Names of Note: Third generation of eye doctors joins longtime Modesto practice

Newly minted optometrist Garrett Elliott has joined the Modesto practice founded by his grandfather and also staffed by his father.

The third Dr. Elliott earned his degree this year at the University of Houston and is now seeing patients at Modesto Optometric Vision Center. The practice is based at 3601 Coffee Road and has branches in Riverbank and Escalon.

L. Edward Elliott founded the practice after graduating in 1965 from the School of Optometry at the University of California, Berkeley. His son, Brian Elliott, got his own degree there in 1990 and joined the family practice.

Garrett Elliott studied genetics in college and has been involved in eye research at Houston and UC Davis.

“Dr. Garrett is looking forward to beginning his career in the clinical practice of optometry with a specific interest in myopia control therapies,” his father said in an email to The Modesto Bee. “These therapies can help reduce the size of needed prescriptions for young nearsighted individuals.”

The staff also includes Drs. Lori Krieger and Cecilia Tong and six support employees.

Oak Valley names president

Rick McCarty will become president and chief operating officer for Oak Valley Community Bank and its affiliates.

He will work alongside CEO Chris Courtney in overseeing the Oakdale-based company as of Jan. 1. It has 14 branches under the Oak Valley name from Turlock to Sacramento, plus three Eastern Sierra Community Bank offices in Mono and Inyo counties.

McCarty has been with Oak Valley for 22 years and has been senior executive vice president and chief operating officer since 2017. Before that, he was chief administrative officer and chief financial officer concurrently.

“Rick has been an integral part of the growth and prosperity of the bank,” Courtney said in a news release.

Oak Valley has three branches in Modesto, two in Sonora and one each in Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy and Sacramento. It plans to add a Roseville branch in the first quarter of 2022.

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