Introducing Cloverdale’s Mike Nixon

The Annual Spirit of Sonoma County Award Luncheon will be held December 2 at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park. The Award recognizes those who contribute to the economic development of the communities in which they live and work through donations of their time and expertise in support of local business, and in helping others.

Mike Nixon missed a Chamber board meeting a few weeks ago and learned through an email from Chamber Executive Director Carla Howell that he had been chosen as Cloverdale’s choice for the 2011 Award.

“I just sat there and looked at it,” he says. “Are you sure about this?” he asked Howell, who assured him the board was very sure.

“I like to do things for the town, but I certainly don’t do them for recognition.”

Actually, Nixon is a natural born leader and entrepreneur who epitomizes this Award in so many ways.  As a youngster, the Cloverdale native spent his weekends mowing his neighbor’s lawns. In school, he was 8^th grade class president at Washington School and Senior Class President at Cloverdale High. He also served as the senior class representative on the School Board and even lobbied to keep the Track & Field program that was, at the time, in danger of being cut.

Nixon was just out of high school when he went to work for the then newly-opened Papa’s Pizza Café in 1988. Within four months, while also attending Sonoma State and working early morning hours at a bakery in Healdsburg, he was promoted to manager.  Five years later, the owners asked if he’d like to buy the business.

By this time, he had his business degree from SSU and some pretty solid experience, so he thought to himself “I’m 23. I can handle this.”

He met his wife, Denaire, when she was 16 and he hired her to work in the restaurant. After graduation, she moved away for a few years, but, like almost all former employees who move away for a while, she got her old job back when she returned to town. They were married soon after.

Nixon put in many long hours at Papa’s over the years, but having a wife and baby convinced him he needed to be home more and at the restaurant less. He decided to get his license and certifications to become a Financial Planner. During the week, he can now be found in his office at Nixon Financial. Friday nights, though, you’ll find him at Papa’s flipping pizza dough and waiting on customers.

His dedication to community service is legendary.

Papa’s sponsors any number of local youth sports teams, as evidenced by the numerous photos and team plaques lining the walls.  They also provide pizzas, at cost, to many different service groups to sell for their fundraisers. Nixon personally helps the Cloverdale Soroptimists so much with their different events he has been named an honorary member

He is a long time Chamber Director, serving as President three times.  He has also served on both the Planning Commission and the City Council, including a term as Mayor. For nine years he was on the Senior Center’s board of directors, two of them as President. In fact, he was Mayor when the new Senior Center building was dedicated.

His other volunteer activities include the Cloverdale Historical Society and serving on the Wine & Visitor Center’s board.

In about five years, when his two sons are a little older, Nixon says he would like to get back into city politics at some level. “I really enjoyed my time on the Council and Planning Commission and certainly wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

With his ever-ready smile, upbeat attitude and strong community spirit, Mike Nixon is the perfect choice to be Cloverdale’s 2011 Spirit of Sonoma County Award winner.

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