Souda Spotlight: Evangelos "Vic" Kotsolakis - Financial Technician, MWR Business Office

Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

Evangelos "Vic" Kotsolakis, a native of Chania, has filled manyroles for Morale, Welfare, and Recreation over his 34 years of service at the installation. Now serving as MWR’s financial technician, he pays the bills for everything it needs to operate, from the food served at The Anchor to the workout equipment at the Fitness Center, ensuring all entertainment venues are available to Team Souda.

How did you get started working here?

I started as a head bartender here in 1987 and then MWR became bigger as an organization. We hired more people, because when I started we only had three people working here: it was me, a cook, and a warehouseman. That was it. Back then there were 120 people, total (on the base).

Where was the club located then?

The club was over the Galley, the same building that is there today. There was the Sirocco Winds (Southern Winds), that was the name of the club, and the Navy Exchange.

When did you move to the business office?

Back in 2002, I moved from the club as the head cashier, then they asked me to move down to Marathi for a while and to do port service, and then I came back to the base to work in the business office.

What do you do as a financial technician?

Accounts payable, basically all the invoices, contracts, credit card payments, they go through me. I’ve also been a government purchase card holder since 1996. I’m also a SAP user. SAP is the financial system that we use to pay vendors from here or from in the United States. I do daily activity records every day from all departments of MWR. I make deposits at the bank in cash, in dollars and euros. I do time cards for the Greek employees. I’m keeping myself busy.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I did a lot of diving a few years back. My dive buddy left from Souda Bay a few years ago, so since then I stopped. We used to dive between Marathi and Stavros. Behind Stavros, there are many nice places to dive.

What are you doing in your free time now?

Right now, I spend my free time with my dogs and of course, with my wife. She has a store downtown, so sometimes I go down there.

What kind of dogs do you have?

Dobermans. I started to get involved with this breed back in 1987.

How did you get the nickname 'Vic'?

There was an intern who was training me and showing me around the new bar because it was a new space for me to work. The first night on my own the Seabees came in, and Steve Collins, he was a plumber, walked in and said, "Who are you?” And I said, “My name is Vangeli, I am the new bartender.” He said, “Your name is what?” I said “Vangeli - Evangelos.” He said, “No, no, no, no. We can’t pronounce it. We need something easy.” He called the other guys over, they talked to each other, and he said, “Your name is Vic from now on.” And he opened a Budweiser, he poured it over my shoulder and he said, “Your name is Vic from now on.” And it stayed like this, Vic.

What do you want Team Souda to know?

I’m very proud to work for the U.S. Navy. I’ve always been proud to work for the U.S. Navy. I don’t like wars, I don’t like any type of violence, but I’m very fond of a good organized force such as the U.S. Navy.