Behind the GAVL: All About Our Hobbies
It’s time for another edition of our Behind the GAVL series! Our amazing team members are the blood and energy of GAVL. In this series, we’ll be asking our team a question and sharing their answers. They’ll share great insights about working for the company, the industry, and life in general.
Ready for a peek behind the GAVL?
Last week we asked our team members about their favorite hobbies outside of work:
Ryan Raplee
Co-Founder & CEO
“I have a large amount of hobbies, haha. The first hobby I fell in love with at a very young age was collecting sports cards and still do so to this day. It’s something that has never gotten old to me. I also collect Little League pins, comics, toys, going to yard sales, thrifting, etc… Oh yeah, I’m also into golf and video games.”
Catherine Rodman
Sales Development Representative
“Long walks/short jogs, podcasts, comedy shows, concerts, breweries with friends, and lots of time with my husband and daughters!”
Lucas Hardgrave
Lead Content Writer
“I play a lot of video games and love any game that I get to explore with friends. Bonus points if there are snarly raid bosses to conquer, neat things to build, unforgettable characters, and a good story. I also love to read, write science fiction/fantasy, collect LEGOs, collect cool rocks I find, and take care of furry friends. My pets are like family. Pretty sure Sebastian think he’s my crazy Dad and not the other way around.”
Justin Lutz
Social Media Manager
“When I’m not at work, I’m on stage! Playing guitar, bass, and drums in my bands is my ultimate passion. I also love collecting music in all formats and digging for vintage gems. Music and performance are my life!”
Dario Valenzuela
Cinematographer
“Oh man… Uh, anything outdoors or sports related. I used to travel for fun a lot back in 2018, a new state every month or different city, whichever flight was cheaper. Nowadays, there’s golf and mountain biking. Probably the most expensive hobbies I picked up as an adult.”
Caitlin Lane
SEO Manager
“I love playing Magic: The Gathering and play in a weekly commander league at my local game store. I’ve even gotten my daughter into the game recently! Dungeons & Dragons is also one of my favorite hobbies, and I absolutely adore a nice walk in the park or a hike.”
Luke Potadle
Senior WordPress Developer
“Outside of work, I like working with my hands, whether it’s woodworking or baking a loaf of homemade bread. I spend a lot of time with my son, whether we’re playing outside or exploring new activities together. I also enjoy getting together with friends and making the most of my free time. My family is a biggest priority for me, and I always make time to be with them.”
Perry Perkins
Content Writer
“Cooking, fly fishing, and movies.”
Theresa Carlson
Content Writer
“I’m a bit of a history buff, so I just like to get out and explore local museums and historical sites. Plus, if I find a roadside attraction, you can bet I’m stopping in.”
Rick Bitzelberger
Content Writer
“It’s funny how life evolves. Back in the day, I enjoyed cracking open a good book to read before going to bed. Now, I listen to podcasts on earbuds to fall asleep. As for hobbies, they’ve become my son’s hobbies. That has also evolved from Transformers to Pokémon. But the one constant has been LEGO. Despite the torture of stepping on LEGO pieces, I get a kick out of building sets with Zachary and then watching him take them apart to create something new. Circle of life.”
Emma Doyle
Web Developer
“I absolutely love sewing and fencing. On Saturday I fenced most of the day then was too tired to sew. Then on Sunday, I made a dress. I 3D model my own patterns, too, which is kind of my own form of putting tech and sewing together.”
Oscar Hernandez
Video Editor
“I am huge reader, so always have my head in a non-fiction book. With my wife we’re always trying out a new restaurant or watching an indie flick. Most of my time outside of work is taken up roleplaying Disney storylines with my daughter (I have to be the villain) and racing Hot Wheels with junior (we have to call each car by its individual name or you can’t play).”
Sebastian
Mischief Manager
*zooms around the apartment with toys, making messes, and barking at nothing in particular* (loosely translates to: “Hob-by? Wat’s dat? Distracting Dad from work IS my job!”)
