Joseph Smith:
CLASS OF 1983
Wade Hampton High SchoolClass of 1983
Greenville, SC
Furman UniversityClass of 1989
Greenville, SC
Greenville Technical CollegeClass of 1985
Greenville, SC
League AcademyClass of 1979
Greenville, SC
Wade Hampton Elementary SchoolClass of 1976
Greenville, SC
Joseph's Story
Life
I live in Norfolk NE, a 25K population town in northeast Nebraska where there are only 4 stoplights the next 400 miles west. Norfolk is also the home town of Johnny Carson and his childhood home is 2 blocks from me.
After 8+ years of living in the nations capital, my wife and I left these quieter surroundings but one with adventurous winters. My wife is an ICU nurse at the local hospital which is one mile from our home. I used to work there as well until I retired from Respiratory Therapy in 2008. I used to walk to work which is healthier than the crazy commutes that I used to have in DC. There is nothing like marching a mile through 30 MPH winds, a -20 wind chill factor and snow in your face in the morning. It's much better for you than rusting your stomach with coffee to wake up.
Norfolk is a somewhat surreal place for a southerner / northeasterner to live. You see real cowboys and cowgirls here. Since this is the mercantile center of northeast Nebraska, the ranchers will come from 200 miles away to shop. Even though our population is small (still the 7th largest city in the state), the ranchers think we are a "Big City" with a WalMart etc. Omaha is just too big for most of them and the only reason they visit Omaha is to take a rare plane ride. Saturdays are real interesting times to visit WalMart and Target. Entire familys are in town form out west - the Men are in their best jeans, boots (with spurs) and their best ranch hat. The ladies are in similar attire. 50% of the cars in the parking lot are mega SUV's and Suburbans. I stand in the cashiers line in my khaki shorts, striped polo and Croc's standing next to John Wayne himself. No one locks anything around here. In the winter, many leave their cars running when going in the stores and the post office.
I have an international tax consulting and compliane practice ( TravelTax LLC -) that caters to mobile medical professionals in the US and Canada. Along with the typical tax returns, and audit negotiaions, I write articles for a number of journals and conduct nationwide seminars for these professionals and their employers.
We are currently in the ...Expand for more
process of adopting two children from Lithuania, my wife's native country. We have been to language school recently and are within one year of getting a referral.
I am married to an absolutely fantastic woman, Daina Adele (yes, spelled right). Her parents immigrated here from Lithuania after WWII and settled in Philadelphia. I met her in Greenville SC (my hometown) after she moved to go to Bob Jones University. Being married to an European provides a lot of travel opprotunities and we have been to Eastern Europe a number of times for extended visits.
In my not so free time, I am on the Board of Directors of a Bible College in the Carribbean requiring me to go to Puerto Rico twice a year. Yes, we island hop with each visit. The last island we visited was Antigua. I also serve as the CFO of a national advocacy organization for travel nurses. Lastly, I am an Elder Pastor at my church. A lot of work but very rewarding
School
I was basically a geek in high school :) My personality changed when I lived in the northeast. Very outspoken now. I left high school and didn't look back.
College
I took the 6 year track to finish 2 undergrad degrees. I went to Greenville Tec for Respiratory Therapy, and then to Furman University for my BA in Accounting. 7 years later, after my wife finished nursing school, I completed an MA in Bible at Capital Bible Seminary. My concentration was original languages - Greek and Hebrew. I am currently working on an MS in Taxation from Golden Gate ?University in San Francisco.
Workplace
After college and marriage (1990), I worked for a nationwide staffing firm giving me the opprotunity to see a big chunck of the US. We worked in nine different cites in three years. For my wife and I, it was a 3 year honeymoon. My assignments were in Virgina Minnesota, 3 towns in Pennsylvania (East Stroudsburg, Hershey and Philadelphia), 2 towns in Ohio (Akron and Columbus), Stamford Connecticut, New Orleans and then Southern Maryland which led to a permanent postion in the DC burbs for 8+ years.
My wife finished her nursing degree during our stay in DC and we moved to Nebraska 4 weeks before 9/11.
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