Joe retired in 2012 as director of emergency management for Lucas County, Ohio. After graduating from WACC, he worked for SCM Corp. in Washington, D.C., until he was drafted into the Army in 1968. He served in Vietnam and was discharged as a staff sergeant in 1970. He was appointed to the Toledo (Ohio) Fire Department in 1972. He retired as assistant chief of the department after 30 years, then served as director of safety for the City of Toledo. He holds a bachelor's in fire safety and engineering from University of Cincinnati. He resides in Toledo, Ohio.