Curious who volunteers the hours and hours of work every year to help make PortCon the awesome celebration it is? Starting this year, as a staff we will make more of an effort to feature information about staffers on the PortConMaine website for the community at large to read. Little biographies and portfolios of different staffers will be posted throughout the year to introduce you to who works behind the scenes at PortConMaine.

Meet our Vendor's Room Chair: Patrick Cote!

Position: Vendor’s Room Chairman
Years of Service (as of 2012): 1 year Vendor Room Staff, 4 years Vendor Room Chairman

Duties:
The role I take with the Vendor’s Room starts as the current convention ends. I ask the attending vendors if they plan to return and determine how much space they require. Shortly after, I draft up the new contract and send it to them. Throughout the year, I keep in touch and convey any updates or changes.

During the convention, I make sure each vendor doing well and acquire any food or manage their space for a short break. Any issue within the Vendor’s Room is dealt through me.

Along with the outside vendors, I set aside a space for the Garage Sale. The Garage Sale is an opportunity for attendees to make a little extra money during the weekend. I have a staff that volunteers in selling their items. My role is to balance their schedules, set up the displays, and catalog the items being sold.

Personal:
I work at a large insurance company’s Information Technology department. I enjoy listening to a very wide range of music, reading reports in astrology/physics, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and watching anime. I am currently in the 4th year of learning Japanese and vacationed there twice, with plans in the future to visit again.

The reason I work for PortConMaine is that I enjoy working with an awesome staff, and watching people enjoying the event.

Chair Commentary:
Since Patrick took over the position of Vendor's Room Chairman, the garage sale has nearly tripled in size and content. He has streamlined the process; creating from scratch a computer system and management structure that helps everyone involved. Patrick has dealt with wacky room sizes, changes in venue, and countless little problems and hitches throughout the years with a friendly patience that everyone appreciates. The application process and pre-planning of the room has also been streamlined as he continually works to make it even better year after year. If you ever find yourself excited and thrilled with what you find in the vendor's room, Patrick is the reason behind all the treasures, organization, neatness, and diversity. He's a humble, friendly, and patient person everyone should have the chance to get to know and meet!!