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Mike Dell’Ara founded and operated six corporations in his career, including companies engaged in electronics manufacturing, international trading, real estate development and holding, a wood products company, and a bio-technical systems company. He has been a corporate pilot and served as an airport commissioner in Willits, California, for thirteen years. He served seven years on the Mendocino Private Industry Council, the last two years as Chairman. Mike was the first recipient of the Theodore E. Small Distinguished Business Award, presented to him in Washington, DC by the National Private Industry Council. His company was also named the Employer of the Year in Mendocino County. His company was featured for two consecutive years in Inc. Magazine’s 500 fastest growing private companies in the nation. In 1993 Mike was presented with the Hazmacom award for “Best Technology Development for Hazardous Waste Treatment Nationwide.” Mike is a graduate of Leadership Mendocino and served on its steering committee for two years.
In 1996 Mike and Ruth moved to Caspar. “We had lived in Willits for 17 years and made many recreational visits to the coast. Interestingly, the word in Willits and Ukiah was that the people on the coast were all nuts! We found that to be true and we have been happy to join you!
“We were looking for a summer home on the Coast, and a friend invited us for a weekend in Caspar. Walking about, we found this house in pretty bad shape. But the location! We kept looking, and returning this place by default: it’s such a beautiful spot!
“At that time, the owner of most of undeveloped Caspar, 300 acres of beautiful coastal land, listed it for sale. Alarmed, residents of Caspar – Casparados – decided to take charge of our community to avoid our worst nightmares, that this funky little village clinging to the edge of the North American continent would be negatively impacted by commercial and residential overdevelopment. Right from the start, we agreed to adopt several principles to guide our work:
- Inclusivity rather than exclusivity, removing potentially polarizing obstacles such as politics and religion from the focus of our community, things tend to divide rather than unify us.
- Proactive rather than reactive
- Planning for 100 years. Avoiding overdevelopment, leaving options open for the future of our community and our kids and to protect Caspar's raw spirit and natural beauty for everyone to enjoy.
- Governing by consensus. We defined consensus as inviting all stakeholders to contribute and not moving forward until all concerns are addressed. We have found that consensus is a slow search for common ground but very powerful when it's reached!
“At first, I listened a lot. There was disagreement among ‘old-timers’ about what Caspar should become. I thought I could help decide what really mattered, because I had just arrived and held fewer strong opinions.
“Guided by those principles, after almost two years of weekly meetings, biweekly newsletters, monthly town meetings and the development of the Caspar Community website, we agreed to focus on the values we shared: the importance of preserving and protecting the quality of all life in Caspar. When Vince Taylor reluctantly agreed to be part of an organizing committee, I remember thinking, ‘If he can do that, I should, too.’
“I never thought of myself as a natural leader, but I did have management experience. When the steering committee evolved into a formal nonprofit community corporation, I accepted the role of chairperson.”
The 1980s and 90s were a time of ferment on the Coast. Mendocino was in the throes of becoming a tourist destination, and shots were fired over a sewer board position in Westport. As a part of the self-appointed steering committee that started the Caspar ball rolling, Mike provided steady guidance as well as good financial sense. Facing the threat of losing our ocean view ‘front yard’ to adverse development, Mike became our ‘Oscar Whisperer,’ negotiating with a difficult landowner. Eventually, we secured the 70 acres of headlands for a State Park, and purchased the 1912-era schoolhouse for our community center.' Mike served six years as Chairman of the Board of the Caspar Community, Incorporated, a 501-c3 non profit corporation.
“Now, Caspar's work has transitioned from ‘getting big things done’ to the burden of maintaining what’s been accomplished. I credit the current Caspar Board with a fine job preserving Caspar’s spirit and the quality of life here.” |
