Duquette Family Eye Care Is More Than a Company Name

Any woman who serves as majority owner of a small business, who developed a growing business, has a three-year track record of success in revenues and profits, increased job creation, has an innovative product or service, and a demonstrated potential for future growth, may be nominated for the Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Award.

Dr. Lori A. Duquette, an optometrist since 1998, purchased an existing optometry practice in Woonsocket in 2010 with financial assistance through Coastway Community Bank and a loan guaranty from the SBA. Dr. Duquette has since obtained several other SBA-backed loans to grow her practice and move to a new location in North Smithfield in 2013.

From the very beginning, Dr. Duquette’s goal was to use state-of-the-art diagnostic and examination instrumentation, yet still maintain the old-fashioned personal touches that are often lost in today’s health care environment. The doctors and staff make it a habit to treat patients the way they would like to be treated. That generates many word-of-mouth referrals, resulting in business growth. Advanced technology allows the doctors to monitor for medication toxicity in the macula, HIV retinal disease and macular degeneration.

Staffing has also grown to 11 employees over the past two years. The practice now has a second optometrist and two new staff members.

Duquette Family Eye Care has patients of all ages, from infancy to late adulthood. Their oldest patient is 102 years old.

Dr. Duquette and staff care for the patients’ eyes with consideration to the individual’s entire health picture. Many systemic conditions can also affect the eyes and visual system, including, but not limited to, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, thyroid conditions, arthritis, learning disabilities, and Lyme disease.

Lori is also very active in her community. For the past 14 years, she has been the volunteer clinical director for the Special Olympics Lions’ Club International Opening Eyes Program. The program provides free eye health exams, vision screenings and free eyewear to Special Athletes in the Rhode Island Summer Special Olympics at the University of Rhode Island. She also initiated Rhode Island’s first Young Athletes Opening Eyes Program to provide vision and eye health screenings to the younger athletes who are just starting with the Special Olympics.

Dr. Duquette volunteers at the Rhode Island Free Clinic in Providence as an eye care provider. She is also a member of the Burrillville Lions’ Club.

Lori is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a major in zoology. She is also a graduate of the New England College of Optometry in Boston.

For her demonstrated success as a woman-owned entrepreneur, the U.S. Small Business Administration is honored to present the 2014 Rhode Island Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Award to Dr. Lori A. Duquette, president of Duquette Family Eye Care in North Smithfield.

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