About Us
Passing Trains.....
In hindsight, it appears like it was only a matter of time before Kathryn and Tom met. They have too much in common, and little did they know that their paths had crossed several times before they ever met in 2007.
Kathryn grew up in central New Jersey (Plainsboro) while Tom grew up in southeast Michigan (Plymouth). Both are the middle child of three sibling families. A passion for lacrosse opened collegiate opportunities for both which led Kathryn to travel to Tom's part of the country to attend the University of Notre Dame and compete for the Fightin' Irish while Tom went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, not far from Kathryn's hometown, where he competed for the Quakers.
Upon graduating from college, both Kathryn and Tom took jobs in New York City. Kathryn worked as an accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) while Tom was an analyst and trader for Merrill Lynch. And here is where the connections grow even more striking.
During his initial 10 weeks of training for Merrill Lynch in 2000, Tom was roommates with a guy who grew up in the same neighborhood as Kathryn and even carpooled to high school with her. Tom worked in the World Financial Center until 9/11 forced his group at Merrill Lynch to temporarily move to Plainsboro, NJ - KATHRYN'S HOMETOWN!!! Political infighting within Merrill Lynch forced Tom's "temporary" workplace in Plainsboro to last for 2 years. However, all through that time, Tom maintained his residence in New York City and commuted to Plainsboro. During that time, Kathryn graduated from Notre Dame in 2002 and began working at PwC in New York City, yet she chose to live at home in Plainsboro and commute to the City for work.
Everyday, the trains that carried Kathryn and Tom to work passed each other. Neither realized that every grueling New Jersey Transit train ride was a brief encounter with their respective future spouse.
Ultimately, Kathryn and Tom chose to pursue entirely different careers. Kathryn sought a larger role in university administration and intercollegiate athletics while Tom hoped for a more entrepreneurial life. Both chose to pursue their new path at Notre Dame. Kathryn began the two-year MBA program at Notre Dame in 2005 and Tom began the same MBA program in 2006. Finally, they would no longer be passing each other on planes, trains or automobiles. Instead, they would be passing each other in hallways.
However, their paths didn't cross often in the hallways, and it took several months for them to finally talk and strike up an immediate connection. Eventually, Tom gathered enough guts to ask Kathryn out and the rest, as they say, is history.
Following their MBA programs, Kathryn took a job within the administration of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN and Tom started ConnectAde LLC back home in Plymouth, MI. They still find themselves commuting back and forth as they are now separated by a 2+ hour drive. But this time the voyage is much more special as they are traveling to see each other.
In hindsight, it appears like it was only a matter of time before Kathryn and Tom met. They have too much in common, and little did they know that their paths had crossed several times before they ever met in 2007.
Kathryn grew up in central New Jersey (Plainsboro) while Tom grew up in southeast Michigan (Plymouth). Both are the middle child of three sibling families. A passion for lacrosse opened collegiate opportunities for both which led Kathryn to travel to Tom's part of the country to attend the University of Notre Dame and compete for the Fightin' Irish while Tom went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, not far from Kathryn's hometown, where he competed for the Quakers.
Upon graduating from college, both Kathryn and Tom took jobs in New York City. Kathryn worked as an accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) while Tom was an analyst and trader for Merrill Lynch. And here is where the connections grow even more striking.
During his initial 10 weeks of training for Merrill Lynch in 2000, Tom was roommates with a guy who grew up in the same neighborhood as Kathryn and even carpooled to high school with her. Tom worked in the World Financial Center until 9/11 forced his group at Merrill Lynch to temporarily move to Plainsboro, NJ - KATHRYN'S HOMETOWN!!! Political infighting within Merrill Lynch forced Tom's "temporary" workplace in Plainsboro to last for 2 years. However, all through that time, Tom maintained his residence in New York City and commuted to Plainsboro. During that time, Kathryn graduated from Notre Dame in 2002 and began working at PwC in New York City, yet she chose to live at home in Plainsboro and commute to the City for work.
Everyday, the trains that carried Kathryn and Tom to work passed each other. Neither realized that every grueling New Jersey Transit train ride was a brief encounter with their respective future spouse.
Ultimately, Kathryn and Tom chose to pursue entirely different careers. Kathryn sought a larger role in university administration and intercollegiate athletics while Tom hoped for a more entrepreneurial life. Both chose to pursue their new path at Notre Dame. Kathryn began the two-year MBA program at Notre Dame in 2005 and Tom began the same MBA program in 2006. Finally, they would no longer be passing each other on planes, trains or automobiles. Instead, they would be passing each other in hallways.
However, their paths didn't cross often in the hallways, and it took several months for them to finally talk and strike up an immediate connection. Eventually, Tom gathered enough guts to ask Kathryn out and the rest, as they say, is history.
Following their MBA programs, Kathryn took a job within the administration of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN and Tom started ConnectAde LLC back home in Plymouth, MI. They still find themselves commuting back and forth as they are now separated by a 2+ hour drive. But this time the voyage is much more special as they are traveling to see each other.