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3322 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 A fourth-generation CEO or what we would call “Chief Visionary ���������������������������������������������������������������������� Group, Richard Gonzmart has been placing Tampa Bay a priority for years. His vision, compassion, and tenacity have earned him and the CRG team more than 100 awards in ������������������������������������������������������������������������ named a Luminary, a Visionary and a Philanthropist of the Year as well as the Father of the year, Hispanic Man of the Year, Businessman of the Year, Alumni of the Year and Outstanding Citizen of the Year. A true Mover and Shaker in Tampa Bay! Richard has been inducted into four Hall of Fames and selected as Entrepreneur of the Year by the USF Alumni Society of Entrepreneurs. He currently serves and serves ������ ���������� �������������������� �������������� �������� organizations. He is passionate about the education of our youth �������� ������ �������������� ���� ���������� �������� ���������������� One of his famous quotes to a reporter was, “I’m not just a person that walks around in a suit, shaking hands. I wake up at 1:30 a.m., wear blue jeans and start working". What is your favorite quote? “I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle’ for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” – George Bernard Shaw What would the closest person in your life say if we asked them, what is the one characteristic that they totally dig about you, and the one that drives them insane? I hope my wife Melanie would say she loves how much I love her. She’s the love of my life. Last year I named a private label wine for her. We’ve been married for 43 years. I met her when I was 15 and she was 13 (although we didn’t marry then!). I work a lot. I’m ADD and dyslexic. So Melanie and others might see that as frustrating. I consider it an advantage to help me keep so many simultaneous projects in the works, as well as being forced to see things differently. As for the hours, I’m trying to be better at that – even if it’s just working after Melanie goes to sleep. I go to sleep earlier and wake up about the time she’s going to bed. What time does a normal day ������������������������������������������������������������������������ three things you do every day? I don’t sleep much, maybe three to four hours nightly. I normally wake up at 2 a.m. or so. I try to ������������ ������������ ���������� �������� ������������ ������������ thinking, considering … preparing for the day. I’ll post something on Facebook or Instagram. Then I start answering the hundreds of emails I get daily. After that, I’m still usually ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ in the morning. ������������������������������������������������������������������ to success? 1. Learn from your parents (and everyone and everywhere). 2. Believe in yourself. 3. Work hard every day. 4. Share your vision relentlessly and frequently. 5. Surround yourself with good people. What would be your best advice to a new business owner? Don’t worry about how many hours you work. If it’s not fun, you’re in the wrong business. How do you decide your restaurant concepts? Well, my family started the 112-year-old Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. So I seem drawn to concepts that are tied to history and heritage and family, such as buying and bringing back Goody Goody. ������ �������� �������� ���������� ������������������ ���������� ������ �������� Mississippi. It opened in 1925 and closed in 2005. We reopened it to great success in Hyde Park Village in August 2016. Do you have any new concepts coming to Tampa Bay soon? ���������������� ���������������� Columbia Restaurant Group


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