Doctors & Staff
Meet the experienced and friendly doctor and staff who make Definitive Vision the leading provider of vision care products and services in Omaha.
Dr. Shannon Elwood
Dr. Elwood has been practicing optometry since 2003. He specializes in family preventative eye care, with a strong emphasis on contact lenses.
Originally from the Omaha area, Dr. Elwood attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, NE, followed by the University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry where he graduated with honors in 2003. He also is an active member of Heart of America Contact Lens Society and Vision Source.
Dr. Elwood currently lives in Bennington, NE with his wife and three children. In his free time he enjoys playing with his kids, keeping active, and following sports.
Dr. Shannon Heiss
Dr. Heiss received her Doctorate of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry and has completed internships specializing in contact lenses, pediatrics, ocular disease, and primary care optometry. Over the years, she has enjoyed volunteering and participating in mission trips to underprivileged countries to provide eye care and glasses to those in need. “It is such a humbling and ‘eye-opening’ experience and marks some of the most rewarding experiences of my professional education. I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in these countries and felt humbled to be able to make a difference in improving people’s lives and vision.”
Dr. Heiss is a Grand Island native and graduate of University of Nebraska-Omaha. Her blessings include being a wife, a mother of two, and a dog mom of a Weimaraner.
Dr. Catherine Weeder
Dr. Weeder is excited to be the newest doctor on team DV! She received her Bachelor’s degree from Creighton and her Doctorate of Optometry from Ohio State University.
She completed an Advanced Practice Externship at Columbus Ophthalmology Associates in Ohio and an Ocular Disease Externship at the Southern Arizona VA Medical Center in Tucson. Dr. Weeder provides primary vision care, and takes particular interest in managing glaucoma and dry eye disease.
A native from Albion, NE, Dr. Weeder enjoys helping her parents on the family farm and spending time with her husband, Danny.
Dan Florence, ABOC
Dan has been working as an optician since 2002. He was born and raised in Auburn, NE and attended NWMSU in Maryville, MO, enrolled in the pre-med program to hopefully, at that time, become an Ophthalmologist. His various optician jobs through college taught him, however, that he would be an Optician for life. He specializes in frame fashion and dispensing the newest digital lens technologies and coating enhancements.
Dan became certified by the American Board of Opticianry in 2007. Since then, he has held multiple management positions in Lincoln and Omaha with corporate box chain stores and spent 2009-2017 managing two private practices in Berkeley, CA. He moved back to Omaha in March of 2017 to join the Definitive Vision family.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and dog at their home in the Benson neighborhood. They love hiking, kayaking, and DIY home renovations together. Dan enjoys photography, playing and listening to music, and watching his favorite shows and movies.
Bruno Soares
Bruno considers himself a creative person, with a passion for the arts and books. He lives in Brazil and is loving the opportunity to work with Team Definitive Vision. He appreciates developing his communication skills and practicing his English. He is a currently a student at BYU Idaho focusing on his favorite subjects, Graphic Design and Web Development.
He is constantly looking for opportunities to learn new things and to practice his new abilities. In his free time, he likes to read (his favorite genres are fantasy and personal development), play video games, work out, and spend time with his family.
LaTasha Robinson
LaTasha is refreshingly pleasant and passionate about helping her patients choose the perfect eyewear for their new look. With over 20 years of experience in the optical industry, and more than 10 years in management, she is well positioned to assist all patients with their vision needs. She often hears from patients that choosing new eyewear is not fun, so she makes it a priority to make each experience unique and enjoyable.
LaTasha is a light to those in need. She loves spending time with family, and a fun fact about her is that she has seven sets of twins in her family, including herself! Her favorite hobby is designing floral arrangements.
Julia Lepert
Julia, a proud Omaha native, began her journey in the optical world in 2017 and has since honed her craft as both an optometric technician and a skilled optician. Her passion for helping people see clearly is matched only by her creativity and adventurous spirit.
When she’s not busy fine-tuning lenses and assisting patients, Julia dives into her favorite pastimes-immersing herself in video games, bringing her imagination to life through art and costume-making, and binge-watching shows with her two feline sidekicks.
She’s also a frequent flyer to Australia, where she visits her boyfriend and soaks up new adventures halfway across the globe.
Cassidy Nelson
Cassidy is thrilled to be part of the team! A native of Denver, Colorado, Cassidy enjoys a variety of activities that keep her engaged and inspired. She loves playing music, spending time with her friends, and expressing her creativity through painting and crafting.
Cassidy is also passionate about a balanced and healthy lifestyle, regularly enjoying nature, and hitting the gym. As a people person, she particularly enjoys working one-on-one with patients, building meaningful connections and providing personalized eye care.
Matt Waszak
Matt is a native of Omaha and a graduate of Central High School. After moving to Chicago, Matt began his optical journey in 2014. He moved back to Omaha in 2024 and began his Definitive Vision career as an Optician. After 11 years in the optical industry, he has mastered the art of making vision solutions both stylish and functional, allowing each patient’s unique personality and lifestyle to shine.
When not helping people see clearly, Matt enjoys staying active by hitting the gym, riding his bike, and getting outside as much as possible. He also loves learning new things, making music, and hanging out with his cat, Miles.