Gary Paul is executive director at Contact of Chattanooga. The organization offers counseling over the phone to people going through a crisis.FACT FILE ABOUT HIM
* Age: 57.* Family: Wife, Tina; sons Austin, 25, and Jonah, 18.* Pets: Dog, Ozzy; cats Spooky and Sparkles.* Education: Graduated from East Ridge High School in 1973 and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1986.* Favorite books: “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut and “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac.* Favorite movies: “Saving Private Ryan” and “Casablanca.”* Embarrassing moment: “As a kid, I was in the Chattanooga Boys Choir, and we were singing at church. The music director told me to get up and sing by myself, and I totally forgot the words. My mind went blank.”* Something that would surprise people: “I’m an open book. I did build our house about 10 years ago. I contracted out some work, but I did a lot. It took about 18 months. I’d work on it every day when I got off work from my regular job.”
Gary Paul said helping others has been his life’s calling.
Paul left his position a year ago as development director at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to become executive director at Contact of Chattanooga, recently renamed Contact of Southeast Tennessee.
He’s got his work cut out for him.
“We need volunteers,” he said.