My name is Dylan Feik and I am the City Manager of Monrovia. I was raised in Mountain Green, Utah, and have a passion for mountain biking and classic Ford Mustangs. Whether riding my bike on Lower Clamshell Trail or wrenching on any one of my four Mustangs – two from ’65, and one each from ’67 and ’68 – my playlist will include U2, Pearl Jam, Neil Young, Taylor Swift, Social Distortion, Tom Petty or Cardi B – music takes me back to personal moments in life that I cherish. My first real job was working as a soccer referee and then I became a courtesy clerk at Albertson’s. I absolutely LOVE shopping at the grocery store – it is the ultimate community space where people come together! From my ages of 19-21, I served as a Missionary for my church in the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Georgia, so I speak fluent Armenian and Georgian. Following my service, I returned home with a deep passion to become a public servant. I wanted to find a way that, professionally, I could work to build communities and serve others.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I married the love of my life, Kira, on 08/08/08 and we have 3 amazing children who all attend school here in Monrovia. Kira is a former Division I volleyball player and all-around “Jill of All Trades.” She is the kindest, sweetest person and is always willing to help others. My three kids are often seen playing at the city’s parks and playgrounds. They attend Monroe and Wild Rose Elementary Schools and their favorite place to eat is Yogurtland!
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
As a City Manager, I love that I can be part of a government organization that seeks to serve people. I am so passionate about helping people – it’s what I love and what I enjoy doing. Every Sunday night when I get ready for bed, I rest my head on the pillow and think, “I am so excited to go to work in the morning!” I have never had those Sunday Night Blues! I wish that everyone could enjoy a career of doing what they absolutely love professionally. It is the most gratifying and fulfilling feeling.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Am I allowed to answer this one? Because of my role, I am privileged to know and work with so many business owners in Monrovia and can’t pick a favorite. But I’ll say that Tony at Jake’s has the most amazing sandwiches in town. Joe at Sena offers amazing tacos. Marcos at Blaze Pizza is the nicest, kindest owner/manager. The Friedman’s at Basin 141 are known for their drinks but have you tried their pork belly nachos? And we all know Ricky at Merengue is “Old Town Monrovia heart and soul” all day long! Many of us love, cherish and patronize our favorite restaurants every day. Thank you! They need our support and they work so hard to earn it every day!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We moved to Monrovia in October 2019. It was an amazing experience to arrive in Monrovia and observe the city in holiday fashion – Halloween, then Thankful & Grateful and into Christmas and New Year’s. I felt like my intro to Monrovia was all a big party for three months! Shortly after, in January, LA County identified the first case of the coronavirus, and by March, the pandemic had begun.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
One person I really admire is Susie Ling. She is a Professor at Pasadena City College and served on the City’s Ad Hoc Committee on Equity & Inclusion. She is so passionate about Monrovia, our various cultures, stories and our history. While many of us agree that Steve Baker was completely irreplaceable, we have so many people that make Monrovia special.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
There are two places – First is our family cabin in the Uintah Mountains of northern Utah. It is our place of peace and happiness where we go as a family to relax and spend time together. The other place is always Tbilisi, Georgia. The root word of Tbilisi, “tbila” means “warm” and it truly is the city of warmth. The city is beautiful and its people are loving and so hospitable. It has a long and rich history, and if I could go anywhere, it would be there.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Dances with Wolves, hands down. I once visited the prairie lands where the film was made and it was so beautiful. The storyline is one that I have always cherished – if we check our egos and biases at the door, our eyes will be opened to the true beauty of the world. One of my good family friends once told me, “Dylan, it is because of our differences that we must love one another.” I also love “The Office” but don’t try to incorporate Michael Scott’s management skills into the City workplace!
Q: What advice would you give to people?
It’s always better to be kind than to be right
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
One of my cars is a 1967 Ford Mustang GT 390. It is fairly rare, and I was able to purchase it when I was 18. I’ve now owned the car for more than half of my life, and it needs to be restored. While some people may not understand why someone would hold onto a car for 20+ years and restore it, I have a deep and personal connection to that car. The car is sitting in a restoration shop where in the coming years it will be fully restored to the same condition it would have been when it rolled off the Ford assembly line in 1967. And you’ll see me driving that car regularly around Monrovia!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder is the sound of my childhood.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
It’s hard for me to be nostalgic. I’ve only lived here three years. However, I will never forget the feeling I had after indoor dining was allowed to resume during the pandemic. We went in and sat down. Just watching people again made me so emotional. Even now as I go to the Friday Night Street Fair, I find a place to stand in quiet solitude and watch people enjoy our beautiful Old Town. It tears me up just thinking about all we’ve been through, the people we’ve lost, and how our lives will forever be changed because of Covid.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Michael Jordan. As a kid, he was my role model and I collected everything with his name on it. I have over 900 basketball cards, several pairs of shoes, and much more. We would walk Old Town and I’d let him pick the location but I would foot the bill. If you know me, “food is my love language,” and by buying his meal for him, it is how I would personally thank him for being my role model.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
There is so much to love! The first two things that come to mind are the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and our neighborhoods. I am so deeply appreciative to Monrovians for supporting acquisition of the Hillside Wilderness Preserve. I visit the Preserve at least four times per week and find so much joy being up there. Our neighborhoods are so unique and special! I love driving to Valmont and Rochelle during the holidays to look at lights. The Norumbega Loop is home and I love all the walkers. There are so many beautiful little neighborhoods in our community that make us so special.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I hope to be right here in Monrovia. I want to raise my family here and I want to spend the rest of my professional career serving this beautiful city.
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I am afraid of the dark
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
When I close my eyes and ask myself this question, I see the mountains above my childhood home in Mountain Green, Utah.
Q: What is your favorite month? Favorite holiday? And what is the best single day on the calendar?
December. Christmas. And best single day on the calendar is Thanksgiving – a day off work and spending time with family and friends and overeating? What a great holiday activity!
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My wife, Kira.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My belief in God inspires me to be better.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
I love the smell of oak scrub and aspen. Growing up in Utah, that smell of springtime is something you will never forget. And, um, I also LOVE the small of gasoline and horse manure. I grew up in a rural farming community, so there are some smells that just smell like “home.” Please don’t make me regret sharing this!
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family. Friends. Love
