Our Doctor

​​​​​

Associate Optometrist

Dr. Alyssa Richard, a Minnesota native, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Hamline University in St Paul MN where she also competed on their dance team. She then moved to Pikeville, Kentucky and graduated from the Kentucky College of Optometry.

Living in the Appalachian (pronounced “app uh LATCH in” as she very quickly learned) mountains allowed her to gain valuable experience in rural health care where she learned to manage many types of patients and conditions. Through this, she found a passion for primary and pediatric eye care. She strongly believes that proper development of the visual system is crucial in setting children up for success. Dr. Richard is a current member of the American Optometric Association and the Minnesota Optometric Association. Dr. Richard grew up in Monticello, MN where she is now an assistant coach for their high school dance team.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, friends and her cat Beans. She enjoys fishing in both the summer and winter months, and takes advantage of any chance she gets to spend a day on the water. Being from the State of Hockey she is, of course, a Wild fan and tries to get to as many games as possible during the season.

Schedule with Dr. Richard Now 

​​​​​

Associate Optometrist

Adjunct Professor of Optometry

Dr. Sydney Athmann grew up in small town Minnesota, where she graduated from New London-Spicer High School. After graduating, she went on to attend St. Cloud State University, where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences while playing for the SCSU volleyball team. She then headed to the East Coast to earn her Doctorate degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, graduating with honors. During this time she was afforded the opportunity to experience various practice types across the country, where she fostered her professional interests in primary care optometry with an emphasis on ocular disease. Dr. Athmann is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Minnesota Optometric Association.

After earning her Doctorate degree, Dr. Athmann knew she wanted to return to her small town roots to practice in a tight-knit community where faces are familiar. She prioritizes patient validation and education to empower patients to be active participants in their care.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Athmann enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her husband, Austin, and their son, Easton. During the summer months, you can likely find them on the lake, the golf course, or cruising the trails in a RZR, but as soon as the snow starts to fall they take every opportunity they can get to escape out west and hit the slopes.

Schedule with Dr. Athmann Now 

​​​​​

Associate Optometrist

Adjunct Professor of Optometry

Dr. Shalon Ronning is a native of Albany, Minnesota, where she attended high school. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Sciences from St. Cloud State University, after which she moved to Memphis, Tennessee to attend optometry school at Southern College of Optometry. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2017. Dr. Ronning is a current member of the American Optometric Association and the Minnesota Optometric Association.

Her schooling in Memphis exposed her to a vast array of patients, many of which had extensive and complicated ocular diseases. It was here that she developed her passion for medical optometry and helping to treat, manage, and prevent ocular disease. With our access to top-of-the-line medical testing and diagnostic equipment, Dr. Ronning is ready to help you and your loved ones maintain your best ocular health. Dr. Ronning strongly believes that patient education is the key to successful outcomes, so she will take every opportunity to discuss your health situation and answer any questions you may have.

Dr. Ronning currently resides in central Minnesota with her husband Nate, their three kids Kepler, Makell, and Crosby, and their beagle Cora. She spends her spare time keeping up with her busy family and enjoying time outside and on the lake and golf course. 

Schedule with Dr. Ronning 

​​​​​

Director of Pediatric Services

Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Clinical Investigator, Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG)

Advanced Residency Training in Pediatric Specialty Care

Adjunct Professor of Optometry

With advanced training and experience in pediatric specialty care, it is a joy and privilege to serve the majority of infants and children at PineCone Vision Center. My passion for this specialty is rooted in advocating on behalf of those who are often unable to articulate their own visual experience. I believe it is essential, therefore, to be grounded in evidence-based principles when making treatment decisions for these little ones.

While I enjoy seeing children of all ages for their comprehensive eye care, I am especially interested in managing amblyopia, eye misalignment, and optic disc elevation, as well as monitoring for ocular complications associated with systemic disorders such as intracranial hypertension, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and genetic syndromes.

As an Idaho native, I grew up in the Northwest and received my Bachelor’s degree from Seattle Pacific University and went on to Pacific University of Oregon to obtain both my Doctorate of Optometry and Master of Education in Visual Function and Learning. Following graduation, I joined a pediatric optometry practice in the Seattle area for additional experience working exclusively with kids. I then moved to Denver to complete a residency program in Pediatric Specialty Care at Children’s Hospital Colorado for more advanced training in pediatric ocular disease and genetic syndromes affecting the eye.

My wife Nancy, who is also an optometrist, grew up on a dairy farm near Watkins and took it upon herself to introduce me to sub-zero windchills, long-O accents, and the Schnitzelbank tradition. When Nancy and I are not talking about eyes, we enjoy hanging out with our kids Jett, Ezra, and Blaise,  getting involved in our local church community, and challenging each other to CrossFit workouts.

Schedule with Dr. Simmons 

​​​​​

Director of Contact Lens Services

Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Fellow, Scleral Lens Education Society

Advanced Residency Training in Anterior Segment Disease and Contact Lenses

Adjunct Professor of Optometry

Trevor Fosso OD, native of Pennock, Minnesota, serves as the Director of Contact Lens Services at PineCone Vision Center. He is passionate about helping patients of all ages achieve their best vision through the use of contact lenses. Dr. Fosso specializes in a variety of contact lens modalities, including bifocal/multifocal, CRT/Ortho K, and scleral contact lenses. Dr. Fosso also provides standard contact lens fitting, as well as primary eye care and ocular disease management.

Dr. Fosso graduated magna cum laude from Bethel University and went on to graduate from Michigan College of Optometry with high honors. He then completed a residency program through the Illinois College of Optometry at Davis Duehr Dean Eyecare in Madison, WI focusing on Anterior Segment Disease and Contact Lens Management. Through this program Dr. Fosso received advanced training in fitting specialty contact lenses, managing various diseases of the anterior segment, including keratoconus, Fuch’s endothelial corneal dystrophy, uveitis, and corneal infections. He was also trained in the pre- and post-operative management of refractive surgery, cataract surgery, and corneal transplantation surgery.

Dr. Fosso is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Minnesota Optometric Association, as well as a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. He has volunteered his services locally with Special Olympics as well as abroad with services trips to Guatemala.

A Minnesota native, Dr. Fosso grew up in Willmar, MN where his parents still farm today. During his free time, Dr. Fosso enjoys spending time with family, especially his wife and their dog, and being outdoors whenever possible. Most days he can likely be found riding either his road bike or mountain bike after work.

Schedule with Dr. Foss Now 

​​​​​

CEO/Clinical Director

Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Board Certified, American Board of Optometry

Diplomate, American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

Advanced Residency Training in Ocular Disease

Adjunct Professor of Optometry

Dr. Stacy Hinkemeyer is a board certified, residency trained optometrist who is the CEO/Clinical Director of PineCone Vision Center.
 

Dr. Hinkemeyer is a local resident of central Minnesota and graduated from Technical High School in St. Cloud. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota at Morris and her Doctor of Optometry with honors from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. She completed her hospital based residency program in ocular disease at the Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Cleveland, Canton, and Brecksville, Ohio. She has served our veterans as the supervising optometrist at the Youngstown and Canton Veterans Clinics, and currently consults at the St. Cloud Veterans Administration Medical Center.
 

Dr. Hinkemeyer is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and serves as adjunct faculty to multiple colleges of optometry.  . She is a member of the American Optometric Association and has served as president of the Minnesota Optometric Association. She is a board-certified diplomate in the American Board of Optometry and Advanced Competency Medical Optometry. She has served as an examiner for the American Academy of Optometry Entrance Exam Committee, a senior consultant to the American Council on Optometric Education, a consultant to the MN Department of Education, and the Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Council.   Dr. Hinkemeyer has served as president of VOSH-MN (the Minnesota Chapter of Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity) and has participated in and led many optometric missions abroad.
 

She has been published and actively lectures on various topics, including neuro-eye disease, children’s vision, glaucoma, retinal disease and dry eye.

Dr. Hinkemeyer practices with the philosophy that she cares for all of her patients as if they were a close family member.  She enjoys getting to know her patients.  This personalization allows her to offer solutions to enhance the quality of their life as well as improve and maintain the health of their eyes.

Dr. Hinkemeyer is a University of Minnesota Stearns County Extension Master Gardener. In her free time, she enjoys being with her two children, travel, reading, gardening, running and beekeeping.

Schedule with Dr. Hinkemeyer 

​​​​​

CEO/Medical Director

Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Board Certified, American Board of Optometry

Diplomate, American Academy of Optometry

Diplomate, American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

Advanced Residency Training in Ocular Disease

Adjunct Professor of Optometry

As the Owner/CEO/Medical Director of PineCone Vision Center, Dr. Nicholas Colatrella is committed to bringing you and your family an unprecedented level of care. Our Vision is to make your experience the most memorable and pleasant it can be.
 

Dr. Colatrella received his doctorate degree with honors from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago and performed a hospital-based residency in ocular disease through the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Optometry and the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. He was also the first optometrist in the country to attain Diplomate status in Anterior Segment diseases from the American Academy of Optometry and acknowledged as a leader in his field.
 

He contributes to his areas of expertise by presenting to professionals and peers, and is a nationally recognized lecturer and published author on the topics of corneal diseases, amniotic membranes, dry eye, LASIK surgery, cataracts, and glaucoma. He is also an adjunct professor for several Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and routinely mentors optometry student externs.
 

“I think the more people are educated about their eye health, the more they understand the importance it has for visual development.”
 

Dr. Colatrella has been granted numerous awards for his contributions to the field of optometry. He was recognized twice as the Young Optometrist of the Year (in both Ohio and Minnesota), and selected as one of the Best and Brightest Forty under 40 in Vision Monday Magazine.  He was awarded Optometrist of the year by the Minnesota Optometric Association in 2017.  Alumnus of the Year, by the Illinois College of Optometry in 2021.  And was listed as one of America’s Best Eye Doctors in Newsweek Magazine in 2022.

He has held numerous leadership positions, including President of both the Minnesota Optometric Association and the Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Council. He is also the founding Chair of the Anterior Segment Section of the American Academy of Optometry, and is currently on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Optometry.  Locally he has served on the boards for the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sartell’s Economic Development Commission.   

He generously gives his time back to the community by hosting seminars, free eye health screenings and participates yearly in the local school vision screenings, where he and his team screen over 1,000 children each year. Additionally, he has participated in missions to third world countries who are underserved in eye care through Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), whose mission is to bring vision to every person on the planet.
 

Dr. Colatrella encourages you to discuss your eye care questions with him, knowing that he’ll give you informed, caring answers to help you address your individual vision care concerns.
 

When he is not in the clinic, Dr. Colatrella enjoys time on the water, exercising, biking, fantasy football, and staying active with his wife and kids.

Schedule with Dr. Colatrella 

​​​​​

Associate Optometrist

Dr. Hunter Throndsen, a Blaine, Minnesota native, is a dedicated and compassionate optometrist committed to delivering exceptional patient care. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2019 and earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry in 2023.
 
Dr. Throndsen’s passion for pediatric vision, myopia management, and vision therapy is rooted in his personal journey. At 18, he underwent vision therapy to address persistent symptoms that impacted his reading comfort. This transformative experience not only resolved his challenges but also inspired his dedication to helping others achieve better visual health.
 
With knowledge in pediatric vision therapy, ocular disease management, and a broad range of clinical experiences—including rotations at Andrews Air Force Base, VA hospitals, and private practices—Dr. Throndsen is well-prepared to meet diverse eye care needs. He is proficient in conversational Spanish for optometry and certified in cultural competency. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Optometric Association, the Minnesota Optometric Association, the College of Vision Development, and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation.
 
Outside of his role at PineCone Vision Center, Dr. Throndsen enjoys baking, reading, thrifting, exploring pop music, and watching competitive reality shows like Survivor and The Challenge. His unique combination of personal experience, clinical expertise, and a patient-centered philosophy makes him a trusted and approachable eye care provider.

Schedule with Dr. Throndsen Now