Your Eye Care Team
Meet your Plumbers Local 130 UA Vision Center team! Your eye care team is dedicated to improving and maintaining your vision and long-term eye health.
Robert J. Steinmetz, OD
Dr. Robert Steinmetz is the director and co-founder of Union Eyes LLC, the owner of SoLo Eye Care in Chicago, and the co-founder and principal of iCare Advisors, LLC which is a firm dedicated to helping doctors around the country open cold start optometric private practices. Dr. Steinmetz graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and earned his Doctorate of Optometry degree as a cum laude graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry.
Dr. Bob is the 2006 Illinois Young Optometrist of the Year, the 2015 Illinois Optometrist of the Year, the former president of the Illinois Optometric Association Political Action Committee, a member of the Illinois College of Optometry Board of Trustees, a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a past trustee in the Illinois Optometric Association, and a member of the American Optometric Association. Dr. Bob is also a former member of Local 134 and prides himself on having built his offices in Chicago with union labor.
Dr. Steinmetz is one of only a few optometrists nationwide to be board certified by both the American Board of Optometry and the National Board of Optometric Examiners.
Dr. Robert Steinmetz’s outside academic interests include paleontology; he has had the opportunity to travel to southeastern China where he and a team of paleontologists unearthed a large bone bed of sauropod dinosaurs including several previously unknown species. Also an avid sports fan, Robert is co-owner of the now infamous Bearsmobile, the revamped classic Cadillac hearse now devoted to supporting the Chicago Bears. He and his wife Nicole reside in Chicago with their two boys Dempsey and Declan and their English bulldog Mr. Pickles.
Eric A. Baas, OD
Dr. Eric Baas is the co-founder and principal of Union Eyes, LLC and the owner of Marketplace Vision in Chicago. Dr. Baas graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in biological sciences. He then earned his Doctorate of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry and went on to complete a residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease.
Upon finishing residency, Dr. Baas continued to work as a clinical instructor at the Illinois College of Optometry while simultaneously opening a private practice cold in a busy metropolitan area of Chicago. A few years later, he played an integral role in the design, development, and operation of the Rosenbloom Center, which is a state-of-the-art 5000 square foot eye clinic dedicated to the eye care needs of the aging population and visually impaired in Chicago.
Dr. Baas teaches practice management at the Illinois College of Optometry and is actively involved with the Private Practice Club as well as the Sports Vision Club, serving as the team optometrist for the University of Illinois-Chicago. He is also the 2016 Young Alumnus of the Year at the Illinois College of Optometry.
Dr. Eric’s outside interests include physical fitness and supporting the Wisconsin Badgers and Chicago Bears.
Luke Neuenfeldt, OD
Dr. Luke Neuenfeldt graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in Biology and then went on to earn his Doctorate of Optometry from the prestigious Illinois College of Optometry. He completed additional clinical training at the Detroit Medical Center, OMNI Eye Services of Atlanta, and the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Hospital before returning to Chicago. Although he is a Michigan native, he has always loved Chicago and is now proud to call it home.
As a second-generation optometrist, Dr. Neuenfeldt grew up working alongside his father at the family practice since the age of 16. From that point, he was eager to follow in his father’s footsteps to serve patients in the field of optometry. Excellent optometric care has always been important to him. He is grateful and honored to be able to serve the population of Chicago.
In his free time, Dr. Neuenfeldt enjoys working out, training for his next half-marathon, reading, and watching any and all sports.
Jennifer Pankow, Office Manager
Jen earned her degree in Medical Assisting from Robert Morris College and then completed her Paraoptometric Certificate with Indiana University. She has been involved in the optical industry for over two decades, wearing many hats over the years. She has served as an office manager and specializes in patient care, medical billing and credentialing.
Jen grew up on the southside of Chicago, and currently lives In Joliet with her husband. She comes from a family of proud Union Members, including her father who was an IBEW Local 134 member. Jen is a huge Star Wars fan, has a yellow lab named Obi-Wan, and has attend many Star Wars Conventions.
Maggie Dimitrova, Head Optician
Maggie was born in Bulgaria and moved to the United States a young girl. She has extensive optical experience and enjoys high fashion eyewear. She is a former teacher and enjoys educating young children on insertion and removal of their new contact lenses.
Maggie is fluent in English, Bulgarian, understands Russian and is currently learning Polish. When she not selecting the perfect frame for a patient, Maggie is cooking up delicious dishes and traveling across the country.
