21 Questions
The Executive Committee
October, 2021
Occupation: Senior Campaign Developer
Member since: 2018
Have you served on a committee, the Board, Officer position? Please detail: All the above! I have served as President of The Portland Club for the past three years, and I also serve as a voting member on the Board of Directors. I was previously head of the Events Committee, and currently spearhead our new Digital Communications Committee.
Why the Portland Club?: My brother gave me a tour and I was fascinated by the history of not only the club, but the building itself. I instantly believed in its mission and felt passionate about helping wherever I could.
Strangest thing in your car right now: I don’t know if it’s necessarily strange, but I bought a car vacuum (which I am very excited about).
Biggest pet peeve: When people don’t refill the ice cube tray. There’s a good chance that the freezer is relatively close to a sink, so there isn’t a good excuse to put it back empty or close to empty. It’s sheer laziness. Refill the ice cube tray. Everybody (including future you) will appreciate that you did.
Favorite meal – where and what: I’m a sucker for a fresh spider roll from Yosaku, or paneer tikka masala and gobi 65 from Taj.
Favorite beer: Austin Street Patina
Favorite cocktail: Jack and Coke
Celebrity crush: Justin Theroux
Top 3 favorite music groups: Phish, ABBA
What food do you crave most often: These days I’m mostly always craving Indian food.
Favorite holiday: I spend a good portion of my time around children, and so because of that Christmas is now my favorite holiday.
Favorite sports teams: Admittedly I don’t have a team I root for. I just want everyone to have fun…and for my fantasy team to win.
Hidden talent: I once won a hula hoop contest. I hula hooped for 1 hour and 23 minutes straight.
Last thing you binge-watched: I just finished watching all the Marvel movies (and TV series) in chronological order.
It’s a super-hot day – what do you want to be doing and where? I want to be on our boat cruising around Casco Bay and swimming!
It’s snowing big, fat flakes with no wind – what do you want to be doing and where? Snowboarding! Or staying home drinking copious amounts of coffee and crocheting.
One surprising thing about yourself: I write code for a living. I’m also a graphic designer and I’m really passionate about typography.
What was your best Halloween costume?: In middle school I dressed as an outhouse which my sister and I made out of a refrigerator box. We thought it would be hilarious (and it was).
Craziest job you ever had: My first job was at a Chinese buffet restaurant where I was the hostess. I got to take home free Chinese food after every shift!
Occupation: Mechanical Design Engineer
Member since: 2018
Have you served on a committee, the Board, Officer position? Please detail: I was the head of membership for 2 years and I am currently the Vice President. I have been on every committee we have.
Why the Portland Club?: Fun place to meet new people and stay involved in a fun group
Strangest thing in your car right now: travel slippers
Biggest pet peeve: slow drivers and people correcting people’s grammar
Favorite meal – where and what:
My Homemade Slow Roasted Rabbit
Favorite beer: Orono Brewing Tubular or Tiger Stripe
Favorite cocktail: Gin and Tonic
Celebrity crush: Olivia Wilde
Top 3 favorite music groups: Red Hot Chile Peppers, Glass Animals, Frank Sinatra
What food do you crave most often: Cheese
Favorite holiday: Paddys day or Halloween
Favorite sports teams: Olympics
Hidden talent: Great at card games and randomly flexible in my hips, and I am an amazing cook
Last thing you binge-watched: Criminal Minds
It’s a super-hot day – what do you want to be doing and where?: Drinking on a boat and swimming in a lake
It’s snowing big, fat flakes with no wind – what do you want to be doing and where?:
Making a snow fort and having a fire, Snowshoeing or watching movies with friends
One surprising thing about yourself: I love the nightlife scene and have a dream of owning my own pub where I make my own infusions and food.
What was your best Halloween costume?: I had a baby bjorn on with a bag of sugar, and a hat that said daddy….I was a sugar daddy.
Craziest job you ever had: Concert Venue Bartending
Troy Cobb
Occupation: ME/NH/VT Claims Supervisor
Member since: 2016
Have you served on a committee, the Board, Officer position? Please detail: I have been a board member since 2017, and as the Secretary since 2018.
Why the Portland Club? The building – both the historical and social aspects.
Strangest thing in your car right now: That’s a tough one, my 3 year old daughter has a collection of rocks which she usually keeps safe in her cup holder.
Biggest pet peeve: trying to find a parking spot.
Favorite meal – where and what: El Chapo Benedicto
Favorite beer: Austin St Patina
Favorite cocktail: Old Fashioned
Celebrity crush: Martha Stewart
Top 3 favorite music groups: Phish
What food do you crave most often: Thai
Favorite holiday: Halloween
Favorite sports teams: Denver Broncos
Hidden talent: Dog whisperer
Last thing you binge-watched: White Lotus
It’s a super-hot day – what do you want to be doing and where? Hiding in an air conditioned room, complaining about the heat.
It’s snowing big, fat flakes with no wind – what do you want to be doing and where? Snowboarding, Crested Butte
One surprising thing about yourself: I roast a lot of coffee, and I am always sourcing green coffee from all over the world.
What was your best Halloween costume? 10 foot tall Mr. Potato head or Space Animal (Animal from the Muppets as an astronaut)
Craziest job you ever had: Either selling plasma or a hotel maid
Mary Bennett
Occupation: Office Manager at 44 North Financial Partners
Member since: October 2017 (Had to look this up on the Club website. Seems like forever and yet seems like yesterday)
Have you served on a committee, the Board, Officer position? Please detail: Served on the Board, as Treasurer, as Clerk and as Sergeant of Arms
Why the Portland Club?: Was looking to join a book club, but found this instead. Loved the idea that it wasn’t for the elite, but a place where anyone can belong and everyone is valued.
Strangest thing in your car right now: Bungee cords and duct tape. No zip ties though.
Biggest pet peeve: Drinks or butts on the pool tables!
Favorite meal – where and what: Sushi feast at Yosaku with lots of sashmi and sake martinis
Favorite beer: Allagash Interlude – my son works there
Favorite cocktail: bourbon Manhattan ever since we had that whiskey tasting at the Club
Celebrity crush: Dave Matthews – I just love him, sigh
Top 3 favorite music groups: Led Zeppelin, Little Feat, Traffic
What food do you crave most often: Ice cream, popcorn, sushi
Favorite holiday: Christmas, but I need to readjust my thinking to a better way to celebrate it. Its been disappointing for a while. Also I want to start to celebrate my birthday. It often gets overlooked by me and others. I need to fix that.
Favorite sports teams: Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox – so predictable, I know
Hidden talent: I can read your mind….You are thinking “Bullshit” right now. See? I’m good!
Last thing you binge-watched: The White Lotus (HBO) and Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu) and 100 ft Wave (HBO)
It’s a super-hot day – what do you want to be doing and where?: Floating on the water. Maybe on a boat, maybe a tube, maybe my paddleboard. Might be in the ocean or a lazy river. Definitely with a drink in my hand, and hopefully with a Pool Person ready to refill my drink
It’s snowing big, fat flakes with no wind – what do you want to be doing and where?: Snowshoeing through the woods in VT
One surprising thing about yourself: I am old, I am 129 years old. I might be immortal.
What was your best Halloween costume?: I was Cruella deVille
Craziest job you ever had: I was a lifeguard in Hawaii for a summer
Ian Leslie
Occupation: Wood Floor Specialist
Member since: 2015
Have you served on a committee, the Board, Officer position? Please detail: I have been a member since 2015, and currently help with the membership & events committees. And through the unwavering support of the board I also hold the treasurer position on the executive committee.
Why the Portland Club?: I first joined the Portland Club for the social networking aspect, and the parking (seriously).
Strangest thing in your car right now: The strangest thing in my car right now is a potato.
Biggest pet peeve: Biggest pet peeve is texting and driving
Favorite meal – where and what: I don’t have a “favorite meal” but if you want to win my heart you’ll put me in front of a Mash Tun burger & beer, or any taco will do… even $1 tacos from Amigos
Favorite beer: My current go-to beer is the Kennedy Park Pilsner from The Portland Zoo. I enjoy mostly light beers (pilsner, kolsch, etc). The best beer I ever had was a Hefeweizen in Munich at a small brauhause in the middle of one of their famed Christmas markets
Favorite cocktail: Gin & Tonic
Celebrity crush: Charlize Theron
Top 3 favorite music groups: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Clegg
What food do you crave most often: Pesto Pasta
Favorite holiday: Halloween
Favorite sports teams: I don’t really watch sports religiously but I am a default New England fan. I will always root for my home team
Hidden talent: Trap shooting
Last thing you binge-watched: “Click Bait” on Netflix
It’s a super-hot day – what do you want to be doing and where?: On a hot day I’d like to be by the ocean, or, depending on how hot it is, inside playing video games in the A/C.
It’s snowing big, fat flakes with no wind – what do you want to be doing and where?: I want to be walking around the city under the street lights surrounded by the deafening silence caused by the snow cushion… and then I want to walk into Gritty’s.
One surprising thing about yourself: I lived in South Africa for 3 years. It seems to surprise most people.
What was your best Halloween costume?: Ricky from Trailer Park Boys… you should see the picture.
Craziest job you ever had: The job I have now! It’s hard work but I get to work on some of the most immaculate houses in Maine and meet new, unique people every week.