Meet Adrian!!
Adrian Gomez is a Pueblo native, and Colorado State University-Pueblo graduate with a degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with an emphasis on Wellness Promotion. Adrian serves as the Financial Wellness Coordinator leading the Bank On Pueblo County Coalition and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program as components of United Way of Pueblo County’s effort to improve economic mobility and opportunity in Pueblo, CO. Adrian was formerly appointed to the Governor’s Council for Active and Healthy Lifestyles and connects financial empowerment as part of overall health and wellness outcomes. Adrian has partnered with the City of Pueblo to establish Financial Literacy Workshops and is working towards making meaningful long-term partnerships with community agencies to provide safe, functional, and affordable banking services in the Pueblo community.
When not working with federal regulators, local banks and credit unions, community-based organizations, or local government partners to improve access to safe, affordable, and functional banking services, Adrian volunteers for the Pueblo County High School wrestling program and helps the Pueblo German American Club with fun events like Oktoberfest. Family, food, and fun are top priorities for Adrian, and we all know Pueblo has lots of great food and fun.
Some fun facts about Adrian are:
- I enjoy growing and propagating plants and giving them as gifts to family and friends.
- After graduating college, I made it a priority to pay off my student loans and vehicle loan in less than 10 years and 4 years respectively to become debt free of loans that typically impact people their whole lives.
- I love grappling sports from all countries: Senegalese wrestling, Japanese sumo wrestling, Brazilian jiu jitsu, Dagestani sambo, American wrestling, and pretty much any combat sport.
- I am a huge fan of genealogy, genetic and DNA testing, history, photography, and all things related to finding family and origin stories for me and for friends and family.
- The earliest known ancestor on my maternal line is a Pawnee native American woman.
- My dad was born in Nuremburg, Germany.
- I am a descendant of local legend Charles Autobees, mountain man, trapper, trader who established permanent residence early 1800s in the Pueblo area. He also helped build Bents Fort and survived an attack on Turley’s Mill by Mexicans and Pueblo Native Americans.
- My grandfather Apolonio R. Gomez earned a purple heart award and several bronze star awards(among many other medals and recognition) during his career of more than 2 decades of Army service during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
- My genetic composition includes Indigenous American, German, Spanish, Scandinavian, Irish, French and trace results from several others.
Adrian's responses to some fun questions:
If I had one Superpower it would be teleportation like nightcrawler from X-Men.
If I were a pasta shape, I would be Ravioli! That is my favorite pasta.
If I entered a talent show, I would probably sing or dance.
The most inspiring thing about my role with Bank On Pueblo County is facilitating and witnessing collaboration across coalition members seeking to protect and serve our Pueblo residents financially.