Vapor Digest #3 The Trade Publication For The Vapor Products Industry
Issue link: http://vapordigest.epubxp.com/i/442928
05 Along with day to day back end operations, I represent the company in government affairs and at various ecig conferences held around the world. Aside from my two careers, I volunteer my time as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association ( http://tnsmokefree.org ) a not for profit association representing the industry in TN dedicated to promoting tobacco harm reduction and as Secretary on the Vaping Industry Strategic Truth Alliance board (http://vistatruth.org), with the goal of hiring a lobbyist in every state. Rounding up my resume, I maintain a YouTube video review channel (http://youtube.com/vapingreek) and host #smokefreeradio weekly at vapersplace.com /vplive and monthly on Chattanooga's 102.3 Talk Radio FM. Patrick V*: What was your history with smoking before you starting vaping? Dimitri: I smoked for 23 years passionately. Coming from a culture in Greece where smoking is a given, not only did I get addicted at a young age, I really enjoyed it. The physiological aspect of smoking is in my opinion the biggest addiction even more so than nicotine. After I had my two daughters and was approaching the age that my father died (39), I decided I did not want to have the same fate and tried desperately to break the smoking addic- tion. After trying every possible available NRT method nothing worked, as is the case with many going that route. On top of all that, my wife smoked at the time as well. After seeing our neighbors with these cig-a-like batteries from V2 we ordered the "Couples Kit" to give vaping a try. That was 4 years ago and the rest is history. We both never touched another combustible cigarette again. Patrick V*: Do you remember the first you saw someone vaping? if so, what was your reaction? Dimitri: We saw our neighbors using the V2 ecigs. The mimic of the smoking experience and seeing the vapor appear like smoke coming out of their mouths was pretty convincing for me. Being a techy guy as well, helped tremendously in giving it a try. I thought to myself, if they can do it we can too! Patrick V*: What do you remember about your first vaping experience? Dimitri: When our first kits came in, I took my time and read the instructions, charged it, screwed on my first pre-filled cartomizer and took a puff! It was what is called now an automatic switchover. Even with that now outdated technology I knew this was going to work. Of course there were vapor mistakes and hurdles for both me and my wife. I vividly remem- ber spending my first two weeks vaping and staying up late at night reading thru threads, learning and trying to improve our experience. The support from the community (solely online at the time) was amazing and the main reason I decided to start my own YouTube channel. YouTube is where I began my journey to help others avoid mistakes and frustrations. Patrick V*: What would you say are your 3 favorite flavors to vape? Dimitri: Anybody that has followed me for any given time knows how much I love menthol flavors which is pretty funny since I always disliked menthol cigarettes. Mentholated Peach Green Tea is my Marlboro, my all day vape! I also enjoy a Lemon Lime Tart Vape and for those scotch poker nights something along the lines of Caramela (An apple caramel vape). Patrick V*: When someone starts a new venture and is trying to build an audience, there is usually a "things are really starting to click here" moment. What was that moment for you? Dimitri: I think the first time I went to a convention and had a few people come up to me and thank me for helping and guiding them thru the transi- tion. I realized at that moment that the vaping phenomenon really was launched thru YouTube. There are a lot of wonderful people out there that were willing to take the time to make videos that really meant something to the audience. Patrick V*: What was the reaction from your family and friends to this new venture? Dimitri: I have been blessed with great friends in the community but most of all I have had the greatest support from my wonderful wife. She understood the passion I brought and supported me (and still does) 100%. They say that behind every successful man is a strong woman and that certainly is the case for me. Patrick V*: Who were some of your early supporters, encouragers and mentors? Dimitri: My first ever mod purchase (Puresmoke Prodigy) was made after watching every available Nick Grimm Green video (multiple times). I still credit him to this day for inspiring me to start my own YouTube Channel. When I decided to launch the VapeTeam the only video outlet at the time was StickCam and even though it was a great platform for support and hanging out (spent many hours in the VapeTV channel asking questions and getting great help), Kevin host of VP Live Radio and Russ Host of Click Bang Radio really took a chance with me and the team launching a video show on VapersPlace. Patrick V*: More than most, you have the "ear" of the vaping community. What is the best part of being an influential vaping enthusiast? What is the most frustrating part? Dimitri: I have always said that the best part about being a vaper is that they are passionate, and the worst thing about being a vaper is that they are passionate! Seeing things in the industry and community that is detrimental is very frustrating at times, espe- cially when it reaches a point where I and other advocates can't defend it. However almost daily I will receive an email, Facebook message or even phone call thanking me for my efforts and that is the best part in my vaping enthusiast life. It is what always has and will keep driving me in this fight! I truly believe this product saved my life and I refuse to give up. Patrick V*: Both Gabe and I can report that it often is difficult to find a balance between our obsession with vaping and the rest of our lives. What are some things that you do to help strike that balance between vape stuff and the other aspects of your life? Dimitri: There really has to be a balance as hard as it may appear on the surface. It's tough spending time away from my girls which I love so much. So I always try to spend quality time with them. As much as I do in vaping it does not feel like a task to me because I am so passionate about it. I just try to take it one day at a time and do my best to distribute my attention to what I feel is important and relevant at any given time. One thing I have been doing more of this year is slowing down on conventions. There seems to be one, if not more every other week now and as fantastic as that is for our industry it is virtually impossible to attend all of them. Continued on page 36 "Building integrity in this community requires understanding the issues, researching and de- livering accurate education to those that want to partake in the fight."