St. Cloud Technical College

The Family Business- More than just partners in life
by Elizabeth Bouska

Jill and Tom Joseph

There is nothing like teamwork, and both Jill and Tom Joseph agree. After retiring from SCTC in 2007, Tom joined his wife Jill, in continuing the success of their company, JCJ Marketing by Design.

As a national yellow page broker, JCJ Marketing by Design went from $2.2 million in sales, to $4 million this past year. While Jill is the owner of the company, Tom has joined on as the treasurer.

Jill, a 1981 alumna of SCTC, was a Sales and Management Major. She was very involved with Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX). She became the International Champion in the Sales Manager Meeting Event. Jill speaks highly of DEX and has taken what she has learned and uses it daily. Today, Jill judges student DEX competitions and her business provides financial assistance so students are able to compete in state or international conferences.

Before joining his wife in business, Tom was an instructor at SCTC. In 1974 he was hired as a temporary instructor, with the position lasting six years. In 1989 he went on to teach at the Minneapolis Technical College. When the college merged with the Minneapolis Community College, Tom became the first dean of business. In 1998 Tom decided to return to SCTC as the first dean of the business division. After three years, Tom decided to return to teaching, and taught sales and management until his retirement in 2007. As an instructor at SCTC, Tom was chosen as the Advisor of the Year and received the International Service Award in 2006.

Both Jill and Tom provide financial support to SCTC and attend college events. Tom has reviewed student scholarship applications and has been involved in the DEX program. Both Jill and Tom believe in others supporting SCTC with their time, talents, and treasures. Tom, especially, is a big believer in SCTC and technical education. Tom believes in the importance of continuing education and assessing the needs for both employment and the community.

In January, Tom and Jill will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They have one daughter, Alissa, and have just become grandparents to a little girl named Addison. In the future, Tom and Jill plan to move to Florida.

With Tom teaching at SCTC, and Jill an alumna, both have a connection to the college. Both have become successful in teaching others and helping those in need. Through it all, year after year, they’ve done it side by side.