DENTAL STORE - Key Persons


Barry Cohn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Administrative Team
  • Office Manager
  • Office Manager / Learn More
Barry has been a respected member of The Dental Store family since 2015, and is an esteemed Manager. He graduated BSEE from Southern Illinois University in 1978 and went to work in South Florida for Siemens Corporation until 1986. He moved back to Chicago to raise his family and worked for his family's business, Shaw Brothers, until 2001. After that, he worked in the furniture business until 2015 when he joined The Dental Store. Barry has been married to his lovely wife, Molly, since 1980 and has three beautiful, grown children. Kellen is a Podiatrist, Tori is a Salon Stylist with aspirations of becoming a Dental Hygienist, and Taylor works as an IT Specialist in Chicago. In his spare time, Barry enjoys taking his German Shepard, Loki, on patrol. He likes to read and most of all, he likes to have fun with family and friends.

Cecil Maddela - CMO

Job Titles:
  • Marketing Director
  • Member of the Administrative Team
  • Marketing Director / Learn More
Cecil is the Marketing Director for the Dental Store. He's been in the Marketing field for over 7 years now and enjoys it. Website development comes as natural to him as breathing at this point. He got married to his wife Joy in July 2021 and they both live in Arlington Heights, IL. He is originally from Oak Park, IL where he, his parents, his little sister and little brother grew up since 1996. When he's not doing marketing, he can be found watching or playing sports. He's a huge fan of the Bulls, Bears, and Cubs. He plays basketball every week in Forest Park, IL. Other hobbies include singing, dancing, eating/drinking at cool places in the city or even in the Suburbs. His life is never a secret as he is known to constantly update his Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat stories with fun and exciting adventures.

Diane Szydlowski

Job Titles:
  • Insurance Administrator
Diane Szydlowski has been an integral part of The Dental Store family for years. She is our Insurance Administrator and is extremely well versed in all aspects of dentistry. Diane is a mentor to her fellow employees and is always happy to answer questions and assist her co-workers and patients. Diane and her husband are longtime residents of this area and enjoy weekends away at their summer home with their friends and family.

Dianne Szydlowski

Job Titles:
  • Insurance Administrator
Diane Szydlowski has been an integral part of The Dental Store family for years. She is our Insurance Administrator and is extremely well versed in all aspects of dentistry. Diane is a mentor to her fellow employees and is always happy to answer questions and assist her co-workers and patients. Diane and her husband are longtime residents of this area and enjoy weekends away at their summer home with their friends and family.

Dr. Abdel Salem

After graduating from the University of Jordan with his DDS, Dr. Abdel Salem graduated with his Masters Degree in Oral Science and then completed his Orthodontic Residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since graduating and completing his residency, Dr. Salem has become a very active member of the dental community. Aside from being published in one of the leading Orthodontic Journals, Dr. Salem is active in a clinical research group at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There, his interest is three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Dr. Salem is also an active member of several groups including the; American Association of Orthodontists ( AAO), American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), American Dental Association (ADA), Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS), and Chicago Dental Society (CDS).

Dr. Brian Currie

Job Titles:
  • General Dentist
Step into the world of dental magic, where oral health meets heartfelt care. Dr. Brian Currie, a dynamic general dentist, graduated at the top of his class from UIC College of Dentistry armed with a passion for dentistry that knows no bounds. Dr. Brian also received his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Molecular Biology from Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated Cum Laude. Get ready to embark on a smile-transforming journey with a touch of inspiration and a whole lot of fun! With a beaming smile and a heart brimming with compassion, Dr. Brian is a true champion of patient care. Their greatest joy lies in the ability to brighten lives, one smile at a time. Beyond the dental chair, they believe in fostering lasting connections, treating each patient like a cherished friend. Because at the heart of dentistry is not just crafting pearly whites but creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere where people feel truly cared for. When Dr. Brian isn't bringing smiles to life, they are living their own life to the fullest! Family, friends, and great music hold a special place in their heart, and you'll often find them embracing the beauty of togetherness. Whether it's cozy gatherings, laughter-filled moments, or making memories to last a lifetime, they know how to cherish those closest to them. And who could forget Dr. Brian's trusty companion: their Beagle, Bailey! This four-legged friend is an inseparable part of Dr. Brian's life. Together, they embark on long walks, exploring the world and appreciating the simple joys it has to offer. Nothing beats the companionship and unconditional love of a loyal furry friend. Beyond their dedication to patient care and personal pursuits, Dr. Brian is deeply involved in organized dentistry. Their unwavering commitment to the profession shines through their passionate involvement in dental communities, staying at the forefront of advancements, and spreading knowledge like confetti. So, dear patients, welcome to the realm of extraordinary smiles, where Dr. Brian and their team of dental superheroes are ready to make your dental dreams come true. With their compassionate touch, infectious enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence, you're in for an exceptional dental experience that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Come join Dr. Brian Currie's dental adventure, where every appointment is an opportunity to unleash the magic of your smile and discover the joy of dental care done right.

Dr. Elizabeth Cohn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the American Dental Association
  • Vice - President of the Dental Store, Ltd
Dr. Elizabeth Cohn is Vice-President of The Dental Store, Ltd. Dr Beth currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. She was born and raised in Northbrook, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois at Champaign for her pre-dental studies, and received her Bachelors of Dentistry Degree and her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in Chicago. She graduated in the Honors Program at UIC and was nominated to the national dental honor society. She received an Award for Clinical Excellence from the American Equilibration Society. Dr. Beth is a member of the American Dental Association, the Chicago Dental Society, the Illinois State Dental Society, the American Association of Women Dentists, the American Academy of Dental Group Practice, the Academy of General Dentistry, Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, and others. She has received special training in laser dentistry and air abrasive technology. Dr. Beth is the youngest child of Dr. Neil Shulkin and sister of Dr. Glenn Shulkin. Her interests include all athletics, especially swimming and basketball, and music.

Dr. Fatjona Aliaj

Dr. Jona Aliaj was born in Albania and immigrated to the US at age 5. While growing up in Lombard, Dr. Jona attended and graduated from Benedictine University with her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2016, graduating Cum Laude.

Dr. Ghassan Souri

Job Titles:
  • Pedodontist
Dr. Ghassan Souri completed his postgraduate studies at Loyola University School of Dentistry in Maywood, Illinois and completed a Pediatric Dentistry Residency at Mott Children's Health Center/Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. He completed several post-graduate courses in Advanced Orthodontics and T.M.J. From 1995 - 1997, Dr. Souri served as Dental Technical Advisor to the Head Start/Child Care Program for the City of Chicago. As a consultant, he recommended guidelines to the Head Start/Child Care staff and parents for adapting and updating health policies and incorporating useful dental practices. In addition to making presentations to parents on preventive dental hygiene practices at several Head Start sites, he co-authored the Dental Health Education Handbook for Head Start. Dr. Souri is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry as well as the Dental Director of Infant Welfare of Chicago. He has won several awards such as the Illinois Primary Health Clinician Devotion Award in 2002, the National Association of Community Health Center Award of Excellence in 2011, and the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry Award in both 1998 and 2001. Being a dentist was always a dream of Dr. Souri's since his childhood. He enjoys dentistry because he believes that it is half science and half art. In his spare time he enjoys traveling and exploring different cultures with his daughter and son.

Dr. Glenn Shulkin

Job Titles:
  • President of the Dental Store, Ltd
Dr. Glenn Shulkin is President of The Dental Store, Ltd. Dr. Glenn was born and raised in Chicago and its northern suburbs. He currently resides in Buffalo Grove with his wife, Janice and their son, Bradley and daughter, Amanda. Dr. Glenn is the eldest child of Dr. Neil Shulkin, founder of The Dental Store. Dr. Glenn was one of the first American dentists to be formally trained, and to be certified, as a trainer in the use of YAG laser. He has presented seminars and training on laser technology and implementation at The Dental Store to hundreds of dentists, and has lectured at universities, professional, business and community groups. The Dental Store was the first dental practice in the U.S. to utilize the Nd:YAG laser following FDA approval. He received his Bachelor and Doctorate Degrees in dental surgery from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, after attending Indiana University majoring in Chemistry. He also served as an assistant at two major dental laboratories in the Chicago area, Major-Monroe Dental Laboratory and Summit Dental Laboratory. Dr. Shulkin was charter member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Finance Committee of the International Academy of Laser Dentistry (1990). He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Laser Dentistry, a member of the American Society of Lasers in Medicine & Surgery, the American Dental Association, the Chicago Dental Society, the Illinois State Dental Society, Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, the International Society of Laser Dentistry, the American Academy of Dental Group Practice, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Greater O'Hare Association, and a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Institute. He has earned hundreds of hours of continuing education. Dr. Glenn Shulkin is co-author (with Dr. Neil Shulkin) of a textbook titled, "Professionally Speaking: A Marketing and Management Handbook for Dental and Medical Professionals", which is now in national distribution. He has appeared on several television programs, including WCIU-TV, American Medical TV, and the American Airlines TV. He has also been the subject of several newspaper reports internationally. Dr. Glenn enjoys racquetball, swimming, and basketball.

Dr. Jason Brenner

Dr. Jason Brenner earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland Dental School of Dental Medicine and continued his post-doctorate training in a general Practice Residency at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York, where he gained extensive experience in dental implantology and prosthodontics. Originally from New York City, Dr. Brenner graduated cum laude from City University of New York Brooklyn College with a B.A. in Economics. He now lives in Lincolnwood with his wife and 4 children. In his free time Dr. Brenner enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, cooking and music.

Dr. Joshua Mayer

Dr. Joshua Mayer, a Board Certified Periodontist, grew up in Colorado, where his love for winter sports developed. His dental career began in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he attended Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine, graduating with cum laude honors. After becoming interested in periodontal surgery during dental school, he was accepted to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, an Ivy League University. At the culmination of his training, Dr. Mayer earned his certificate in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery, and was awarded the J. George Coslet Memorial Award, for demonstrating excellence in periodontal surgery. Dr. Mayer's specialty training at the University of Pennsylvania focused on the treatment of periodontal disease as well as the many surgical techniques related to implant placement, sinus augmentation, soft tissue grafting (connective tissue and free gingival grafting), bone grafting, periodontal regeneration, hard and soft tissue augmentation, periodontal plastic and cosmetic surgery, and the treatment of peri-implantitis and peri-implant mucositis. Beyond his surgical training, Dr. Mayer also has a Masters of Science degree in Biomedical Science. Dr. Mayer is proud to be a Board Certified Periodontal Surgeon, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. Since his graduation, Dr. Mayer has maintained a clinical faculty position at Midwestern University, serving as adjunct clinical faculty in the Department of Periodontics. Seeing his patients through all stages of treatment gives him the most satisfaction in his dental practice. His patient's are a top priority, and he strives to provide quality care from pre-surgical planning to follow-up. When not in the office, you can catch him loading the skis onto the roof rack or on the mountain slopes!

Dr. Patrick Carroll

Job Titles:
  • Maxillofacial Surgeon
  • Oral Surgeon
Dr. Patrick Carroll is an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon with eight years of experience. During his undergraduate studies Dr. Patrick Carroll focused on biology, where he graduated with honors, and earned himself an early admission to the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Upon completing his DDS in the top 10% of his class, Dr. Carroll elected to further develop his talents and complete his residency studying Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Vanderbilt University. While studying Oral surgery at Vanderbilt, Dr. Carroll would receive heavy exposure to trauma, pathology, anesthesia, and dentoalveolar surgery. His training at Vanderbilt was of paramount importance. Dr. Carroll would act as the chief resident of the facial trauma and reconstruction team where he would further hone his skills. In his free time, Dr. Carroll enjoys traveling and exploring the corners of Chicago.

Dr. Scott McCarty

Job Titles:
  • General Dentist
Dr. Scott is a general dentist who has been with The Dental Store since 2010. Dr. Scott is experienced in many facets of dentistry such as restorative and children's dentistry and he is always very excited to get to know, and treat new patients. His friendly and welcoming style continues to surpass customer expectations, leaving them comfortable and ready for their next check-up. Dr. Scott originally grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. He then moved to Chicago where he attended and graduated from Loyola University Chicago with his B.S. in Biology in 2005, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He received his D.D.S. from the University of Illinois Chicago, College of Dentistry in May 2009. Since graduation, Dr. Scott has gained extensive experience in all phases of general dentistry and keeps up to date with current technology and advancements through continuing education. Dr. Scott currently lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with his wife of 10 years, Leah, and their three young children. His hobbies include traveling, movies, football and spending time with family and friends.

Joel Cohn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Administrative Team
  • Office Manager
  • Office Manager / Learn More
This is the best career, because I love helping people! Plus, working with incredible doctors, a fun team, and most importantly our wonderful patients makes each day a pleasure! Taking on a management role and learning from Marlene Garfield, a spectacular role model, has been an exciting challenge. After years of training, successfully completed actuarial exams, obtaining multiple designations (FSA 2003-2013, CFA 2006-2016, and MBA 2007), and a 20+ year career working as an actuary, I decided to make a life change and join my wife and brother-in-law in managing our family's dental office. More recently, I've been working on this new endeavor where we've created a new partnership, Dental Design. Now, I'm closer to home, see more friends and family as patients while working in the office, and have joined a wonderful team where all our efforts surround serving our fantastic family of patients. On a personal note, I reside a few minutes from the office in Riverwoods where I live with the love of my life and my wife - Beth, and our four adorable children (Jordyn, Jacob, Samantha, and AJ). So, as to be expected with young children, I am always running around after them. With the few minutes of personal time I get, you can find me playing basketball, golf, cards, heading to the movies or theater, or just having a nice dinner with friends.

Kinnari Desai

Job Titles:
  • Dental Hygienist
Kinnari moved to Illinois in 2015, she graduated from I.U.P.U.I. with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. She then attended Ivy Tech College and in 2013 received her Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene. Kinnari has been a valued team member at the Dental Store Since 2016. Her ultimate goal is to provide quality care to all her patients. She finds the most important aspect of her job is to not only educate patients on dental care, but to help maintain their overall health. She regularly attends continuing education courses. When she's not traveling with her husband, Kinnari loves to spend quality time with her family and friends. She also enjoys watching TV shows and outdoor activities.

Sharon Petrucci

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Administrative Team
  • Office Manager
  • Manager With the
  • Office Manager / Learn More
Sharon Petrucci is a Manager with The Dental Store. She has been a part of the dental industry for over two decades. Although her workload keeps her exceptionally busy throughout her day, her energy and humor eases the daily lives of both her fellow co-workers and the patients who get the chance to have contact with her. She believes that The Dental Store is committed to giving the best care to the patients who come through the door each day, and enjoys the great people she spends her days with as well as the diversity her work offers. When she is not busy at work she enjoys reading, playing tennis, taking walks with her dog Vinny and spending quality time with her three children, family and friends.