Evan Papel President, CEO and Founder EvanPapel@ZipItGear.com Lives life with passion and feels lucky to open his eyes in the morning and go get 'em every day Live music. Jazz/soul/funk is an essential ingredient in his life Believes giving back to the community is essential to being a business owner…and decent person. He's been involved in San Diego's Rotaract Club (www.SDRotaract.org) and other community service groups that help build social capital. Shortest commute ever: Started Zip It Gear from his apartment and took all the furniture out of his room except for the bed and a giant desk. Woke up, rolled over and got to work! Organized a deal for his father's company that brought the namesake of his grandfather's business back to family hands Brought a concert to the University of Colorado Boulder campus that attracted 10,000 patrons His 2 unique, dynamic and beautiful sisters. He loves watching their lives and being a part of them. Meeting new people and socializing - it never intimidates him to go into a room where he doesn't know anyone. Traveling: the experience to be a stranger in a strange land. Seeing new people, architecture, cultures, music, food, etc. Racism and hate The U.S.'s oil economy. Looking forward to the day we have a new method of energy. Slow drivers in the fast lane. Come on! His ability to listen (and hear) well…and…spell checker University of Colorado Buffaloes…GO BUFFS!! Plays in a flag football league Give the guy a guitar! Hitting the gym puts him in a great frame of mind "One of life's greatest milestones is when a person can look back and be almost as thankful for the setbacks as for the victories. Gradually, it dawns on us that success and failure are not polar opposites. They are part of the same picture--the picture of a full life, where you have your ups and downs. After all, none of us can ever lose unless we find the courage to try. Losing means that at least you were in the race. It means that when the whistle sounded, life did not find you watching from the sidelines." - Bob Dole, Meet the Press It's an actual need that he ski the Swiss Alps