About Us
Complete Family Eyecare was founded in 2010 with a vision of providing unique eye care services to Prior Lake, Burnsville, Lakeville, Savage, Eagan, Apple Valley and South Minneapolis-Saint Paul Metro area.
Optometrist Dr. Steve Reinders served at Park Nicollet Clinic for 17 years before opening his own eye clinic (Complete Family Eyecare) with the goal of providing a more personal, patient focused experience in eye care. Together with his wife Jennifer, they built CFE from an empty shell into a state-of-the-art eye clinic.
While utilizing the most current technologies to address all of your eye care needs, Dr. Steve and his entertaining staff still strive to make your experience an enjoyable and educational event – instead of just another dull medical visit.
Meet the Team
Steve Reinders
Optometrist and Owner
I grew up on a farm in Southwestern MN and graduated from Windom High School. After picking rocks, walking beans and feeding cattle for 18 years, I attended the University of MN for undergraduate studies and after several grueling years of school received a Doctorate in Optometry from Pacific University in 1993. I then served the Southern suburbs while on staff at Park Nicollet Clinic in Burnsville for 17 years before opening Complete Family Eyecare in 2010 with my wife Jennifer.
I have been married to Jennifer since 2003 and we have two daughters, Abigail and Isabelle (a.k.a. “Nitro and Glycerin”). When not chasing the kids or looking at eyeballs, I enjoy waterskiing and lounging on Prior Lake where I have lived for 21 years and serve as the Prior Lake Association President.
Dr. Reinders FAQs
Q.) What made you decide to get into optometry?
A.) When I was freshman at the U of MN, Morris, I was pre-engineering but realized that heavy math wasn’t my bag. My advisor told me to go into optometry so I changed my major having never had an eye exam in my life.
Q.) Is it difficult to work with your wife?
A.) NO, similar to home, I do what I am told and choose my battles wisely. Actually, we get along very well but we do have our moments
Q.) Are your kids interested in an eyeball career?
A.) No, unless it would involve Youtube, Netflix, or Fortnite
Q.) Do you miss farming?
A.) I miss the smell of the corn fields but not the smell of the cattle. Great place to grow up and learn a solid work ethic. I still visit the Bergen Bar which was close to our family farm.
Q.) Have you ever ruptured a bicep tendon while waterskiing?
A.) Yes
Q.) How would you describe optometry after being in practice for over 25 years?
A.) Living the dream, one eyeball at a time!
Q.) Plans to retire?
A.) Never
Jennifer
Manager and Owner
Jennifer was born in Virginia MN and graduated from Apple Valley (Valley Girl) High School. She married Steve at Shepherd of The Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake in 2003. Their daughters are 11 and 13 years old. Jennifer attended Methodist Hospital School of Radiology and enjoyed a 20 year career at Park Nicollet where she continued to work part time until 2016.
Jennifer has been the driving force behind Complete Family Eyecare since its inception in 2010. While in the clinic she is the ultimate multi-tasker, taking care of everything from answering the phone, special testing, and frame selection to insurance filing. When not in the clinic, she runs the Reinders household, taking excellent care of Steve and the kids (Nitro & Glycerin). In her 15 minutes of spare time per week, she enjoys her flowers and gardening.
Jennifer FAQs
Q.) How did you meet Steve?
A.) At Park Nicollet. I was working in Urgent Care and he was in the eye department. In a lame attempt to flirt with me, he would send me jokes via interoffice mail.
Q.) Is it difficult to work with your husband?
A.) No, as long he stays in his office or the exam rooms. Overall it is a lot of fun and am very happy that we started this clinic together.
Q.) What is the most challenging part of your day at the office?
A.) Insurance, Insurance, and Insurance.
Q.) Thoughts on raising teenage girls?
A.) NO COMMENT
Q.) Favorite line from Top Gun?
A.) Slider, you stink!
Q.) Favorite Restaurant?
A.) Charlie’s on Prior
Q.) Most annoying thing about Steve?
A.) For starters…Every time we go somewhere, he is never ready, always jacking around, and makes us late.
Chantel
ABO Certified Optician
Chantel serves in the critical role of “Director of First Impressions.” She commands the front desk and is the face behind the friendly voice on our scheduling line. Chantel is originally from Eagle Lake, Minnesota. We were very fortunate to rescue Chantel from the corporate optical world and bring her on staff in 2012. Besides taking excellent care of patients and countless office tasks, Chantel also assists Jennifer with the insurance battle. All this while putting up with Dr Steve’s foolishness on a daily basis.
In her spare time Chantel enjoys fishing and the outdoors. Her and her husband Gilbert have a lake property where most of their weekends are spent .
Colleen
Assistant Technician
Colleen enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls exploring new parks, going on bike rides, and just being together. During her free time she enjoys photography, hanging out with friends, working out and playing softball once a week. Oh and drinking coffee all day just to stay awake and wine at night to help her sleep! Haha.
Elisha
Director of First Impressions
Elisha is the Director of First Impressions at Complete Family Eyecare. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, friends and family. In her spare time she loves to bake, travel-with her boyfriend in the pilot seat, she is a great co-pilot when it comes to planning adventures. She enjoys hosting whiskey & cigar night with her friends.
Kathy
You can’t have a family owned and operated clinic without the mother-in-law being involved. Jennifer’s mother Kathy is originally from Babbit, MN and has two daughters and four grandchildren – all girls. Kathy has been in nursing for over 30 years working in the world of Ears, Nose and Throat – ironically very close to the eyes.
Kathy and her husband of 35 years spend their spare time at their cabin on Lake Vermillion. They are also instrumental in helping Jennifer and Dr. Steve contain Nitro and Glycerin.
Thanks for taking the time for reading our Biographies. Hope you enjoyed the humor – it will only get better when you visit our clinic.
Video Bloopers!
We believe that video is a great medium in which to communicate to our patients and potential patients. You get to know who we are in a way more powerful than words or pictures alone. On our YouTube channel, you’ll find dozens of videos that aim to educate and help you get to know us a little better,
Contrary to popular belief, we are not professional video presenters, and we’re not planning on quitting our day jobs anytime soon.
During our last video shoot, our awesome video guy put together some of the outtakes. We hope you enjoy this as much as everyone else!
Our Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday 9:00am - 7:00pm
Friday: 9:00am-1:00pm
Saturday: Urgent medical needs only, text 612-578-551
Complete Family Eyecare
(952) 562-8116
Rated 5 stars – based on 299 reviews and counting
14120 Commerce Ave, Suite 100
Prior Lake MN 55372
Emergency Only: 612-578-5516
