Deans Action Council Welcomes New Members
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is pleased to welcome new members to its Dean’s Action Council (DAC). Joining the DAC are Mark and Monika Clodius, Pamela Schmidt, DDS, NMD, IBDM, Christie Stenstrom Jarrett and Dr. Kris Tumilowicz. Mike Fager is now past chair with Craig Fetty serving as chair and Elise Cadigan as chair-elect. Many thanks go to our retiring board members, Barbara Pittman and Karen Johnson, both of whom served with dedication and enthusiasm over the years.
Mark Clodius was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin and started jewelry making in junior high and made it his profession during his 20´s. He attended the University of Wisconsin and relocated to Rockford in 1984, where he became the first jeweler for K´s merchandise when they opened. He co-founded Zavius Jewelers in 1990 and met, fell crazy in love with and married Monika in 1992. Upon leaving Zavius in 1999, Monika and Mark opened Clodius & Co. Jewelers in the fall of 2000.
Among his professional accomplishments are a life-long study and love for minerals, gems, metallurgy, and history of jewelry, among others. In 2006, he won an International Diamond Grading Contest (it took two sudden death grade offs to achieve), hosted by Polygon International, a prominent jewelry trade organization. He has had original jewelry designs published, and has won ribbons in most of the juried art fairs he has participated in.
He enjoys wine, reading, and music among other things. He enjoyed sports car racing as a bachelor and placed second overall in a year-long club series. Mark and Monika have two children, two dogs, one ferret and enjoy their busy lives.
Monika Clodius was born and raised in Germany. In 1986, her family moved to the United States. From an early age, she can remember going into jewelry stores and checking out the treasures earth has to offer. On one of those adventures, she met Mark.
Sometime after starting Clodius & Co. in 1999, and after their two children were full time students, she decided to start the long process
of obtaining her Gemological Degree from the GIA. She has received her Graduate Diamond Diploma from GIA and is a “stone’s throw” away from achieving her goal of becoming a Graduate Gemologist. Sharing the responsibilities of buying and marketing, she oversees the inventory and their Charitable Donation Departments.
Working with the love of her life, Mark, her parents and their great staff; sharing her office with her pups gives her great pleasure. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, music, sports and her family. At some point, she hopes to ballroom dance again.
Pamela Schmidt, DDS, NMD, IBDM is a University of Illinois graduate. She currently shares a dental practice with her husband and partner, Roger Schmidt DDS, in Rockford. Dr. Schmidt has a degree in Integrative Biologic Dental Medicine and is a board certified Naturopathic Physician. She was recently nationally recognized as the recipient of the “Lucy Hobbs Project” Innovator award being featured in the magazine “Incisal Edge”. Dr. Schmidt is a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, The American Association of Women Dentists, The American Dental Association, The Illinois State Dental Society and The Winnebago County Dental Society.
Christie Stenstrom Jarrett earned her Bachelors in Finance from Northern Illinois University. Christie spent three years in wealth management at First Union. She joined Stenstrom Companies in 2001. During her 15 years with the Stenstrom, she has held multiple leadership roles ranging from construction project manager to her current position as Vice President Stenstrom Companies for Human Resources and Marketing.
The Stenstrom family of companies includes:
- Stenstrom General Contractor-Design/Build Group
- Stenstrom Real Estate Development Group
- Stenstrom Excavation and Blacktop Group
- Stenstrom Petroleum Services Group
- Pearson Plumbing, Heating and Pest Control
- MTI Construction Management
Christie is also a member of the Golden Apple Foundation Board of Directors and was President of the Golden Apple Board from 2006 to 2008. In addition, she serves as the co-lead of the communications team for Transform Rockford and is on the Rockford Park District Foundation Board.
She is married to Ehren Jarrett and has two children, Jackson and Lillian.
A 1977 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Dr. Kris Tumilowicz has practiced dentistry in Northern Illinois for over 30 years. Dr. T. received additional training and credentials from The Misch Implant Institute. He is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and a Diplomat in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Emphasizing Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, Dr. Tumilowicz also has completed the Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry program through the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies. Dr. Tumilowicz (Too-Mee-Love-Itch) is active in the Rockford community. He is Past President of The Rotary Club of Loves Park and Pastoral Council of St. Peter’s Cathedral, where he is also a cantor and choir member. He enjoys snow skiing and soccer.
Dr. Tumilowicz is chairman of the Rockford IceHogs and the team dentist for the Rockford Thunder, and Rockford RiverHawks.