Joanne Thomas

Where were you on July 13, 1979?
Playing newspaper tag and marbles with my neighborhood friends until my curfew, when the street lamps came on, sneaking diet Shasta soda, especially my favorite flavor – strawberry

Favorite memory from the 70’s?
Waking up to the smell of bacon and pancakes and spending the day blasting David Cassidy, The Beach Boys and Barry Manilow from my record player while I tried to learn every word to every song, performing it in front of my mirror with my hair brush as a microphone.

Where were you on July 13, 1989?
Enrolled in the summer session of my first year of law school, driving back and forth to Los Angeles wondering why I agreed to move back in with my parents during law school which I came to realize was not an ideal arrangement.

Favorite song from the 80’s?
“Cuts Like A Knife” by Bryan Adams

Where were you on July 13, 1999?
An associate attorney working in our Orange County office, planning our move before the arrival of my second son and plotting how I was going to successfully balance a husband, two kids under the age of two and a law career.

Favorite movie from the 90’s?
The Lion King, which was the first movie my husband and I watched together.

Where we you on July 13, 2009?
Managing my Inland Empire office, raising two teenage boys and thinking back on that time when I was plotting how I was going to successfully balance everything meanwhile Googling whether or not all of this is normal and thinking maybe I should have plotted better ten years ago.

What is your favorite meal to cook?
Breakfast for dinner, any day, everyday, way before McDonald’s ever thought of it, although I will give them credit for inventing the McGriddle which is obviously genius!

7/13/19: our 40th anniversary……what has been your proudest moment as part of the SRTK family?
That moment I realized that we have created a work environment that is not only serious about being the best at what we do, but that we’re a family too, watching everyone growing up together and realizing each of our dreams.

Let’s jump ahead, it’s 2079, our 100th anniversary, what would you put in a time capsule to be opened that best represents you and your contribution to SRTK?
On first day of work I remember being provided with a desk calculator that was more modern than I have ever seen before. I remember thinking how proud, happy and special I felt to receive such a calculator. Even back then, the firm instilled a feeling of appreciation for their employees. I still have that calculator in my office (of course it doesn’t work anymore) as it reminds me of that feeling of appreciation that I try to carry with me throughout all the phases of life. The reason this calculator represents my contribution to SRTK is because I work to exemplify this very feeling or “code” you may call it, to live my life an example for putting in my best efforts with a feeling of appreciation for how much I love the firm and my SRTK family.