanne begins. “She brought a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to the table. She dove right into our books and quickly identified areas for improvement.”
By implementing new accounting practices and providing ongoing support, Rachel helped the Lees transform their books from a disorganized mess into a well-oiled machine, allowing them to concentrate on what they do best: providing exceptional care to their patients.
“But she wasn’t done with us yet,” Leanne says, smiling. “After our cash flow started to improve, Rachel introduced us to Profit First, and it has been a game-changer for our business.”
Rachel eased the Lees into Profit First by setting achievable and manageable goals, which helped them budget more effectively.
“It clicked immediately, and it wasn’t intimidating at all,” Leanne says. “Of course, we wanted to be a profitable business, but we had other goals we had always wanted to achieve and we knew right away that Profit First would help get us there.”
Those goals had a philanthropic mission. “When we first started our practice, we didn’t have the financial ability to donate.We offered our time and professional services whenever we could. But thanks to Profit First, we’ve unlocked the ability to contribute financially and reserve funds for charity events. Now, our new mission is to expand, hire another doctor, and focus on working on the practice rather than in it.”
Go Figure stepped in as the ultimate sidekick, seamlessly handling the bookkeeping so these superhero doctors could concentrate on their patients.
“I was finally able to get out of our books and use my brainpower to work on projects for growth, see more patients, and truly drive our practice forward,” Leanne says.
Monsters, Inc.
With finances finally in check, the Lees have been able to focus their attention on building a unique experience for their practice, inside and out. In fact, one might say their practice is infused with a healthy dose of “Marvel mentality.”
“My husband loves Marvel,” Leanne says with a laugh. “Even our Mission Statement is an homage to the Avengers—accountability, valor, ethical, never give up, give back, efficient, results, self-motivating. Derron is definitely Iron Man, and I am The Vision ( a mix of all the Avengers). It defines our personality traits, too. We are polar opposites. He is Popular/ Powerful and handles Marketing. While I am Perfect/Peaceful and handle Operations and HR.”
The superhero theme infuses the ins and outs of daily practice as well. “Derron graciously gave up his man cave at home to bring the games and superhero paraphernalia to the office,” explains Leanne. “Most of the exam rooms are interactive with jedi light sabers or the Iron Man glove. We let our patients pose with them for pictures and they love it!! Big kids and small kids alike. We love bringing joy to them when we see them. It is so much more than an eye exam …it is a whole experience!”
And, of course, there’s the “Marvel” effect on family life. “Honestly, Derron always loved Marvel, but it wasn’t a huge part of our lives until we had kids and started dressing up for Halloween. That’s when we really got into it!”
The Lees now have two teenage children, Logan and Chloe, and like most teens, their enthusiasm for cosplay has waned. But that’s OK. “We still like to have fun, but our priorities are shifting when it comes to the kids.Family vacations are important, as are planning for their futures.”
Which led them to chat with Rachel about making new goals for their Profit First account. “Derron and I struggle with clocking out,” Leanne says. “But now that Logan and Chloe are older, we are more aware of keeping work at work and home at home.”
And thanks to Profit First, the Lees don’t have to stress about potential lost income, whether that is unforseen economic changes or being on vacation.
“We have grit, and we’re still here. We have been able to pivot in any economic environment and continue our mission of helping people.”
Like vision, success can be measured on a sliding scale. What a victory looks like for one may look dramatically different for another. Success for Leanne and Derron is simple: “Being able to sleep at night, knowing we did the right thing. On a more tangible note, having freedom.”
With Rachel, Go Figure, and a vision locked clearly on the future, Dr. Derron and Dr. Leanne have built Midtown Optometry into a place full of healing, profit, and purpose.
