Thomas Videki has a dream job as the Atlanta United Superintendent of Facilities, helping run one of the most state-of-the art training facilities in the world. But back when he was in his early 20’s, like so many others that age, he couldn’t find his calling. College hadn’t worked out. A brief stint in his father’s footsteps as an accountant fell flat. He paid the bills as a mechanic. But he longed for more.
“I got tired of my hands getting dirty every single day,” Videki explained. “That’s when the opportunity to work on army vehicles came up.”
The truth is the military had been part of the Chamblee High School alum’s life before he was even before. He was born in a military hospital at Fort Bragg. So he signed on with the Department of Defense to help build and maintain vehicles for the NSA, building the vehicles that would get American troops out of dangerous areas around the world. He landed in Afghanistan, where his duty was to retrieve damaged vehicles in the field, repair them and get them home again.
“Part of our deal was wherever they were, we would go,” Videki says. Whatever they needed, I was there to help.”
After five years in the DOD, spending years off and on in Afghanistan, he had found a stable career, and could have stayed there. With a contract extension waiting for his signature, Thomas had second thoughts because of one special person in his life— his future wife, Wendy. But life after the military wasn’t an easy transition.
“I chose family at that point,” he says. “But after my experience in armored vehicles, it’s hard to look online and figure out a job that fits your resume.”
He found an opportunity in a trade school specializing in electrical engineering. It wasn’t his first choice but it paid the bills – but he thrived from the start.
“I didn’t want to do that, but I’d rather hop on an opportunity than sit at home,” Videki said. “I ended up graduating valedictorian, and they put me into management right away.”
His work led him to Atlanta United and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, where he always offered to help. When the next job opening came up, he was brought in to meet everyone with the club – all the way up to Club President Darren Eales.
“No one asked about my experience. Everyone was concerned about the culture fit,” Videki says. “I fell in love with the culture. You couldn’t tell the difference between the janitor and the president.”
Working for Atlanta United has come with some sacrifice. He drives from Monroe to Marietta every day to report to work at 6:30 a.m. sharp. But he says the pros far outweigh the cons.
“There’s just so many doors that have opened for me and my family,” Videki, beaming with gratitude. “I drive 142 miles a day to get here, and I couldn't care less.”
Thomas’ love for Atlanta United has certainly spread to his family. His son is too young to fully understand his father’s career, but he’s starting to pick up the chants.
“I will go home and he says Atlanta. I say United,” he laughs. “[My wife] is proud to say what I do and proud of what I do. She’s decked out for game day. I feel like my wife has as such pride in my job as I do.”
But Videki soon learned he could contribute far beyond the facilities. He now serves on the Overwatch Committee for the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, awarding grants to nonprofit organizations supporting veterans of the U.S Military in the state of Georgia, on behalf of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and all of the Blank Family of Businesses. It’s a true circle for his life, growing up surrounded by military.
“I don’t deserve the title as a veteran. I didn’t lose anyone. I made it very clear in that letter I'm not a veteran. But I wanted this so bad.”
But he was accepted, with the committee saying his knowledge and experience would bring diversity to their board. And it gave a whole new meaning to Thomas’ career, and showed him a new path to how he could use his job to make a difference in the city he lives.
“An opportunity you never had a clue about, and a new door could open up from it,” he says looking back. “In your career, you want to do because it’s something you want, but it’s that much better when it benefits your family outside of just money. It’s a whole other blessing.”
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