The Let's Get Comfy Podcast
Hosted by Founder and CEO of Comfort Measures Consulting LLC, Norman Harris. The Official Healthcare Edutainment station. Empowering listeners with the knowledge and resources to age comfortably. The podcast platform will uniquely provide laughter, peace, joy, resources and most of all COMFORT. Fostering professional partnerships and engaging the audience by providing them access to a REAL family-like conversation. That gives them the REAL reasons. Connects them to REAL reliable resources. To get REAL results. For REAL Comfort! Through interviews with C-suite healthcare leaders, experts, caregivers, founders, authors, educators, and thought leaders who are doing incredible work for older adults, family caregivers, and the healthcare community.
The Let's Get Comfy Podcast
Faith, Family, and Community with Gabriel Papadopoulos
What does it take to embody the American dream? Join us for an inspiring chat with Gabriel Papadopoulos, a dedicated community leader and prime candidate for Pasco County Commissioner. You'll hear Gabriel's extraordinary journey from his roots on the Greek island of Cyprus, through his humorous adaptation to life in Tennessee, and finally to his impactful role in Pasco County, Florida. We explore his academic achievements at Lee University and St. Leo University, and his relentless dedication to family and community service.
Gabriel's deep-rooted connection to Pasco County shines through as he shares stories about his family's experiences with war, his own military service, and the founding of New Horizons Church. Learn how his faith and perseverance have guided him in supporting veterans, seniors, and neighbors. From community safety to the challenges faced by first responders and the need for better resources in rapidly growing areas, Gabriel offers insightful perspectives on how to strengthen community ties.
But Gabriel’s story isn’t all about challenges and achievements; it's also about his personal life and passions. Get to know the man behind the campaign through a fun rapid-fire game where he reveals his love for dancing and singing, his admiration for Tim Tebow, and his ideal Greek meal date. Discover why Gabriel’s commitment to public service, family values, and community growth makes him a compelling candidate for County Commissioner. Tune in and be inspired by a leader who truly embodies the spirit of service and dedication.
3, 2, 1.
Speaker 1:Welcome back to another episode of the let's Get Comfy podcast, where we empower listeners with the knowledge and resources so they can age comfortably. Florida's number one healthcare entertainment station where we bring you comfort, peace, joy, love, but most of all, comfortability. I'm your host, norman Harris, sole proprietor and owner of Comfort Measures Consulting. Today we have a wonderful guest with us who embodies the modern American dream of Greek descent, he arrived here in the US in 1982 to seize the opportunities of America. He earned a bachelor's degree in communication from Lee University and a master's of business administration from St Leo University, my alma mater as well.
Speaker 1:A devoted family man with a wife and five children, and ordained minister, a founder and senior pastor of New Horizons Church. A military man Cypress military, his community spirit led him to establish organization like leading feeding Pascoe elderly, empowering Pascoe's veteran, uplifting neighbors. Dedicated 31 years to Pascoe County government, rising to the role of community service director where he oversaw veteran services, human services and senior services divisions. A resident of Pasco County for over 35 years, he continued his community tirelessly, ensuring that every community citizen has the opportunity to achieve their own American dream. The prime candidate for Pasco County Commissioner, known by the mantra Papa for Pasco Gabriel Papadopoulos. Welcome to the show, sir.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's a pleasure to be with you. Norman what a great opportunity to be with you today.
Speaker 1:Thank you very much, I'm so glad to have this opportunity, so glad to have this opportunity. So I like to start out from an introductory standpoint of just understanding you and your journey here, your dedication to the community. But I want to go back to your origins because I find it very interesting and I'm sure our coffee listeners will as well if you could just describe just your speak to us regarding your Greek descent and how you transitioned here to America.
Speaker 2:So obviously, I was born in Cyprus. It's a Greek island, an independent island that is part of the European common market. Today it's the second largest island after Sicily in the Mediterranean. So I grew there, I grew up there and then I transitioned to the US in 1982, in Tennessee, out of all places, tennessee, yeah, a beautiful place, tennessee. And I remember, in fact, after I was in Tennessee for a little while, I was traveling to New York and the taxi driver asked me where are you from? He said I said Tennessee. And then he said well, that's why you have got that wonderful southern accent. So, anyway, tennessee. And later on again, I was in the Washington DC area. The same remark was made and they thought I had a southern accent. I guess it was a Greek southern accent. Obviously, I speak the Greek and I write the Greek better than you came up with your own sort of accent.
Speaker 2:Yes, so I went to school, obviously here. I went to Lee University in Tennessee. That's where I have gotten my undergraduate degree in communication and later on, once I transitioned to Florida in 1986, later on I have gotten my Master's in Business Administration raising family and the kids here and I started living in Dade City actually, and from there, gradually I transitioned from Dade City to Wesley Chapel, san Antonio, all the way to New Porichie now, port San Antonio, all the way to New Porichie now, and that's where I have been serving for most of the 35 plus years serving the entire county actually.
Speaker 1:So you touch almost every community in Pasco County.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, there is no corner of Pasco County that I'm not familiar with Right right. Including Triple Ecucci. What?
Speaker 1:Triple Ecucci. What, tripoli, what?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's just north of Dade City. Yes, including Tripoli, Coochie, oh man.
Speaker 1:But I have to ask you though. So you stayed in Tennessee Now, did you enjoy the barbecue? There Was barbecue more prominent up there during that time.
Speaker 2:Well, barbecue was always good in Tennessee, yeah.
Speaker 1:Compare it to Pascoe. How would you compare it? Who wins?
Speaker 2:I'll say they're pretty equal, Norman Go on. I'll say they're pretty equal, maybe slightly Tennessee wins, tennessee wins, maybe slightly wins.
Speaker 1:So we have honesty. You see what he's displaying already. Honesty, right, yeah, honesty, you see he was he's displaying already honesty, right, yeah. So uh, just want to talk about this transition from at a, from a. Uh, was it childhood when you moved here to the us, or was it no?
Speaker 2:actually, I was an adult already, even though I leave most of my life here too. I was about 20 when I came. Oh, I was 20, yes, and so, um, this is home for me. Most of my life have been in Florida, and I love Pasco County. I think Pasco is one of the greatest counties in the nation.
Speaker 1:There we go, there we go. Actually, one of the most fastest-growing counties rated. I want to say what in 2023?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's one of the fastest growing counties, not only among the 60, one of the fastest growing among the six to seven counties in the state of florida, but one of the fastest in the nation right, right, okay.
Speaker 1:So, um, growing up, uh, just as a youth. Who would you say is the most influential person in your life and why?
Speaker 2:well I I say my own father was very influential in my life and we have gone through some challenges growing up too. I remember I was about 12 years of age when we had a war there. It was Turkey was invading to take part of this beautiful island and I remember at that time I was literally on my belly when the bullets and the bombs were hitting the region there. So it was an experience for me and of course then, after that, of course, I served in the military for a couple of years. So that was truly an experience too, and that was a unique season of my life because I was camping for two years. What I was camping for two years?
Speaker 1:no AC Like in the jungle or like.
Speaker 2:Well, it was out. Well, you can call it the jungle, I guess. Yeah, no, AC. No, it was out and about in the country, I guess, because we were on a stage of war at the time and you had an outhouse where you went to the bathroom, but in order to take a shower you have to take some wood and warm it up. So we are always ready to face the enemy.
Speaker 1:Right, so you know about real, true trials and tribulations? Oh yes, sir. Your hard time. Yeah, yeah, I couldn't imagine being there doing that. So thank you for your service and that shows your commitment to your country as well, you know. So if you just during the transition to the US and so what year did you move actually to Florida it was 1986.
Speaker 2:1986. Okay, so that's 1986. All right.
Speaker 1:So now I do understand, as I did your introduction and just my research on you, that you're actually a minister as well. So when did that begin your commitment and dedication to spirituality?
Speaker 2:Well, actually, I have always been involved in the ministry, while I was engaged in the community and working for county government, and eventually it was later on, in 2011, where, officially, I started pastoring New Horizons Church. New Horizons Church started. We started in a home and we continued to grow. From there we transitioned to an association it was like a clubhouse civic association and then from there we to a storefront, and there we are on a beautiful campus now of about five acres. We purchased another church building and we have an additional building that is seated on the premises. So the infrastructure and the foundation is there as we continue to grow and I continue to pastor and minister while I was with county government as well too. So, by the grace of God, a pioneer of the church and now we're growing and so we're very much engaged in the community, helping families, helping our veterans and helping those in need.
Speaker 1:Right, right, right. So you were there from the ground up with New Horizons.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, we started from scratch actually.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Wow, wow. Take me back to memories as a kid Now. At that time I was younger, so you did it more, you know as an adult, but, um, just thinking with my parents we had we was at a storefront going to church and I used to be embarrassed yeah, I didn't want to invite nobody to church. We go to a little store, convenience store, so but I didn't as a kid, you know, as you, yeah you don't understand like the you know connection and just the development of just growing things up from the ground up.
Speaker 1:I went through that experience, but probably with a different mentality at the time.
Speaker 2:I learned one thing, norman A big shot is a small shot. Who kept shooting? No matter what your face and no matter what your experiences are, you stay steadfast on the path. That's the way you come to the end, victorious I'm stealing that from me a big shot. How you say it again, a big shot is a small shot. Who kept shooting small?
Speaker 1:shot. So you never stop, you never stop never stop.
Speaker 2:You continue to endure. Yes, because good things don't come overnight.
Speaker 1:Right. So I want the listeners here to also just be able to relate to you. I want them to understand your family life and how you're dedicated to your family and just family dynamics. So if you just expand on your immediate family wife and kids- so my wife obviously has been with me.
Speaker 2:We have, I know we have five children in the bar. We have eight total and, uh, some are in new york. The youngest is 18 now. She's just now finishing high school, so it's, uh, it's been a journey to her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's been a journey To her.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's been a journey raising the children, but they're all smart and they're all very much driven.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And they're spiritual kids. They love the Lord as well too, and they serve in their communities.
Speaker 1:There you go. Well, that's going to be my question. Which one of you think will follow more, so closer in your path, you think?
Speaker 2:Probably all of them to some degree, but probably the oldest one probably will follow more of my path, but I think all of them to some degree, all of them that are involved in the community. And we're proud parents of one of our children who is in the Air Force, who is serving as an officer there, thank you. So she's serving there faithfully, and the rest of the kids are serving in various capacities, anywhere from public relations to technology to being in insurance management. So they're all multi-talented kids, let's put it that way.
Speaker 1:Good, good, good. That's commendable to you. So, as a father leader, you're a leader in the church. You're a leader in your community, leader of your household. What are some of the principles that you instill in your home?
Speaker 2:Well, the very first one is put God first. In God we trust, and that's how this nation started. And you mentioned of mid-transition into the US. I think that's what makes me who I am, because this is the land of the brave and the land of the free, but that goes back to a cornerstone in God with trust. So the Lord is first, and then everything else falls under that category, such as obviously your family and, of course, obviously everything that comes right under that, such as your ministry and your engagement in the community.
Speaker 1:My pastor would say if you put your life in order how god decided it to be god first your family. You know. Marriage, yeah, that's, that's the order that is designed, you know, and things will fall into place. So, that being said, you know, um, you're the pillar of your family. You have your wonderful wife here today with you as well, supporting when I first saw, first saw you Guess who I saw you with.
Speaker 2:Yes, my wife.
Speaker 1:Yep, you better have.
Speaker 2:She's with me anywhere I go. She's glued next to me.
Speaker 1:There we go, for a reason, right? So how did you all meet?
Speaker 2:We met at the church. Actually, there you go. Yes, sir, that's the better place to find a spouse. I wouldn't search for a spouse anywhere else. I think that's the better place.
Speaker 1:Yes, Right, right and the five children later, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah so that's good. Five and three later. Yeah, got it Combined yeah, combined.
Speaker 1:So what created that bond and commitment?
Speaker 2:Well, I think the bond and commitment between both of us was the cornerstone that I share with you was I trust in the lord and that's how we have been united together and we're both partners and serving in the community and also serving in the ministry too. We're very much engaged together got it.
Speaker 1:Yes, sir, yes, uh, and I did see you at the lions group, my first meeting there, and that shows you a game that you were presenting Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1:Bahamas breeze right. Yeah, yes, so so what was your first job here? I First job ever here in Pasco County.
Speaker 2:So I came to Pasco County and transitioned smoothly. Actually, I remember, you know I was staying with good friends and I remember the gentleman spoke life into my life. He said you're going to be successful. He said you're going to be successful and he was driving around to take me to find a job during that time. And lo and behold, eventually my very first job. It was working with juvenile delinquents as a counselor. So I've done that. It was a pretty interesting journey that I went through that. I did it for a short season and I believe we touched the lives of some of the younger generation at that time to steer them into the right direction. That was my very first job.
Speaker 1:Yes, your first job. Wow, that sounds like a challenge, honestly, to me. Yeah, yeah, I don't know if I want that job. Yeah, so if you describe just your feeling and your dedication to law enforcement, first responders because you've always served and I think those careers are people that really just put their life on the line and sacrifice.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. First responders and obviously police have always been very dear to my heart because I served as well in the military and I know what it is to put on a green uniform and hold a rifle. And, of course, I served for decades in county government. I have been a public servant takes dedication. I have been there, been in the trenches, especially when we have disastrous storms. I work closely with first responders and I believe first responders are a cornerstone of the success of any society and we need to honor them. And I was honored, privileged actually, during my tenure with county government, to have under my oversight the Veterans Services Division, a great division that provided benefits and services to our veterans population and, believe it or not, we have about more than one and a half million veterans in the state of Florida and we get about 60,000 in beautiful Pasco County as well. Wow, about 60,000 vets in Pasco County, wow, that's a lot.
Speaker 1:But that's great, that's great. So do you see any challenges that you think they faced in law enforcement in regards to, you know, maybe having the necessary resources?
Speaker 2:I think this is something I have seen through my years of serving with county government and now running for county commissioner. Of course, digging more into it and finding out that we need obviously more first responders and more police forces in Pasco County will grow rapidly. Obviously, about a thousand to fifteen hundred people are moving into the state of Florida daily, and we get our share here in the region about a hundred hundred and fifty people. So definitely we need more first responders in Pasco County and I think one of the challenges with first responders is wages too. I believe we came a long way. We have ways to go as well too, and considering the fact that they're in the front line fighting for us, I believe you know they need to be compensated well as well.
Speaker 2:Yes, because that determines the success of any community. Safety is a concern of anyone when they move into any region and when it comes to medical responses, currently, let's say, the average response time is about 12 to 15 minutes, and that is totally unacceptable. We really need to bring that response time down to 4 to 6 minutes will be ideal, so we can keep people alive when we call the fire, rescue and the ambulance to show up to the scene. So these are some of the challenges I with first responders, so we need to honor them, we need to step behind them.
Speaker 1:I agree, I agree definitely with you. Know every pasture. Now, if you ride now 54s, you see, you know apartment complex now. So you need to have the support for emergency services and individuals as well. So that is very important. So one transition now. Now, and let's talk health care right and now this segment. Here I want to educate, but also understand your dedication and work. You've done as well in the health care arena, so why is this important to you?
Speaker 2:Well, health care is is very important because that determines the wellness of any community, and that's why we need to pay close attention as a community grows and as you begin to see the new developments and the new apartment complexes, we need to ensure we have hospitals in place, clinics in place and all the physicians, support and medical providers in place, and what has happened through the years?
Speaker 2:I think sometimes we put the cart ahead of the horse, where we continue to build and we continue to develop these beautiful communities that we see, without taking into consideration the repercussions with the growth, because you've got to remember, you're not only going to need transportation and expanding the roads, but at the same time, you need to make sure you have the right number of, let's say, first responders, fire stations. You need to ensure you have police in place that's part of wellness as well too, believe it or not and you need to make sure you have the right number of hospitals within a specific mileage to accommodate this fast-growing population. Now we have more than 600,000 in Pasco County and within the next 10, 15 years, we're going to be over a million people. Yes, so we need to consider these factors of wellness every time a community grows yes, of wellness every time a community grows. So we came a long ways. We have ways to go in Pasco County and that is going to be one of my main drives as county commissioner. Thank you, sir, yes sir.
Speaker 1:So one of our confi supporters, ms Gina Fay, she asked a question that I wanted to just pose to you as well. She said why are caregiver wages so low?
Speaker 2:You know that's a good question. I'll tell you why. Because it's sad to say what I dug into that. Some is because normally what has happened through the years that has been the profession of minorities. So what they have done, they have been paying them lower wages and that needs to change. Normally you will see Haitian people, you will see Latinos, I think normally in that type of profession you will see African Americans and we need to really make some adjustments to that to bring their wages up.
Speaker 1:I agree and I always say, and I continue to say, being a skilled nursing administrator for a few years, I said CNAs are the backbone to healthcare.
Speaker 2:You better believe it.
Speaker 1:They're doing the lifting to have the most contact with the families and the patients as well and we get a lot of our information as leadership right from their documentation, from communicating with them, because they're firsthand on with the patients and the families. They're the reflection of the experience right in regards to customer service and that care. But I never understood the correlation with the wage.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, yeah, absolutely. That's the reason why I started making some research on that, because that is the infrastructure of any health care. That's the first person a patient or a client it's going to have contact with, and these people need to be compensated reasonable wages as well.
Speaker 1:right, right so what are some policies or initiatives that you will advocate for in regards to supporting caregivers?
Speaker 2:well as a kind of Commissioner obviously is.
Speaker 2:You are not in the post to directly make that decision, but this County Commissioner can do wonders though you need to work as Commissioner.
Speaker 2:I can work closely with the legislation and also work closely with federal representatives in Washington to bring some adjustment to this concern, and to me it's a major issue because these are the folks that determine the success of any medical care provider or any client who is taken care of at home Is the first person normally a patient or a client will see when they first admitted to any medical facility and the last person they're going to see when they leave. I mean, they're the ones who are going to change the sheets on the bed. They're the ones who are going to bathe the patient. They're the ones who are going to change the sheets on the bed. They're the ones who are going to bathe the patient. They're the ones who are going to clean the room, bring the meal if you're in a hospital, and normally they're the last person they're going to see when they leave. So first and last impression and these are the angels I call them of medical care.
Speaker 1:Angels of medical care. Yes, sir, yes sir, I like that. I like that, I like that. How will you address disparities in healthcare access for social, economic individuals' backgrounds, so individuals that are maybe in rural areas or minorities? I know a lot of times the resources there are available to them. And something that I've been researching is, you know, the increase of the use of virtual or like telehealth and those type of access. Do you have any initiative for that?
Speaker 2:I think telehealth is important and mainly in these rural areas. You're going to deal with the senior population, which they're going to need some assistance with telehealth as well. But the second step I would take is mobile health care as well. I think having mobile units to go to the rural areas will be just a good venue to accommodate some of those patients, because, you got to remember, many and probably the majority of your patients are going to be seniors and, ironically, in pasco county, uh, more than 30 percent of the population are over the age of 60.
Speaker 2:The age of 60, and some of them are in remote areas, especially on the eastern portion of the county, when you go north of the city, and some of the seniors need to have accommodations to receive the care right. Another method you can take, of course, is transportation. Um, some of them might be able to go to their medical appointments, but they're going to need some type of paratransit transportation to be picked up and taken to the medical facility. Pasco County government has in place already a paratransit system which I think we need to polish and enhance even more so to accommodate these folks, not only to take them to medical appointments but also to grocery shopping and other places where they need to go.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, that is so true. That is so true for sure. So I know you are very hands-on and active in the community. Are there any initiatives that you're working on currently that's related to health care in the community at this time?
Speaker 2:well what I do. I said what the board of directors for in various capacities and one of the board of directors I serve as the vice chair is is providing seniors with a brown back meal is through volunteer way, and and we we attempt every effort to give them a meal that is nutritionally balanced, as much as we can, because your nutrition intake determines the health of your physical body as well. Yes, and this is just something I currently do, also through the ministry we're leading the ministry as a lead pastor. We ensure we accommodate families and those who may not have the ability to provide 100% for themselves. At least we supplement to give them what we have, as well as our veterans and seniors. So this is something that we do. I'm a strong believer and it has been, of course, medically proven too that good nutrition determines also the well-being of a person.
Speaker 1:Right, right. You can't have proper healing without proper nutrition.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Yes, sir. So what's your long-term vision for health care system, right for the aging population?
Speaker 2:Well, being county commissioner, one of the areas I would target is I would tap into federal dollars through the Older Americans Act as well too. Now the Older Americans Act has been signed by President Johnson back in 1965, and since then has been tenaciously providing funding to the states and local governments to serve their seniors in various capacities, one of which is care at home of seniors, another one is providing nutritionally balanced meals and, of course, pilot transit transportation. Because you must bear in mind, the majority of people we are going to serve, especially as time progresses now, is going to be the senior population. People live longer, yes and every. When you look at statistically, let's say, every 60 seconds, about seven people turn over the age of 65 in the US, and of course, we have our share here in Pasco County. Yeah, and these folks have some challenges. I mean it's anywhere from transitional housing to the increased medical care and and as well as, of course, transportation. These are challenges our seniors are facing, and isolation is very critical. That determines, again, the health of a person.
Speaker 2:So we need to be tapping into some more funding, if we can from the feds to bring some resources down through the Older Americans Act and, of course, an approach I took through the years is public-private partnerships.
Speaker 2:I think that is so vitally significant when you begin to engage the community to be part of the solution. Sometimes we expect government to do it all, but that's impossible for government to do it all, norman. So that's why you need to engage the community to be part of the solution. And when you look at, let's say, my track record, that's one of the initiatives that I took through the years, always developing not-for-profits that will come alongside and work with government. You had mentioned earlier, let's say, feeding pascals elderly. That's one of the not-for-profits that I founded and I had a great team of people who work with me and I'm glad it's going stronger now generates funding by engaging the community to offset the cost for seniors in pasco County. So engaging the community is vital tapping into the Old Door American Sac Fund and I think it's important too and, of course, making sure that a senior stays in their home as long as possible.
Speaker 1:Aging in place.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. I know we have nursing homes out there and sometimes it's hard to say it's inevitable you're going to have to place someone in a nursing home facility. But at the end of the day a person ages so much better, they're so much more comfortable in their own home. If we can keep them in their home, it's so much better. The average nursing home care you're looking over a hundred thousand dollars, my goodness. Now every year that's a huge amount of dollars to come up with and not every senior has a hundred thousand dollars minimum for a nursing home facility. So if we can keep them at home as long as we can, that will be even better. How are we going to do that? Providing meals, providing paratransit for them, let's say, having qualified good health care providers CNAs to be there to help out home health caregiver individuals. I think that can make a big difference in their journey of aging.
Speaker 1:Right, right, right, Okay, thank you. So one of the initiatives for our Florida Healthcare Association is really focusing on the next generation of caregivers. So, as you stated sort of earlier, the population here with aging community is increasing. You know greatly, you know. But however, the number of students are younger, Gen Z that are going actually in a nursing field are decreasing. How can we sort of change that to help improve and increase the number of individuals that are taking the initiative to actually go into the field and provide care?
Speaker 2:I think it's something that needs to be instilled while a child is in school. We need to work closely with our district school board Already. There are some initiatives. Years ago, I remember the district school board had a program used to be called the tech prep program, because not every child who finishes high school is going to go to college. So we need to educate them, make this type of training accessible to them, where we can train on demand health care providers while they're still in school, by bringing curricula and training on-the-job training within the last couple years of high school.
Speaker 2:I think that would make it a seamless transition. You finish high school, you had some schooling, you took some courses, but you had some on-the-job training, as you are a graduate and you receive your high school diploma, but you know what? At the same time, you're certified as a home health aid or you're certified as a certified nursing assistant, so when they finish, they have at least a door wide open for them to start transitioning. Because you had mentioned that the population increases. You're going to have more people who are going to demand these services and it's so important that we are proactive instead of reactive when it comes to those type of needs.
Speaker 1:Right, right, but I think I see a lot of the challenges is just understanding and raising the awareness. Right, you look at there's many services out there, such as palliative or hospice care in the life planning, that are accessible to individuals but they either have a misconception about it or it's not really marketed, right, you don't see advertisement for you know care in regards to hospice. You don't see the marketing for students to actually actually take that initiative to get into the healthcare field. You know readily available. Right, most time you look on social media you don't see those things.
Speaker 1:You know great people want to look at the most flashier or you know sort of industries where you can, I guess, hit big and get rich. You know, but but how can we bring more awareness and promote? You know the industry better, you know.
Speaker 2:I think it begins, as I said, it begins, at the high school level. I believe it needs to be instilled within the minds of students. Listen, this is the growth, this is a demand in this community. We can help you, we can prep you to get into this field. Our thinking is to be regularly announced in high school and make it as part of the curriculum and then be more proactive by bringing more awareness through social media and promoting and encouraging students to pursue that type of field. Instagram, social media, let's say and that begins, I believe, first in school and it needs to be one of those areas that needs to be amplified in the website of our schools. Let's say I agree, do something about it. Here it is Healthcare is a critical area. We need more healthcare providers, care providers. We can prepare you to enter this field as soon as you finish high school. You're going to be ready to jump right into this and begin to serve.
Speaker 1:Right, right, and then you already have a sort of plan already designed for you. You have your career already set for you.
Speaker 2:Can you imagine? You're not looking for age 18, you get out of high school and you're already certified, certified healthcare provider because your two courses and curriculum that is going to be conducive of what you're going to do in the very near future. You don't even have to wait another two years for that matter. We can prepare you by the time you finish high school. You can step into that field immediately.
Speaker 1:Right, right, right, right, immediately, right, right, right, right. Florida is a hotbed for retirees snowboarders, and what are some of the, I guess, changes, or is there any initiatives in regards to supporting our snowboarders that come down here and help us? I guess, have the flourishing Florida.
Speaker 2:Well, snowbirds have always been a trend in the state of Florida, especially when you look at, let's say, the east region of the county. In Zephyr Hills I mean the city of Zephyr Hills it seems to be dapples every winter and then they go back. Snowbirds is a good segment of the population but I think as eventually as they age, many of them transition to florida more permanently because they can't take the cold weather any longer up and also they stay here. So encouraging them to stay here, I think, is a good thing, but also at the same time, we need to be proactive of the healthcare that will be necessary to take care of our seniors here.
Speaker 1:Yes, I agree, I agree with that. So now I want to get into a segment here where we have a little fun, but we also learn about you. So it's called it's a game. It's called Seven Versions of Me. Yes, sir, seven Versions of Me?
Speaker 2:Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:Seven Versions of Mr Gabriel, so you get seven seconds to provide your answer. And don't give me a simple answer, please, sir. All right, gabriel as a husband.
Speaker 2:As a husband. My wife is my partner and she's my priority and she's there with me anywhere I go and she's the most important person in my life.
Speaker 1:There we go. All right, give her as a father.
Speaker 2:Well, fatherhood is significant too. What I instill to my kids is vitally significant, because that is going to determine their future. There we go.
Speaker 1:As a sibling.
Speaker 2:As a sibling yes, my siblings. I have two sisters that I dearly love, and attempting to communicate with them and spending time with them is vitally important. I have one overseas and one here, as well that she comes, or we might go and visit periodically as well.
Speaker 1:Are you okay with sharing where she lives? She lives in.
Speaker 2:Nebraska. One of them lives in Nebraska, the other one lives in Cyprus.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right. All right, and as a son, as a son.
Speaker 2:I am a product of the great impact that my own father provided. It was a hardworking, godly man who instilled good ethics and integrity in me.
Speaker 1:Got it, got it, got it.
Speaker 2:And as an entrepreneur, as an entrepreneur, I believe in starting new things and that's why I'm always inquisitive to engage the community and build and develop those public-private partnerships by developing not-for-profit organizations.
Speaker 1:Right, right. And then finally, is ultimately your impact on your community. You responded greatly on it. What would you use as a closing statement to just say this is me and this is who I am, and this is my impact to my community?
Speaker 2:I am and this is my impact to my community. Well, I always want to be a voice for the citizens of Pasco County and a great advocate and representative for this wonderful county, and that's why I'm running for County Commissioner as well, too. I have been in county government for many years and I want to be the voice and represent the people Not a politician, but a voice for people, where I will engage them to be part of the solution and to serve them.
Speaker 1:Alright, so that's seven versions of Gabriel. That was great. You did good. I think that was one of the best responses we've had on the show. But now our second game we play here on the show is. That's our second game we play here on the show is that's my Answer. So you have five seconds to respond with this game here. So it's either or type Dancing or singing.
Speaker 2:I love to do both. Actually, I like the Greek folk music where you just dance on your feet and I like to sing and don't necessarily have I can hit every tune, but I love to sing.
Speaker 1:You try though Travel. No I say you try to sing.
Speaker 2:Oh, I try to sing. Yes, yes, sir.
Speaker 1:What do you primarily sing?
Speaker 2:Well, I do a lot of Christian contemporary music. Okay, I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Got it Okay. The next one is what's something that just really pisses you off?
Speaker 2:Really upsets me is when, when someone is dragging his feet and they don't move fast enough.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I agree with that. Boxing or MMA Boxing, boxing or MMA Boxing.
Speaker 2:Boxing.
Speaker 1:All right. Do you have a favorite football player?
Speaker 2:Teeple.
Speaker 1:Team Teeple Team.
Speaker 2:Teeple. Yes, Team Teeple.
Speaker 1:Is he a Florida Gator?
Speaker 2:fan yes.
Speaker 1:You're a Florida Gator fan.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:Really, man, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like Tim Tebow. I know he was a flogator, but I like the type of bass he comes back in years or two.
Speaker 1:Me too, I like the bass. I do like Tim Tebow too. Do you have a favorite song?
Speaker 2:Favorite song Mm-hmm. Well, a good song that I like is the one that we use for our wedding too. I've been waiting for a girl like you.
Speaker 1:Okay, for a girl like you so I've been waiting for a girl like you. Yeah, so that's one of my favorite songs, so I'm gonna battle that notion there. So, but I have to ask you this if a woman would, would take you on a date, where would you want them? Where would you want to go?
Speaker 2:well, willing to go. Yeah, I would like to go and enjoy a nice greek meal greek meal. Where, where you know, I'm going to hellas in tarpaul springs hellas, I've never been there oh, it's right on the docks, yeah it's great yeah, it's wonderful food there, yeah it's better than well, I know it's acropolis yeah, okay, well, they're good. They are all kinds of good restaurants there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like Acropolis though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like Acropolis too as well. They're all good, they're all good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, one food or dish you could eat every day if you had to choose.
Speaker 2:One food I could eat every day Fish, fish. I like fish, salmon Okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all right, like fish someone, okay, yeah, all right. Uh, jackie chan or bruce lee, bruce lee, bruce lee, all right. And uh, the last one here. Uh, if you could snoop through one person's private life, who would it be?
Speaker 2:get away with it. Get away with it too to get away with it live past person, where one person, ronald Reagan, run away and why because I think he really he was a great leader and he left a great legacy behind. Now we'll back to find out more details about him and how he became such a successful leader kind of okay, good, good.
Speaker 1:Well, I hope you enjoy the game. It's good to see you know your likes dislikes. I hope you enjoyed the game. It's good to see you know your likes dislikes. I thought you were going to say something about driving with the whole pissing me off. Well, I thought about that too, because you've been in Pasco County, man, so you know people man. Oh my God, I guess yeah, that makes my blood boil sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it goes alongside of what I share, if little more sometimes. Yeah, it goes alongside of what I share if someone isn't moving faster now. Oh yeah, it is, that's true that's true.
Speaker 1:Um, I do. I don't want to uh end without going back to correct something.
Speaker 1:So you do have a blended family yes, sir blended family, so I don't want to miss overlook anyone as well. So that's wonderful and and congratulations to you all and must, which you must assess. But as we wrap up here today, coffee listeners, we had a wonderful time here with Mr Papadopoulos running for County Commissioners to support our needs here in Pasco County, someone that's been here over 30 years, dedicated to us, over 30 years actively in the community. Wonderful spirituality, spiritual connection, a man of great foundation, man that believes in family, great dynamics in his family, right, great fostering the leadership and you see it within his children.
Speaker 1:So a great person gave me an opportunity, right, only met him short, brief period of time and for him to just open his arm up and say you know, I'm gonna give this guy a chance he don't even know me at all very well, um, and to just have access to him via a phone call. His real phone number, right, real responses. So, uh, that means a lot to me. I really cherish that. I'm a very loyal individual, just from me to you and your family. Anything you need from me, you just call me, I'm there. Seriously, thank you again. I hope you all enjoy it. Let's Get Comfy Podcast, gabriel Papadopoulos. Vote for him, vote for Papa, yeah.
