Staff Spotlight

Name: Gabriel Bautista
Title: Supply specialist, Inventory
Department: Purchasing and Central Supply

Many people on campus remember you from your job at the university post office. What do you do now? I deliver copy paper—about 100 cases a day—on the USC Columbia and School of Medicine campuses. Also forms and toners. I like it. I’ve been here almost five years. I worked at the post office for two, doing mail delivery and pick up.

What is a workday like for you? We are located behind the Colonial Center, right next to Motor Pool. When I am not delivering paper, I work in the warehouse. We help people who come in looking for furniture for their department. We help them load the furniture, and we help them unload if they turn in furniture. And we stack everything in the warehouse. I work from 8:30 in the morning to 12, then I go to the Blatt PE Center and work out for 45 minutes, then back to work. I’m on the run all day and I like it—it keeps me going and I’m used to it. In fact, when I get home I don’t sit down: I cook dinner for my family and then work in the yard.

Sounds like a very physical job. Do your workouts help the job, or does the job help your workouts? Both! I entered the Mr. USC bodybuilding contest last month—I got second place in the middleweight class, and I won best presentation. I pretty much do a lot of walking every day, and eat six small meals, which gives me lots of energy all day, so I’m getting more done at my job. Copy paper boxes weigh about 65 pounds, and lifting those is a workout. I also wanted to lower my blood pressure and cholesterol, and they went way down with the exercise. So it is all for good health, too.

How long have you lived in Columbia? I am from Hawaii, and came to South Carolina nine years ago. My father-in-law was in the military and he retired here at Fort Jackson. We visited and liked it.

What does your family think about bodybuilding? My wife, Stephanie, and I have two kids—a ten-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl—and they all like it. When I practice my contest poses at home, they watch me and tell me, ‘No, Daddy, don’t move that way. Do this.’ They coach me and support me 100 percent. I got them a family membership to the PE Center and we work out together on Sundays.

4/05