Hello, my Name is Paul Michaud

Should I repeat the title or should I not? That is the question.

I shall not, but I can tell you that I'm super excited for life in general. Everyone has a long story and I prefer to keep this one brief. If you'd like to hear more of my story, I'd be glad to bring you down that road over a morning coffee or evening beverage. Just let me know.

I've been a Mainer all my life. I'm a deep thinker who is curious as to how all things work. As a child I would disassemble an item such as a vacuum just to see if I was smart enough to put it back together. I also enjoy sports. Mostly high-adrenaline independent sports, specifically motocross and ski racing, although I did play a fair amount of hockey in my youth. The sport that has stuck with me and is my passionate hobby today is motocross. Although I do ski regularly when winter arrives.

I wasn't a very good student in grade school. I didn't do homework and I often daydreamed during class. I was a C average student who excelled in math and science but didn't care for much else than hanging out with friends, riding my dirt bike, and skiing. I enrolled in a couple Lewiston Regional Technical Center computer classes my junior year in which I did enjoy. I think it was mostly because I had a computer in front of me and clicking around held my attention. My senior year came around and the big question came up. College? Should I go? If so, where should I go? I met with my guidance counselor and she informed me about the New England School of Communications (NESCom) in Bangor Maine. She mentioned the web and video programs offered at the school and I decided to take a tour.

When I walked into NESCom, I couldn't believe the amount of technology and equipment that was available to be used by the students. I could already see myself sitting in the television studio and the computer labs working on projects. I decided right then, that I wanted to attend this school. I applied and got a response within a couple weeks. I was accepted on the terms that I would improve my grades to a B average on the last quarter of my senior year. This seemed easy enough but for a number of reasons, I just didn't do it. I really wanted to go to NESCom but I knew I was in trouble. I decided to write the school a letter. I basically told them that if they were to accept me, I wouldn't let them down. A week later, I received my acceptance letter. After four and a half years I graduated with a 3.86 GPA and a Bachelor's degree in communications with a concentration in Video Production and Web Media. I was awarded "Outstanding Achievement in Video Production" and was an Alpha Beta Kappa Member of the Nation Honor Society. I don't feel I let NESCom down and they agree.

While I was developing my knowledge and skill at NESCom, I was working for Factory Connection Suspension, a motocross suspension company out of Barrington, NH. I made videos and was updating their website with press releases and other media. One day, Regis Tremblay of The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) called NESCom to inquire about some new video technology and how to get the state department started in making videos to persuade the legislature. The school recommended that I work with MDIFW for the summer of 2008 as part of my internship credit. I took the offer and when the internship ended, MDIFW continued to hire me for further work and consulting. By the time I graduated from NESCom in 2010, I was able to work for myself and didn't have to looking for a job.

As I continued working for myself, I knew I needed a business name. I thought long and hard about the direction of where I wanted to go with it. I decided to go with PatraCompany and here's why. Growing up I had a good friend by the name of Travis Steward. We would ride BMX bikes, dirt bikes, ski, shoot pellet guns at each other (no eye protection. I know. Dumb.), get in fistfights, and we even played in a band together. Travis was my best friend growing up. As we got older, we began making MX videos. We were in high school and were actually good enough that Factory Connection and other local companies were hiring us to produce videos for their website. We were making money and we hadn't even gone to college yet. Travis joined me at NESCom for the first year and then decided to pursue work in the motocross industry making videos instead of finishing college. Travis traveled the United States capturing motocross footage while I finished out the programs at NESCom. I had a feeling that we would someday work together again and that's why I used the name PatraCompany. Pa = Paul, tra = Travis.

In the fall of 2010, Travis returned home, ready to settle down with his girlfriend and work closer to home. He had a number of connections, as did I. After a conversation over a beer, we decided to join forces and by 2011 we became PatraCompany LLC. At first, Travis didn't know the significance of the name of the business, but after a little thinking, he realized what I had done.

There's a lot more to this story but all you really need to know is this. My character translates in to everything business related and the services that we provide at PatraCompany. My curiosity has sent me down a road where I spend a lot of my time in the office discovering. I've developed the philosophy that "if a human can do it, I can do it". This goes for PatraCompany as well. I truly feel that our only limits are within our own minds and we can do anything just as good or better than the next company. We just have to apply ourselves and with a guy like me on board, we will strive for perfection. I may make some employees frustrated in this process but they'll get over it. Especially when they see how paying attention to the small details really does help the final product. I enjoy what I do and I'm excited to build PatraCompany into a company that other business' can rely on. I hope you'll join us someday.