Sponsored Blog: SOMA People That You Meet — Drew Dix

People That You Meet” is a series of interviews conducted and posted by the Vanessa Pollock Team/Keller Williams, highlighting residents of the South Orange-Maplewood community and their diverse and interesting lives.

This installment is an interview with Drew Dix, the Director of Sales Development for The FruitGuys.

What town do you live in?

Where did you live before that?

What brought you to SOMA (or surrounding town)?

I had a new job, coming back east from CA (I was born & raised in NJ). We had visited Maplewood previously, as my best friend had started his family here. We bought a house in a weekend in the summer of 1997. The reality that I could leave my !*&%?ing car at home, and actually walk to the bank, post office, food store, a restaurant…and the train (I was commuting at the time and we love NYC) – PLUS my kids could walk to ALL of their schools – that all pretty much sold us. We also loved the people, the homes, and our great parks.

What do you do (for a living or as a serious hobby)?

I’m now Director of Sales Development for The FruitGuys, an amazing company that provides fresh local fruit and healthy snacks to the workplace. It’s a simple concept with a big impact: we want to change people’s work lives for the better through food (move over, bagels and doughnuts). The company is based in San Francisco, but we have over 4000 customers nationwide. Before that, I was a newspaper and magazine guy- I managed sales teams for alternative papers in SF and NYC, and then added recruitment website and trade newspaper management for the legal and fashion industries. But I plan to ride off into the sunset as an actor, which was my sole focus from age 12-32…to be sure, that’s all stayed “alive” since then – I’ve managed to have some great professional experiences since I’ve been in Maplewood (NYC, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Luna Stage). But I’d like to have that take over more of my time and energy as the kids leave the nest.

What’s your favorite feature of your home?

We have a really big living room (half the first floor). Also the location, the location, and the location.

Where do you love to go on a date night?

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

My hair follicles have been challenged for decades, and that’s never been an issue for me- but the smooth dome that’s been revealed exposes a head that’s just too pointy!

What book is on your nightstand?

“Dead Souls” by Nikolai Gogol (he was nuts), and “Song of the Lark” by Willa Cather (SO vivid)

What’s something that amazes you?

Virtuoso artists. People that are absolutely steeped and saturated with their craft that take your breath away. Think- Bach, Aretha Franklin, John Gielgud.

Describe your family:

A electric, emotional, edgy group whose reach exceeds its grasp- always. People that are a striving, reaching; making their own way, motivated in a way that amazes me every day. We are all working at something difficult that requires super hard work and dedication. Son: 15 1/2, baseball player, Daughter: 20, studying acting, Wife: visual artist and teacher (also works for The FruitGuys!) Me: Sales Director, managing new initiatives and people, and planning that ride into the sunset.

What makes you laugh?

Satire and absurd comedy about the flawed human condition. Lewis Black. Lenny Bruce. George Carlin. Phyllis Diller.

Who/What did you aspire to be when you were little?

I wanted to be a doctor, like my cousin Tom, and he even let me trail him on an office/hospital day once. Then I was cast in a musical review in 6th grade, and that was it- sang “Blue on Blue” solo with the hand held mic, alone on stage and everything. Med school? What was I THINKING??

What is your favorite store?

I shop locally big time over the “holidays”: Words Bookstore, Perch Home, Bill’s Army Navy in Millburn. Also “Book Book” bookstore on Bleecker St. in NYC, and the Mets Clubhouse store on 11 W. 42nd St. in NYC.

Of all the places you’ve traveled, which is your favorite?

Travel abroad is something I need to do more of, so I’ll stick to the U.S.– San Francisco and N. California in general, Vermont (N.E. Kingdom), Greenwich Village before 1990 (still love it but it’s all like West Broadway now- the tinker, the tailor and the candlestick maker are now Armani, Gucci and these spare Boutiques with Eleven $3200 Dresses).

What can you not live without?

How would you describe your “style”?

ALSO: WHAT CHARITY or ORGANIZATION are you most passionate about?

Are there any causes or events you’d like to promote?

Yes, Maplewoodstock July 8-9 at Memorial Park in Maplewood. Great headliners on tap- can’t tell you ’til May 1st!