Halina's Family

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On the platform in September 1969, like Halina, he was waiting for the train from Vienna to Rome, which turned out to be the train to their happy future together. She saw him with his suitcases – he was pushing a cart, similar to theirs, on which they had loaded the suitcases that they were allowed to take with them. She looked at him and he looks at her, and she found out that he left Poland almost at the same time. It was a surprising and pleasant feeling - meeting someone you know in a foreign country. On top of that, someone you like. She wasn't in love with him yet, but she liked him.

Halina lived along with older siter Bozena on Kąpielowa Street, in Żary, where she was born, with her brothers Krzysztof and Bogdan, her youngest brother. Their apartment had two rooms and an attic. She says the toilet was likly on the staircase, or maybe even at the back of the building. They lived upstairs, and downstairs lived a woman, an old maid, who had a house full of storks. These storks were supposedly going to bring her a baby. Halina always wondered how this was possible since she had no husband. Maybe it was a symbol of hope? Halina didn't know why she visited her often. Maybe she was attracted by her hope?

After a few years, they moved to Zaganska Street. Halina’s mom would walk them to kindergarten on 9-May Street (now Parkowa Street) before work, which she started at 7:00 am, and her dad worked shifts - once in the morning, once in the afternoon.

Halina’s first boyfriend was Wowka Liberczuk from Legnica. At summer camp in Kwidzyn, in the summer of 1965, they met, walked together, and held hands. He later came to them in Zary, her small town, for a New Year's Eve party. Halina’s mom sewed a dress for the occasion, after all, she was supposed to go with her boyfriend to the party! 

She was not used to a long party, and being tired and sleepy, she returned home. Halina left Wowka at the party and he decided to return to Legnica by bus. Over the next years, they still wrote letters to each other. At the same summer camp, Halina also met Alek, who played guitar, piano and participated in pantomime. He was very handsome and impressed her. He also made friends with Wowka. 

Some time later on, Alek visited her in Zary by hitchhiking, and when Halina was in Wroclaw (his town) with their high school class, they went to the opera together. Alek and Halina kept in touch via letters, same way she communicated with Wowka, but only on a collegial footing. She wrote to both, rewriting the same text and sending one to Alek the other to Wowka. She simply did not know what new to write. You can see from this that these relationships were just a youthful friendship, nothing serious. It was the same with walking in Zary with Ed Zweifler. They also held hands, and he even gave Halina a silver ring that was too big and fell off while she was washing her hands. She never got it back. And that's how their dating ended rather quickly during her 13 to 17 years old period.

More serious relationships began at the beginning of high school. Halina met Maciek (his name was Jan Lapka), and they even thought about getting married. This coincided with her family's preparations to leave communist Poland once they made their final, though difficult decision to move away, leaving behind older sister Bozena, who just got married to Tomasz Jaworski three days before they left Poland. 

At that time Maciek went to talk to Halina's father. They sat down on a bench, in the park, and Halina stood next to him overhearing their conversation. Maciek cried and asked her dad to let her stay too,  since Bozena was staying, why not Halina? Her dad replied that this was impossible because as a family they had this only chance in life to leave and to live in better conditions. “Halina has just finished high school and has no profession," her dad said firmly. “There is no way Halina can stay.” And that's where the conversation ended. 

She promised Maciek that as soon as she got settled she would let him know. Halina didn't say when we got to America, because they didn't know yet that they would end up there. They only knew they were travelling to Vienna, and there, they would find out and decide on their final destination.

Leaving Poland, Halina was sad because she had to leave her friends and colleagues. Despite the negative moments, Halina felt her childhood was cheerful, happy, and full of wonderful events in her hometown of Zary, at school, at the club, at summer camps, and on vacations.

Before she and hear family left, organizations which assisted with the immigrations would say all sorts of things, like - you could go to Canada, Israel, America, Australia, and even other countries. Halina was a teenager and didn't participate in these adult discussions and decisions, nor did she pay much attention to it, because that was what her parents did. 

One thing she knew for sure was that they would not go to Israel because that was her dad's position from the beginning. Although he had all his family in Israel he was afraid to go there, because of the war. Not only because he himself had survived the WWII, but going to Israel would have involved compulsory military service for Halina, Krzys, and Bogdan and possibly going to war, as happened to his sisters' and brothers' children. They were all in the army and one of them was badly wounded. Hence, going to Israel was out of the question. 

During official discussions with HIAS in Vienna, it was suggested that their family should go to America. Perhaps another factor entered, the fact that her dad was an electrician and her mom worked in a textile company. They were offered Pittsburgh as it was a more suitable city because there, they could find work for themselves more quickly. 

In Pittsburgh, we were taken care of by the Jewish Federation, which assigned guardians to individual expatriate families. As a result, each family had a guide in their locality, their guardian was Mr. Arnold Zweig.

Halina had promised Maciek that once she got settled somewhere permanent, she would let him know so they could be together, although she had no idea where they would endup living . A young person often thinks that somehow such  a dream will happen and that he/she will still meet his love. However, when she met Alek again in Rome and spent much fun time together virtually every day, she, unfortunately for Maciek, forgot about him. 

While in Vienna, families who were to go to America had been sent to Rome by train. It was on the train platform in Vienna that she unexpectedly saw Alek and his parents, who had also left Poland. 

After greeting their families and boarding the train, she went to their compartment after some time. She remembers that Alek's mother treated her to a sandwich with a hard-boiled egg and warm tea from a thermos she brought along. They talked all night as if it was a regular, long-drawn train that was unhurriedly making its way from Vienna to Rome.

There were thousands of Jewish emigrants in Rome, for whom HIAS arranged housing. Each family was accommodated in a boarding house. In theirs, the Italian family that lived there, although they had four or five rooms, took in several families and each family received one room. The kitchen and bathroom were shared by all. 

These appartments (pensiones) were rented by American Jewish organization, which covered the cost of their stay. They lived there for seven months. Schools were also arranged for people to study and learn English. They were to go to school every day during each week they remained in Rome. The elders probably didn't go systematically, because she doesn't remember seeing her mom or dad leaving pensione in the mornings. Alek's mom went quite often Alek told her, however his father no as often.. 

Some young people did not pay much attention to their studies. Halina and Alek would at times come in for an hour or two, and then they'd get away to play truant. They were in Rome, one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe. They wanted to experience her beauty, history, visit it all because this was a unique opportuniny without much worries.. 

Admittedly, they had no money, but from time to time they would get maybe 50 lira from their parents and then they would go to some low cost cinema. It was awfully dirty there and smelled terrible because people smoked cigarettes, yet, they were happy watching Westerns. This was already a first step towards their future as they watched American movies to their heart's content. At other times, for those 50 liras, they bought themselves roasted chestnuts or cappuccino and could taste real Italian coffee. 

The time they spent in Rome was one of the most beautiful periods of their lives. Not only did they explore one of the greatest cities in the world, but they made many cool friends. Apparment owner ('Patrone') took care of them all the time. He was an incredibly kind and generous man who took a liking to Halina's dad, and at times even drank with him "building on the Polish-Italian-Jewish friendship." Patrone would sometimes take them on trips as they packed themselves, about ten of them into his small Fiat. 

As teenagers (Alek and Halina, they were 18-19 years old) they did not think seriously about the future. It is true that their parents received a small amount of money to stay in Rome, but they were certainly worried about what was going to happen when they got to America, what kind of job, and what kind of housing they would find.. But as teenagers they treated this time as a period of freedom, extended vacations, fun, and time to get to know their new friends. 

Halina met brothers Mark (called Marys) and Heniek Kenigstain, who with their family (six people), lived in the same apartment where Alek and his parents, his cousins Milek and Gusiek, uncle Ignacy, aunt Donia, and their grandmother Berta. Two other families lived there and they all shared a small kitchen and bathroom. These were. carefree times - Italian vacations. 

Their parents were not particularly interested in their lives. They got some small lira from time to time, mostly as mom had left over from shopping. Because what does a person need when they're young, healthy, full, and living in a beautiful environment? And it must be said that Rome, 50 years ago, was clean and beautiful. 

They were in Rome from September 1969 to April 1970, when the trips to the US began, although Alek’s cousins, Milek and Gusiek, and their families left before them in late February 1970. 

Almost every week some group of emigrants departed for the US, as hundreds of people moved west. They were lucky because Alek received visas and tickets to New York for the same day and the same plane on April 9 as Halina. They sat next to each other for the entire trip and were happy to have a few more hours together. 

In New York, they had to say goodbye because Alek’s family stayed overnight in another hotel before flying to Atlanta. Of course, they cried because they had to stay apart again not knowing how things would turn out. 

Alek’s mother told her, “If God wants you to be together, you will be together."

The journey from Pittsburg to Atlanta

As an immigrant fresh to America, Halina's family's first night was spent in a motel adjacent to the bustling airport, its proximity to a busy highway filling their room with the constant rumble of passing trucks. The glaring lights from motel advertisements pierced through the windows throughout the night. But these disturbances seemed trivial, as the following day held a promise – a flight to Pittsburgh, a city brimming with hope and new beginnings.

Upon arriving in Pittsburgh, they were met with a warm and heartfelt welcome from Mr. Arnold Zweig, a survivor of Auschwitz who had found a new life in this land of opportunities. He generously provided them with a comfortable living arrangement – a semi-detached house, offered at a remarkably affordable rate. 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh also extended its helping hand, offering a short-term cash allowance that eased our transition, aiding them in furnishing their new home and embarking on the journey to find employment.

Among her siblings venturing into America, Halina stood as the eldest, a twenty-year-old embracing the responsibility of paving the way for her family's success. The Federation's earnest desire was for them to integrate into the workforce swiftly. During this period, they were provided with food cards that enabled them to shop at local stores, a lifeline that sustained them as they navigated their way through these new circumstances.

In a swift turn of events, her parents secured employment at a laundry. Despite the grueling labor and sweltering conditions, their perseverance paid off, as they not only found jobs but also forged genuine friendships with fellow immigrants and the supportive Mr. Arnold Zweig, who, along with his wife Klara, became a part of their extended family. Their camaraderie brought comfort and a sense of belonging to their lives.

Their dwelling was nestled in Squirrel Hill, a vibrant Jewish neighborhood teeming with a melting pot of European immigrants like them. This close-knit community quickly embraced them, opening the doors to fast friendships that eased their transition and enriched their lives.

In a short span, Halina found herself employed at a hospital, entrusted with the crucial task of transporting patients to surgery or x-ray rooms. The fast-paced hospital environment ignited a spark within her, leading her to contemplate a path toward higher education. With determination in her heart, she enrolled in the biology department, embarking on a journey that would shape her future.

However, the road to success was not without its challenges. Her aspirations to work in a laboratory were met with rejection from several research facilities, each refusal chipping away at her spirit. 

In a moment of desperation, she met with a doctor who, while seeking experience, recognized the fervent dedication burning within her. His decision to give her a chance ignited a newfound determination.

In the lab, she immersed herself in every task, quickly absorbing the intricacies of biology and medicine. She eagerly embraced responsibilities, from microscope examinations to the meticulous scrutiny of experiments. With time, she took on additional roles, expanding her knowledge and skills.

Amidst the lab's daily rhythms, the assistant's discreet pauses for reading were noticeable. 

Whenever the doctor entered, her swift actions revealed her diligence and focus. This environment became her classroom, fostering her growth in the realm of biology and medicine – a foundation that would serve her well in the years to come.

Alek and Halina maintained a constant exchange of letters, bridging the gap between them as they navigated the challenges of their budding connection. Their initial communication was facilitated through Alek's cousin Gusiek, whose family had settled in Atlanta. Gusiek's home address became their first link. 

Subsequently, after Alek's family had established themselves, he provided Halina with his home phone number. Although Halina's family possessed a telephone as well, the cost of calls was considerably high during that period, prompting her father to permit only one call per week to Alek. Their telephone was affixed to the kitchen wall, adjacent to the refrigerator. This setup led to moments where Helina stood by the phone, engaging in 30-minute conversations with Alek.

A year later, Alek traveled to Pittsburgh to visit Halina, and they made plans to explore Niagara Falls together. Given her limited grasp of English at the time, she was unaware of the various bus options available. Consequently, she purchased commuter bus tickets for both of them, which resulted in a lengthy journey from Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls due to the numerous stops en route. Passengers frequently embarked and disembarked, often with considerable baggage, including livestock such as chickens.

Although the journey to Niagara Falls proved exceptionally time-consuming, the couple found the destination enchanting during the few days they spent there. Upon returning to Halina's residence, Alek promptly departed for Atlanta, driven by the impending start of his next semester at the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Despite the separation, they mutually agreed that Halina would soon pay him a visit. To realize this plan, Halina began diligently saving money and discovered an economical option for purchasing so-called "stand-by" tickets, allowing last-minute flights. This approach capitalized on available seats on the plane. Consequently, Halina had the opportunity to experience both first-class seating and seats towards the rear on different occasions.

A complication arose when she informed her father about her intention to fly to Atlanta. This news greatly upset him, leading him to inquire, "What does it appear like when a girl visits a boy? What might Alek's parents think of this?" In response, Halina conveyed that Alek's parents were already aware of her visit. Her father vehemently expressed that if she proceeded with her plan, she shouldn't expect to return. At 21 years of age, Helina chose to defy her father's directive and instead packed her suitcase, embarking on a journey to Atlanta.

After spending perhaps, a single day in Atlanta, Halina and Alek embarked on a road trip with Liza and Milk (who had married in 1973) to Jacksonville, Florida. Arriving at their destination, they secured two rooms in a motel and ventured to the beach the following day. Changing into their bathing suits, they applied sunscreen to shield themselves from the sun's rays. Unfortunately, the sun's intensity caught them off guard, resulting in severe sunburn.

Upon returning to the motel, a rather comical scenario unfolded. Alek lay on his stomach, audibly moaning. When Halina approached, he quipped, "Don't even attempt to touch me!" The two of them occupied separate beds, positioned at a significant distance from one another. This situation felt akin to a repercussion for her defiance of her father's wishes. 

Adding to the irony, prior to reserving the motel, Halina had procured a fake wedding ring, aiming to portray themselves as a married couple. Despite her being 21 years old, she acknowledged her naivety at that time, especially given today's standards where even 14-year-olds might stay at a hotel with their boyfriends without reservations.

After a few days, their paths diverged due to Halina's responsibilities: the need to return home, resume work, and resume her studies at the university. Upon her arrival home, she was greeted warmly by everyone except her father, who chose not to speak to her for a week. Nonetheless, he eventually extended forgiveness for her actions.

Marriage in Site - but one obstacle

In 1972, Alek and Halina became engaged with plans to marry in Atlanta. This choice was driven by the fact that Alek's family, cousins, and their parents all resided there, while Halina's family in Pittsburgh had relatively few connections aside from a handful of friends. Their intention was to hold the wedding at Beth Jacob Synagogue, a place of worship to which Alek's parents belonged. Their aim was to consult with Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, who was expected to officiate the ceremony.

However, during their meeting with Rabbi Feldman, they encountered an unexpected hurdle. He explained that according to the Jewish faith, Halina's status was impacted by her mother's non-Jewish background, rendering her non-Jewish as well. Consequently, the synagogue couldn't facilitate their marriage. This revelation greatly distressed Halina, who had experienced being identified as Jewish frequently, especially during her time in Poland. She also highlighted that her father was of Jewish descent.

In response, Rabbi Feldman clarified that the sole resolution to this predicament would involve Halina's conversion to Judaism. The process of converting to Orthodox Judaism is notably intricate, whereas it's comparatively more straightforward within the Reform tradition. 

Once again, Mr. Zweig played a crucial role by orchestrating an arrangement for Halina in Pittsburgh. She became a part of a Jewish family there, spending weekends with them. The mother of this family took it upon herself to instruct Halina in the various customs and rituals observed during Shabbat. Additionally, Halina attended religious classes under the guidance of three rabbis. This comprehensive process extended over a year and a half.

The culmination of these efforts came to fruition with Halina's conversion, which took place in Pittsburgh. Subsequently, Rabbi Feldman of Atlanta, while recognizing the rarity and challenges associated with such conversions, extended his approval for their wedding. Despite the prevailing discouragement towards conversions of this nature, Rabbi Feldman supported their union.

In 1973, the majority of their friends who had relocated from Poland to the United States found themselves entering matrimony. In the context of their own impending wedding, Alek had yet to complete his studies; he had a single subject remaining. Despite his unfinished academic journey, Alek was eager for the wedding due to the geographical separation between him and Halina – she was in Pittsburgh while he resided in Atlanta. Their yearning to be together prompted Alek to press for an expedited wedding, while Halina believed it would be prudent for him to complete his university studies, considering only a few months remained.

In response to her reservations, Alek adopted a carefree attitude, declaring, "What's the difference? We can stay with my parents for a while." Consequently, Halina relocated to his parents' home a few days before the wedding. Swiftly, she secured a job at Emory University's laboratory, while Alek, following his graduation, secured a position at Simons Eastern Company situated in Decatur, Georgia. Alek's impressive academic performance led to his early graduation from Georgia Tech in three years, with job offers coming his way even before completing his studies.

Early on, Alek's parents purchased a charming house, a portion of which they generously allocated to Alek and Halina. Within this space, they had a bedroom equipped with an attached bathroom. Additionally, there was a separate room that Alek utilized as his study area, where he could concentrate on both his studies and personal projects. Notably, Alek's father engaged in moonlighting endeavors after his regular work hours, involving sewing and performing alterations for clients. His mother played a significant role in supporting him with these tasks.

On the house's lower level, Alek, along with his cousins and Józek Szczupak (the drummer), fashioned a music studio. This space became a hub for their creative endeavors, allowing them to rehearse original compositions and experiment with new American songs. They frequently ventured to local clubs during weekends, showcasing their musical talents to the audience.

Back to School 

Halina's marriage led to an interruption in her education in Pittsburgh, but upon relocating to Atlanta, she resolved to resume her studies at the university. During her time at Georgia State University, she encountered an esteemed physicist who not only excelled in his field but also proved to be an exceptional teacher and a genuinely kind person.

Meanwhile, Alek's sister, Melita, residing in Israel, contemplated the idea of moving to Atlanta due to their mother's deep yearning to have her children close by. To explore this possibility, they concluded that it would be wise for Halina to initiate a conversation with the physics professor she had met. 

This professor had previously indicated a shortage of students interested in pursuing graduate studies and teaching physics. Halina took the opportunity to mention that her brother-in-law, Wienia, who had obtained a degree from Israel's Technion University and had made progress in his master's studies, expressed a strong desire to study physics.

The professor responded positively to this prospect, recognizing Wienia's academic background. Consequently, he facilitated the acquisition of a student visa for Wienia, allowing Melita, Wienia, and their son Adi to relocate to the United States. Upon their arrival in Atlanta, they also settled into Alek's parents' home, resulting in a period where they all cohabited for several months.

In 1975, Alek received a job offer from the National Cash Register (NCR) located in Columbia, South Carolina. This opportunity prompted them to transition to a new phase of independence, securing their very first standalone apartment. 

Shortly after, Wienia swiftly completed his master's degree in nuclear physics. Within a year, he made the decision to relocate his family to Columbia. This choice stemmed from the expiration of his student visa, necessitating the acquisition of a work permit and a permanent residency visa.

Alek played an instrumental role in facilitating Wienia's integration into the new environment. Leveraging his connections, he helped Wienia secure a position at NCR as an electronics engineer. The decision to hire Wienia was evident due to his impressive skill set and prior experience. Having previously worked at Elscint in Israel, Wienia possessed the necessary education and expertise to excel in his role at NCR. Alek and Halina often speak of him, recollecting his brilliance as an engineer, unique empathetic approach with people and his two children.

Seeds of a Company

In the beginning, Alek did not operate his own company and was associated with a diverse array of firms, which encompassed NCR, Centry Data Products, Solid State Systems, Lockheed, and even involvement in covert "Black Hole" secretive initiatives there. It's noteworthy to emphasize that Alek's employment marked a significant milestone – he became the first non-American, without any citizenship (recall passports and citizenships were taken away by the communist Polish government) to secure such critically important roles at Lockheed. This speaks volumes about the esteem recognition Alek was held in by the electronics community. Additionally, his influence help bring Wienia on board at Lockheed as previously at NCR and Solid State Systems..

However, Alek's enthusiasm waned in these positions due to the entrenched bureaucratic structure typically deployed by large corporations. 

Often, projects devised by him and his fellow engineers stagnated in protracted rounds of testing, experiments, and trials, despite the fact that Alek's designs were typically impeccable. 

This period of waiting for conclusive outcomes and the commencement of equipment production bred a sense of frustration and, more importantly, boredom for him. Paradoxically, this situation sparked the genesis of something positive – Alek's contemplation of establishing his own company.

 In 1979, Alek embarked on the journey of bringing his initial significant technical inventions to life. While he continued his employment at Solid State Systems and in 1999 at Lockheed of GA during the day, his evenings were devoted to; studying for Master's degree at Ga Tech and conceiving, designing, drafting electronic components layouts building his first telephone call processing system. This creative process unfolded in our apartment located in Marietta, where the dining room table transformed into his workspace for further assembly, soldering and troubleshooting of his innovations. 

Following their move to their first home in 1980, Alek's ventures took a definitive turn. To facilitate the evaluation of his electronic concepts, Alek acquired an oscilloscope for $1,400. As time progressed, additional tools and equipment, such as a fax machine and printer, were introduced to streamline the process of creating and dispatching announcements and orders.

Alek's ingenuity came to life in the confines of their garage, where he meticulously constructed and assessed his inaugural systems. During these endeavors, he frequently received assistance from Wienia, who contributed to the meticulous testing of the product Alek designed. It was in this environment that Alek decided upon a name for his burgeoning invention – Expedialer. 

At this time, Alek decided to incorporate his company under the name "Melita Electronic Labs, Inc.", formally establishing its mission and directions as Alek opted to recognize his sister's Melita name while he and her husband Wienia whom he hired worked together spending much time in their corresponding garages.

Halina began immersing herself in the technical terminology that frequently peppered their conversations. Recognizing her growing familiarity, Alek enlisted her to assist with various operational aspects of the business, such as ordering electronic components, managing bill payments, and overseeing promotional initiatives.

In 1983, with David at the age of four, born on February 1, 1979, and Julie at age of 6, born on October 31, 1976 , and attending school, Halina made the transition to full time employment within Alek's company. 

Commuting to their initial rented office, she stepped into a dynamic role. During this period, the workforce consisted of four individuals: Alek, Chester, a technician, and herself. Juggling between responsibilities at home, the office, and tending to their children, Halina's contributions spanned multiple domains.

Initially, her professional interests gravitated toward biology and medicine, which led her to spend periods working in three distinct laboratories. This journey commenced with a year and a half in Pittsburgh, followed by subsequent stints at laboratories in Atlanta, including Emory, and another year and a half in South Carolina.

However, when Halina started assisting Alek, the situation necessitated her transition into an unpaid role. The financial constraints they faced compelled them to forego salaries for crucial personnel essential for the company's operations. 

Gradually, Halina began taking on increasingly significant responsibilities in organizing and overseeing the business's affairs. The immediate needs included securing funds for office space rental, hiring personnel, and obtaining necessary components.

Alek's fiscal acumen played a pivotal role. 

During contract negotiations, he ensured to receive a minimum of 50% of the total price from customers upfront, with the remaining sum due upon the completion of the product delivery. 

This financial strategy deviated from the prevailing norm in America at that time, where customers were often granted a 30-day deadline for payment following the delivery of a finished product, often extending to 60-90 days in practice. This unique approach was necessitated by their limited accumulated capital. Alek's refusal to adhere to conventional terms was fueled by the need for funds to cover rent, parts, labor, and the production process itself. 

This pragmatic approach allowed them to circumvent the need for loans, as they managed to meet the costs of production and delivery, thus laying the foundation for the company's early growth.

In the initial year, Halina's earnings were meager, reflecting the nascent stage of the company. 

However, during this time, she embarked on the crucial task of organizing various departments and delved into the realms of labor law, business structure, workers' compensation regulations, tax computations, and, most importantly, sourcing and procuring a diverse array of components essential for both production and business functionality.

It's important to underscore that the process of ordering marked just the outset of a more intricate sequence. Upon arrival, the received items necessitated meticulous checks, inventory management, and subsequent payment processing. 

Subsequently, they had to be seamlessly integrated into the production department's workflow, accompanied by corresponding updates to the inventory records. Each step of this intricate procedure demanded meticulous record-keeping, wherein Halina dutifully issued and maintained receipts to ensure a clear and comprehensive documentation trail, a practice she upheld over numerous years.

It was only as the company expanded that it gained the financial capacity to bring more individuals on board. Once they had successfully recruited a programmer named Chester Quin and secured Dale LaPorte as the Director of Operations, the team was able to broaden its scope of personnel. 

This progression saw the addition of roles such as a receptionist, an accounting specialist, a warehouse supply coordinator, and a systems testing technician.

Benefiting from her past experience where she had managed various responsibilities single-handedly, Halina found herself adept at imparting her in-depth knowledge to the newly hired staff. This transition proved seamless, facilitated by her profound familiarity with each role's intricacies, making the knowledge transfer process both fluid and effective.

Their initial residence, acquired in 1980 in Marietta, closely resembled others in its vicinity and the neighborhood. 

However, their manufacturing facility, situated over 31 miles away, necessitated a daily commute of at least an hour each way. 

In subsequent years, as their company grew, the couple opted to explore housing options nearer to their workplace. This quest led to the decision to construct their first house in Norcross, significantly reducing their commuting time. Furthermore, their ambitious endeavors extended to designing and constructing another house in Alpharetta, a project that spanned two years.

In 1995, their journey took them to the commencement of a significant endeavor – the design and construction of a modern facility to accommodate a workforce exceeding 400 employees. 

This expansive structure was tailored to encompass a variety of spaces, including traditional offices, cubicle offices, laboratories, and designated areas for manufacturing, testing, packaging, and dispatching systems to approximately 45 countries worldwide. 

This facility stood as the USA Headquarters of their enterprise, encompassing an impressive expanse of over 110,000 sqf (10,000 square meters).

During this juncture, the company was in the midst of a robust expansion phase, positioning itself for a pivotal moment in its history – a public offering planned for 1997.

Simultaneously, Melita's international's European business in London, was experiencing rapid expansion, a trajectory overseen by their close confidant and friend, Anthony Cope. The roots of their friendship trace back to their encounter in Sarasota in 1988. 

An International Company is Born.

As their operations in Europe burgeoned, the need for larger and more modern premises became evident.

In 1999, Alek and Halina made the pivotal decision to acquire a four-story building in Chertsey, Surry, near London. 

This strategic move enabled them to house an extensive workforce and set the stage for their foray into Europe and beyond. This establishment swiftly transformed into the European Headquarters for Melita International. 

The geographical advantage facilitated close engagement with clients whose global presence spanned across European territories, Asia, and even Australia.

Alek's dynamic role in steering the company's growth demanded his active involvement on a global scale. His responsibilities entailed frequent international travel, connecting with numerous clients, spearheading innovation initiatives, expanding global partnerships, and orchestrating strategic sales channel expansion. 

These efforts underscored his commitment to a rapidly growing and pioneering technology venture. 

The 1997 IPO brought about significant changes in Halina's role within the company. Their board of directors, along with legal counsel, advocated for a shift away from maintaining the company's familial atmosphere with "mom and dad" at the helm. 

Notably, the organization had already garnered a substantial number of capable professionals who held pivotal responsibilities.

Another Life Transition

Given these circumstances, Haina's departure was not met with any hurdles. Importantly, her decision to leave was made without any reservations. It's worth acknowledging that she possessed the option to continue her involvement if she had chosen to do so.

However, her departure came with several beneficial outcomes. 

It granted her the opportunity to invest more of her time in Atlanta and actively engage with organizations whose missions resonated with her values and which sought dedicated volunteers. 

The list of organizations she became associated with encompasses the B’Nai Torah Synagogue, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Temima High School for Girls, the William Breman Museum, The Jewish Home, and the Chopin Society of Atlanta, among others. 

In retrospect, encapsulating her journey poses a formidable challenge, as it's truly difficult for her to convey the multitude of years lived, the intricate interplay of emotions, and the plethora of profound connections forged with remarkable individuals, each accompanied by uniquely enriching experiences. 

These recollections merely provide a glimpse into the mosaic of her life—a life marked by joy, yet punctuated with trials and tribulations, including the struggles with her son David, navigating the tempestuous teenage years with her daughter Julie, and the untimely loss of her father, among other challenges.

Her heart swells with gratitude towards those who have shaped her path—her cherished friends, the entirety of her family, her wonderful children, grandchildren, and her beloved husband. Their presence has woven a tapestry of support, guidance, and love that has illuminated her journey.