Server Nikki Houser helps hungry diners feel right at home

Caring about others and treating customers with kindness is something Nikki Houser, a cashier/server at Fourth & Sea Fish & Chips, believes in.

Her dedication to making customers feel right at home is why Houser has been chosen as Service Person of the Week.

A member of San Antonio High School's class of 2011, Houser grew up in Petaluma. She started working full-time at Fourth & Sea Fish and Chips last August and has been enjoying it.

"I really like interacting with customers," said Houser. "It's nice to see the friendly familiar faces and new people. I love to see the little kids. Whenever I hand them ice cream, their eyes get so big."

Houser said that Fourth & Sea has lots of regular customers and that she's gotten to know some of their orders by heart.

"I'll know what they want before they order," she said. "Sometimes they switch it up on me, though."

Treating others the way you would want to be treated is something Houser strongly believes in.

"Kindness definitely counts," she said. "I also believe in going above and beyond people's expectations. Some people expect just regular service, but I like to make customers feel like a longtime friend and right at home."

"It can't always be easy to be the waitress, but she is always happy to greet her customers with a big smile," said customer Elece Hempel.

Nikki Houser is the fourth of five individuals chosen as Service Person of the Week.

After all five service people have been chosen, the readers will have an opportunity to vote online for which one should be crowned Service Person of the Year.

Write a letter or e-mail a nomination to argus@arguscourier.com to tell us why you think your nominee should be considered for Service Person of the Week (no phone calls, please).

Nominations for Service Person can cover all aspects of the service industry, but should not include business owners, managers, directors or those in charge of departments. Previous Service Person of the Year honorees will not be considered for the contest.

This year's winner will be honored in the Argus-Courier and at the 2013 Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence on March 14.

E-mail nominations to argus@arguscourier.com. Or mail nominations to: Service Person of the Year, Petaluma Argus-Courier, P.O. Box 750308, Petaluma 94975 or drop it by the Argus-Courier office at 719C Southpoint Blvd.