Meet the Board

Board Chair/Convention Director
Laura Hoover
Laura Hoover brings a powerhouse combination of business leadership, strategic planning, and a lifelong passion for fandom to her role as Board Chair & Convention Director. With a career spanning finance, operations, and process optimization at Intel Corporation, she knows how to manage large-scale projects and drive seamless event execution.
A dedicated costumer and convention enthusiast, Laura's journey began with historical costuming and Sakuracon, later expanding into cosplay competitions at Rose City Comic Con and Dragon Con. As a silent partner in Squeaker’s Nut House, she has spent the past four years supporting the creation of stunning fantasy headdresses and crowns.
With a sharp eye for detail, a love of immersive experiences, and a deep commitment to community building, Laura is dedicated to making this convention an unforgettable experience for fans of all genres!

Board Secretary/Gaming Coordinator
Nick Barnes
Nick Barnes brings his passion for gaming and community building to Westside Comic Con as Board Secretary and Gaming Coordinator.
As the owner of Rune & Board, a beloved local gaming store, he has cultivated a welcoming space for tabletop and RPG enthusiasts.
Nick is dedicated to expanding gaming experiences at the convention, ensuring engaging and inclusive play for fans of all levels.

Board Member/Operations Coordinator
Lacey Santos
Hi, I’m Lacey Santos, and I thrive on making things run smoothly behind the scenes. As an Operations Coordinator, I specialize in managing complex event setups, streamlining logistics, and turning chaos into a well-oiled machine. With 20 years as a military spouse, I’ve orchestrated everything from large-scale events to international relocations — all while keeping a smile on my face (and usually a spreadsheet in hand).
Over the years, I’ve served as Secretary for several small businesses, helped manage a regional comic convention in Michigan, and juggled the intricate scheduling needs of my three amazing special needs kids. I’m passionate about collaboration and problem-solving, and I’m excited to bring that energy to Westside Comic Con as the “smile behind the keyboard.”
When I’m not coordinating behind the scenes, you’ll likely find me in my craft room creating intricate cosplay pieces or designing crowns and headdresses for my small business, Squeaker’s Nut House. I’m a proud geek with a deep love for fandom, creativity, and especially nerdy costuming — so if you ever want to talk cosplay, I’m your person!

Board Chair
Let's Replace Laura!
Are you a visionary leader with a passion for pop culture, conventions, and community building? Do you thrive on strategy, organization, and bringing people together? Westside Comic Con is searching for a Board Chair to help guide our organization and ensure its continued success!
What You'll Do:
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Provide strategic leadership and direction for the nonprofit organization in partnership with the Convention Director.
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Oversee board meetings, ensuring collaboration and progress on key initiatives.
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Support fundraising, sponsorships, and partnerships to sustain and grow the event.
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Serve as the public face of the board, engaging with stakeholders and the community.
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Ensure financial and operational sustainability in coordination with the Convention Director, Treasurer, and other board members.
Who We're Looking For:
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Leadership or nonprofit board experience a plus but not required.
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Strong communication and organizational skills.
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Passion for geek culture, conventions, and community-driven events.
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Ability to commit time for board meetings, strategic planning, and leadership duties..
If you're excited about steering the future of Westside Comic Con, we’d love to hear from you!

Board Vice Chair
TBD
Do you love pop culture, conventions, and bringing people together? Are you a strong leader who thrives on organization, teamwork, and problem-solving? Westside Comic Con is searching for a Board Vice Chair to help guide our growing convention and ensure its success!
What You'll Do:
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Support the Board Chair in overseeing nonprofit planning and operations.
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Step in for the Chair when needed, ensuring continuity in leadership and decision-making.
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Help facilitate board meetings, strategic discussions, and goal-setting.
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Work closely with other board members to manage partnerships, fundraising, and sponsorships.
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Provide guidance and support to committee leads and volunteers.
Who We're Looking For:
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Leadership or nonprofit board experience a plus but not required.
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Strong communication and organizational skills.
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Passion for geek culture, conventions, and community engagement.
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Ability to commit time for board meetings, planning sessions, and event oversight.
If you’re excited about helping Westside Comic Con grow, we’d love to hear from you!

Board Treasurer
TBD
Are you passionate about pop culture, conventions, and community building? Do you have a knack for numbers and financial strategy? Westside Comic Con is looking for a Board Treasurer to help us level up our event and ensure its long-term success!
What You'll Do:
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Oversee the con’s finances, including budgeting, tracking income/expenses, and financial planning.
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Ensure financial transparency and compliance with nonprofit regulations.
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Support fundraising efforts and sponsorship initiatives.
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Provide financial reports to the Board and assist in strategic decision-making.
Who We're Looking For:
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Experience in finance, accounting, or bookkeeping (nonprofit experience is a plus!).
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Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
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Passion for conventions, fandoms, or community-driven events.
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Ability to commit time for monthly board meetings and financial management tasks.
Help us make Westside Comic Con an even bigger success—one budget at a time!

Board Member
TBD
Westside Comic Con is built by fans, for fans—and we’re looking for passionate, engaged community members to join our Board of Directors! If you love pop culture, conventions, and want to help shape an inclusive and exciting event, this is your chance to make an impact.
What You'll Do as a Board Member:
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Represent the interests of fans, vendors, artists, and local businesses.
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Help plan and oversee key aspects of the convention, from programming to logistics.
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Support fundraising, sponsorships, and community partnerships.
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Promote diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the event.
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Attend quarterly board meetings and actively contribute to decision-making.
Who We're Looking For:
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Enthusiastic members of the geek, gaming, and creative communities.
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Passionate about pop culture, conventions, and fan engagement.
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Strong communicators and team players.
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Willing to commit time to meetings, planning, and convention operations.
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Experience in event planning, marketing, legal, or nonprofit work is a plus—but passion matters most!
If you want to help shape the future of Westside Comic Con, we’d love to hear from you!
Join Our Board
Are you passionate about geek culture, conventions, and building community? Westside Comic Con is seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our nonprofit board!
No prior board experience is needed—we’re looking for a working board of dedicated members who bring diverse skills and perspectives. Whether you have expertise in areas like legal, HR, finance, marketing, fundraising, the comic, film, or craft industries, or simply a deep connection to comic cons and geek culture, we want to hear from you!
Save Your Spot
- Oct 26, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PMhttps://meet.google.com/vvg-bcsg-ohoOpen to board members, prospective members, and the public. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/vvg-bcsg-oho Or dial: (US) +1 513-816-1269 PIN: 660 551 607# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/vvg-bcsg-oho?pin=3559557280728
Public Disclosures
As part of our desire for transparency we are proactively making our Nonprofit Public Disclosures available here rather than waiting for requests from interested parties.