Proving “there’s no place like home,” Trope Group principal Charlie Nicholls, his wife, Kimberlee, and their two high school-age sons, currently live in the Forestville home where Charlie grew up. “I moved with my parents from Santa Rosa to west Sonoma County at the age of four. I attended Forestville Elementary and El Molino High School,” he says. “More than 12 years ago, we bought the house I grew up in, remodeled it and moved back home.”Of course, there’ve been a few years in between. Nicholls earned a bachelors degree in sociology with a minor in economics from Willamette University in Salem, Ore. After graduation, he worked as a sales executive for a contract furniture dealer in San Francisco for 13 years, then moved back to the North Bay and joined BB&T in 2000. After a few years of quick transitions, BB&T became Trope Group in 2002. The company is now led by Nicholls and partner Christina Pratt (former partner Candy Patocka is now retired).
Are you more of a dog person or a cat person?
A dog person, for sure. Growing up, we always had a dog as part of the family. Now, we have two great Labrador Retrievers, Coco and Clyde, who are part of our family.
Describe the worst thing you ever had to wear to school.
I wore a pair of parachute pants in high school—and I kind of liked them. But they quickly became great weekend work pants.
Did you ever have a nickname?
In my freshman year of high school, my teammates gave me the nickname “Spike” based on the music I listened to at the time and my hairdo.
Share a magical childhood moment.
The one experience that stands out is my dad introducing me to his friend, Tom Flores, at the Oakland Raiders training camp at the El Rancho Tropicana. I was introduced to a few of the great hall of fame football players who played for the Raiders at that time, and the time [dad and I] spent together watching them practice was special.
What do you love to do outside of work?
I’ve always been very active in all kinds of sports. I really enjoy spending time with my family doing outdoor activities, and now I push my kids to keep me active. I’ve been taking them skiing since they were very young, and we also spend a great deal of time road and mountain biking together. I also still play basketball a couple nights per week with a close group of guys from the neighborhood whom I went to school with at El Molino.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
For a short time in grade school, I had a crush on Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons.
What kind of music do you listen to now?
I enjoy listening to a wide range of music genres, from classic rock, rock, world beat, alternative and modern country. I’m always open to listening to new music, and what I listen to depends on my mood at that time. I’m a big Foo Fighters fan, and I’m looking forward to taking my son to see AC/DC for his first concert this summer.
What person do you admire most and why?
Both my parents have had a big influence in my life. I was given a lot of freedom growing up, and they also instilled in me a hard work ethic—to never give up on your dreams, to not take yourself to serious and to take time for yourself. I hope I can be that type of parent to my boys.
What was your first job?
My first real summer job was working in the vineyards for Korbel Champagne Cellars. I can’t recall how much I was getting paid at the time—but, I can tell you, I was happy to get paid at all.
Do you have a pet peeve?
Negative people! It takes too much energy to be that way.
Describe one of your happiest life moments.
It might be cliché to say, but the birth of my children tops them all. I’m also very proud that I survived the Double Dipsea run many years ago.
What’s your favorite jellybean flavor?
Is Markham Merlot a flavor?
