As we celebrate Marin Magazine‘s 20th anniversary, here’s a word from Nikki N Wood and Nikki C Wood, two of 270 Media‘s co-founders, who, along with co-founder Mimi Towle, help make our publication what it is today.
From Nikki N Wood:
Twenty years have flown by. When we first moved to Marin County 23 years ago, my husband, Jim, and I did not think we would get back into publishing. After spending the previous 10 years building Coast magazine in the Newport Beach area and selling it to the Orange County Register in 2000, we moved to Marin in 2002 where daughter Mimi and family were living.
It didn’t take long to realize there was no regional magazine at that time and we missed the publishing life we had enjoyed –– keeping up with local issues and having a rewarding creative expression. So, we decided to do it again and connected with Lisa Shanower, who had many years in advertising sales, to be our partner in launching Marin Magazine. Daughter Mimi (Towle) was our first hire and important in developing the editorial team. The business model was a duplication of our Coast magazine template, and the mission was also much the same: to enhance the local economy and contribute to building community.
Jim and I literally fell in love with Marin County with all its towns and microclimates, from Sausalito to Novato to Point Reyes Station. The hiking trails, farmland, railroad history, interesting people and vast open spaces gave us much to feature in the pages of the magazine. Because we were newcomers, we looked at it all with “beginner’s eyes” and much of the content was and still does strive to be inspirational.
It’s been quite a ride, and many people have made the success of Marin Magazine a sustainable business. Through the years our staff have been loyal and hardworking, in order of longevity: Alex French, Maeve Walsh, Lesley Cesare, Sharon Coleman, Jessica Gliddon, Mimi Pinson, Helena Grant, Hayley Swanson, Emma Robertson, Ryan Mastalerz, Karen Fraser and Michele Kuhns. A big thanks to them all! And a big thanks to our loyal readers who have also contributed to Marin Magazine’s longevity and success.
Marin Magazine is now owned by 270 Media LLC, a company founded by Mimi, Nikki C Wood and me in 2021. The three of us are super excited and proud to celebrate 20 years of publishing this beautiful magazine.
Nikki N Wood
From Nikki C. Wood:
Over 20 years ago, when I made the leap from the United Kingdom to Marin County, I instantly fell head over heels for this place. Nestled in Mill Valley, I was captivated by the strong sense of community, the breathtaking scenery and the healthy lifestyle embraced by everyone around. With my background in publishing, it didn’t take long for me to think, “What a perfect spot for a lifestyle magazine!”
Just six months later, I started receiving congratulatory messages from my new friends about the launch of my publication. Confused at first, I soon realized they were talking about Marin Magazine. Imagine my surprise! While I had just published a global high-tech semiconductor journal, someone else had already captured the essence of Marin. And to top it off, the publisher shared my name — Nikki Wood — same spelling, same job title, same community. What were the odds?
Although I initially missed the boat, what the other Nikki and Mimi created was pure magic — a magazine that truly resonated with our community, filled with inspiring editorials and supported by fantastic ads that keep publications like Marin Magazine going strong. It wasn’t about one person; it was about bringing everyone together.
I could spend pages recounting how the two Nikki Woods and Mimi came together as partners in 270 Media and how we revived this beloved voice of Marin. But today, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, I’m filled with joy to be part of something we all cherish — a publication that continues to thrive thanks to our incredible partners, writers and, most importantly, our readers.
Here’s to you all. Thank you for your unwavering support and here’s to many more years of celebrating Marin’s extraordinary lifestyle!
Nikki C. Wood
