Joe was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in Bethlehem, where he pitched and played third base for the varsity baseball team at Bethlehem Catholic High School. Following law school, Joe joined the law firm of Butz, Hudders & Tallman in Allentown, which became Butz, Hudders, Tallman, Stevens & Johnson and later, Stevens & Johnson. There he practiced, first as an associate and then as a partner, motor vehicle, premises & products liability and medical malpractice defense law and was involved in handling a number of plaintiff’s personal injury actions.

In 1994, Joe joined the law firm of Roeger, Walker, Cassel & Holko concentrating on civil trials and appeals. During that time he served on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Joe joined Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP in 2003, and handles complex civil defense litigation in the areas of motor vehicle, premises liability, products liability and natural gas distribution.

Since 1982, Joe has been a member of the Lehigh County Bar Association, where he has been an active member of the Board of Directors and various committees including the legislative, medical and Bench-Bar liaison committees. In 1989, Joe served on the committee for the formation of what later became known as The Donald E. Wieand American Inn of Courts and serves on the Civil Rules Committee for the Bar Association of Lehigh County. In 2005, Joe became President of the Lehigh County Bar Association, and served during its Centennial Celebration Year. Joe has also lectured on a variety of topics, including ethics, construction litigation, insurance coverage issues, medical records, motor vehicle insurance law, and joint and several liability.

Joe has an active interest in his community and has served Hamilton Park Youth Association as a head coach for baseball and St. Thomas Moore as a head coach for both boy’s and girl’s soccer. He has also coached boy’s soccer in the South Parkland Youth Association. Joe is married to Ginger Andersen Holko. Joe and Ginger have two children; a son, Taylor, and a daughter, Emily.