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/Cosplay Coordinator
Lacey Santos
Lacey Santos joins us as the Cosplay Track Director, Cosplay Contest Runner, and a Board Member.
She has over 30 years experience creating costumes with a focus on design and originality. She comes from a theater background and enjoys being behind the scenes as much as on stage. She is a two time International Award Winning cosplayer, and serves often as a judge for contests as well as a Guest Cosplayer. She has spent the last four years creating stunning fantasy headdresses and crowns through Squeakers Nut House.
Her love of the craft comes through in all she does. She enjoys teaching when she is able and belongs to most fandoms though High Fantasy is easily her most comfortable space.

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
- Sep 21, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 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.