Illinois e-News Release

Eric Wasowicz will continue to serve on the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* After over three decades founding and growing companies, Wasowicz currently serves as the founding partner of Greenbrier Group, advising several technology related companies. Previously, he spent over two decades as co-CEO with the RJE Group. Wasowicz was also regional vice president for Fujitsu Consulting North America, a $42 billion IT services organization. He served as an entrepreneurship instructor at the NIU College of Business from 2012 to 2017, and is a board member of the Illinois Technology Association and the NIU College of Business, as well as the chapter chairman of YPO Gold Chicago. Wasowicz received a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Northern Illinois University.

Dennis Barsema will continue to serve on the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Dennis Barsema was first appointed to the NIU board in July 2017. Prior to that, he spent 10 years as an instructor at the Northern Illinois University College of Business, where he created curriculum in social entrepreneurship for the college. Barsema spent over two decades in senior leadership roles in the tech industry — as Interim CEO of Blue Lane Technologies, CEO and president of Onetta and Redback Networks, Senior Vice President of Centigram Corporation and SoftSwitch Corporation, and Vice President of Sales of Primary Access and Paradyne Corporation. He began his career as a salesman for Burroughs Corporation and Storage Technology Corporation, based in Rockford. He received A Bachelor of Science in management from Northern Illinois University.

Joyce Madigan will continue to serve as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University.* Since its inception in August 1995, Madigan has served as partner of Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan, LLP, a full-service CPA firm located in Charleston, Illinois. She founded the firm with the Charleston partners of Larsson, Woodyard & Henson, LLP, where she worked for 15 years prior. Madigan began as a staff accountant and eventually became a manager and partner of the firm. She currently serves as Vice President of Coles Together, Coles County’s economic development corporation. She has previously served on the Eastern Illinois University Accounting Advisory Board and the School of Business Advisory Board. In addition, she was a past chair and former board member of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System. She received a Bachelor of Science in accounting and computer management from Eastern Illinois University.

Carin Stutz will continue to serve as a Member of the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Carin Stutz has over twenty-five years of experience in executive leadership roles within the nation’s most popular food franchises. Stutz currently serves as the President and CEO of Native Foods, providing strategic leadership. Prior to Native Foods, Stutz was an Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. In this role, she was responsible for delivering $1.3 billion in revenue across 572 U.S. and Canadian restaurants. Stutz has been a member of the Western Illinois Board of Trustees since 2019, and is also a board member of the Illinois Restaurant Association, where she sits on the finance committee. Stutz has been awarded and recognized by different organizations including: Fast Casual Industry Hall of Fame, and Western Illinois University’s Distinguished Alumni and Alumni Achievement Award in 2012 and 2019. Stutz received a Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from Mid-American Nazarene University.

Kirk Dillard will serve as a Member of the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Senator Kirk Dillard has been an advocate for the public for over thirty years. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Regional Transit Authority, the nation’s second largest mass transit system. Dillard also served as a member of Governor Pritzker’s Restoring Illinois Infrastructure Transition Committee. In 1994, Dillard was elected to represent Chicagoland’s western suburban area as their State Senator. While in Springfield, he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senate Local Government Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Rules Committee. He also worked as a Court of Claims Judge from 1987 to 1991. Sen. Dillard has beenrecognized for his many contributions including by Crain’s Chicago Business “Who’s Who in Chicago Business,” the Illinois Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture, and was named Illinois “Super Lawyer.” Sen. Dillard received a Bachelor of Arts from Western Illinois University, Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Western Illinois University.

James Kvedaras will continue to serve as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Governors State University.* Kvedaras recently retired after 37 years in the railroad industry, assuming roles of increased responsibility across a number of departments including as Director of U.S. Government Affairs, where he managed state and local matters for sixteen states. He now continues to be active on boards and committees for several organizations, including Governors State University, the Chicago South Suburban Mass Transit District (representing his hometown of Homewood), the Cancer Support Center of Homewood and Mokena, and has started doing independent business consulting for a local community college. Kvedaras received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Governors State University.

Laura Kent Donahue will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois State Board of Elections.* Laura Kent Donahue has over two decades of experience. She worked in the Illinois General Assembly as an Illinois State Senator from 1982-2003, served as Adams County Circuit Clerk in 2012, and has been a member of the State Board of Elections since 2019. While in office, she served as a Republican Caucus Chair, Assistant Majority Leader, and was Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Prior to joining the board, Kent Donahue was a senior advisor for the state of Illinois for the LS2 Group, a bi-partisan public affairs firm. She’s also advised on several projects with Prairie Lawn Consulting, where she helped organize and advise clients. Kent Donahue graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Stephens College.

Tonya Genovese will continue to serve as a Member on the State Board of Elections.* Genovese is currently an Attorney at the Gori Law Firm. Previously, she was an Attorney and Compliance Officer at Lewis & Clark Community College. Prior, Genovese was Attorney at the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. Genovese has been a board member since 2021. She received her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Saint Louis University.

Kathryn Bohn will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois State University Board of Trustees.* Dr. Kathryn Bohn has over thirty-five years of medical experience in the state of Illinois and Indiana. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Illinois State University and is the Medical Director for the Pre-Professional Mentorship Program. She is also a full-time physician at The Vein Specialist. She has experience as an Emergency Physician at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Trinity Medical Center, and at St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Department. Dr. Bohn has been published in the 1982 Symposium on Surface Mining Hydrology, Sedimentation and Reclamation. She has also been named to Illinois State University College of Arts and Science Hall of Fame in 2005. Dr. Bohn has been a member of the Illinois State University Board of Trustees since 2019,is a member of the Illinois State University Foundation Board, and has a private pilot license. Dr. Bohn received a Bachelor and Master of Science from Illinois State University, and a Doctorate of Medicine from Southern Illinois University.

Roger Tedrick will continue to serve as a Member of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Roger Tedrick has over forty years of insurance experience with commercial insurance and risk management. He is currently the CEO of The Tedrick Group, where they specialize in property, commercial automobile insurance, and workers’ compensation. Prior to founding The Tedrick Group and serving as its President, he was a commercial insurance agent for the Lauderdale Insurance Agency. Tedrick is passionate about his alma mater and has served on SIU-Carbondale Alumni Association Board of Directors andas President for SIU-Carbondale Foundation Board of Directors. Tedrick has been on the SIU Board of Trustees since 2019 and is the Chairman of the finance committee. He graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

John Simmons will continue to serve as a Member of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* John Simmons has over thirty years of experience providing opportunities for disenfranchised communities. Simmons served in the U.S. Army and was honorable discharged in 1988. Since his time in the Army, he founded Simmons Hanly Conroy, an organization dedicated to representing individuals who have been exposed to toxic materials, many of which are veterans. Simmons also help found Alton Steel, Inc, and serves as a Chairman, creating jobs and bringing back the craft of steelmaking tohis town of Alton, IL. He also spearheaded an initiative to provide free dental care for veterans at Southern Illinois University in Springfield. Simmons graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University, and has an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.