This book is dedicated to my devoted wife, Alexandra, and my two loving

daughters, Tatiana and Isabella. They were my cheerleaders through many

long days and nights of working, studying, and writing.

I would also like to thank my parents, George and Theoni, who immigrated

to America from Greece with very little money and no knowledge of English.

They quietly sacrificed so that my brother Dean, my sister Vivian, and I

could have a better life. They taught us the meaning of values and hard work

as well as the power of the combination of these two qualities. They asked

for only one thing in return—for us to strive to give our children more opportunities

than they had been able to give us.