If you’ve ever read any of our Staff Spotlight posts, you’ve probably noticed that the most common response to “What is your favorite thing about CEC” is some variation of “we are a big family here.”
Dr. Michael Coleman founded Coleman Eye Center in 1978. His son, Dr. Lee Coleman joined the practice in 2003. From the very beginning, both doctors have created a family business that has grown in success, largely due to one significant thing—they genuinely care about people. Whether patient or employee, this fact is clear to all who enter the Coleman Eye Center doors.
The Colemans care about their patients, and they care about their employees as well. When you come to work at Coleman Eye Center, you truly become a part of the Coleman family. They get to know you. They get to know your family. We become each other’s family, and it becomes a place you want to stay. We have watched each other’s children grow up, and for some, even watched them become the newest generation of Coleman Eye Center employees.
Kathy Myers has worked in just about every position in our business office at some point or another over the last 34 years. Her daughter Stephanie started working part time after school, filing, shredding, and other simple office tasks when she was only 16. Stephanie now works full time in our business office and this year will be her 24th with Coleman Eye Center.
Angela Cleveland is a scribe, a tech, and our resident contact lens expert here at CEC. In October, she will celebrate 26 years working here. Her oldest daughter, Anna Grace came to work here in 2022 and she has worked now for two years in our glasses department. Angela’s younger daughter Skylar is a 2024 high school graduate and has joined our team for the summer until she starts college in the fall.
Stacy Williams has been with Coleman Eye Center for 24 years. She is a scribe, she works in surgery, and is our clinical coordinator. Stacy’s daughter Riley began working at CEC part time during summer breaks when she was in college. After graduation, Riley joined our business office staff full time and has now been with us for two years.
Tennille Carpenter is our business office manager. She has worked for Coleman Eye Center for 22 years. Her daughter Jaedyn joined our business office team in 2022 and has now been with us for two years.
Carley Jones is one of our surgery coordinators and has been for the last 10 years. Her daughter Kaylee is a student at Mississippi College. This will be her second summer working with us.
The recipe for the warm, inviting atmosphere which people have come to expect from Coleman Eye Center is quite simple really— happy people make people happy. Working in a place you love with people you love makes it easy.
Family is important here. Not only has our staff adopted the emphasis of family that runs deep within the CEC foundation, but it is an invaluable part of our patient culture as well. Our patients often tell us things like, “I started coming here because my parents came here, and my grandmother had surgery here. Everyone was so nice.” Being kind matters. Creating a welcoming atmosphere matters. It’s what makes you want to come back. It’s what makes you want to bring your mom, your best friend, or your next door neighbor. Building those types of relationships is how this business has grown.
Dr. Michael Coleman, Dr. Lee Coleman, and now Dr. Preslee Magee truly love what they do. Their business is eyes, but they know the value of treating the whole person. They strive to employ a staff with the same heart for hospitality and care that they have. Building compassionate care relationships is just one of the many ways Coleman Eye Center has grown into the leading ophthalmology practice in Central Mississippi.
