Joachim, Tom & Estelle
Grow up, get a decent education, get a nice career, and work real hard climbing the ladder of success," was the mindset Tom and Estelle were following when they were introduced to the Britt team.
They both had been hard workers all their lives, and this mindset just seemed like the natural approach to make their ambitions come true, even if they had come from very different backgrounds when they met during their final year in high school.
Estelle, the daughter of an Army colonel, had moved 11 times and gone to 13 different schools by the time she met Tom. She remembers, "Beginning my senior year as the new child was quite a challenge.'
Tom had come from a very large and extremely close family, and opening his heart to others was pretty easy for him. Tom and Estelle went to college together, both in five-year undergraduate programmes.
Working hard to graduate in four years, Tom acquired a degree in electrical engineering, and Estelle earned degrees in elementary and special education.
After graduation, Tom obtained a job with the Department of the Navy in Washington, DC, and Estelle began teaching shortly after they were married.
"Here we were, two professionals with college degrees, and we could barely afford a one-bedroom apartment in the northern Virginia area.
The only thing we could figure to get ahead was to enrol in graduate school and hope to succeed," Estelle says.
"We came into this industry by accident," adds Tom. "I overheard Al Fratantuono talking to my supervisor about an additional professional-level secondary income.
I basically hounded Al for two weeks trying to see if he'd let me in on what he was talking about."
"We truly had no time to start a business," Estelle continues.
"We were both working full-time, Tom was enrolled in a dual masters/doctorate programme in computer engineering, and I was going graduate school for my master's degree in special education.
"We made the most of the limited time we were given."
The Joachims now enjoy a lifestyle that they could only have imagined a few years ago as a result of this great opportunity. To spend more time with her two boys, Tommy and Danny, Estelle has long since retired from the teaching profession.
GM15 supervisory post with the federal government, Tom was spirited away in a white stretch limousine on the 16th of June, 1995 in front of the Department of the Navy.
He had just said goodbye to his colleagues and was on his way to the land of freedom.
Tom and Estelle both agree that being completely debt-free is a wonderful feeling.
"Knowing that our 5300-square-foot home, as well as our cars and boat, are completely paid for is a wonderful feeling.
Traveling the world's beaches with our friends and business associates, Al and Mary Anne Fratantuono, as well as the other people of character who make up the Britt team, is a dream come true for me and my wife.
But, in the end, all of our financial prosperity pales in contrast to our greatest achievement, which is being full-time parents and mentors to our two extraordinary sons.
We are making our ambitions come true by dedication, tenacity, and having a 'never-quit' mentality."
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