Each Wednesday the Napa Valley Register’s Business Focus features “10 Questions” for a local businessperson or entrepreneur. Readers are welcome to suggest candidates to be profiled.

As a young man, Merritt Fink once worked as a magician, an archaeologist and an encyclopedia salesman. But as a local businessman, Fink is best known for his work at Queen of the Valley and his physician recruiting practice based in Napa.

Fink is not afraid to have some fun on the job. A former Napa Chamber of Commerce board chair, he once appeared in a Mission Impossible themed send-off at a chamber function, riding off into the sunset on a Segway scooter. 

“Parody is one of my favorite forms of humor,” said Fink. 

Fink’s also interested in communications technology, cycling, cooking, ballroom dancing and “tasting as many Napa Valley wines as time permits.”

What three people would you most like to have dinner with?

Houdini — when I was a kid, in Fresno, I was an amateur magician, so this would be a real treat. I’ve always been fascinated by magic, I think it’s a great art.

Geronimo — he was a brilliant military tactician, and I think it would be interesting to pick his brain in light of what’s going on today. 

Robin Williams — well, who could resist if he were available. Laughter is a great medicine.

What job would you like to try/not like to try?

Try: Chef — it’s a way to be creative and lose yourself in an activity that’s not like any other — great relaxation therapy.

Not try: Crime scene cleaner — I think being a crime scene investigator would be a great job, but I’m not so sure about taking it too much further.

What was your first job? 

My first job of any consequence was as a dog washer, kennel cleaner and surgical assistant for a veterinarian in Portland, Ore. This was one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had. I didn’t really appreciate how difficult it was to care for animals that were really sick. You learn to communicate in creative ways. I think working with animals is a great teacher for learning how to deal with different types of human personalities.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced? 

With a shortage of physicians in some important specialties like orthopedics, neurosurgery and cardiology, you have to be creative and very diligent to find the best doctors for your clients.

What is your most treasured possession?

Photos that my wife and I have taken over the years on our vacations, weekend trips and visits with friends and family. My wife is an avid photographer, and it’s very nice to be reminded of special people and memorable places.

What’s on your to-do list?

Learn salsa dancing and take a creative writing class.

Who do you most admire in the business world?

Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and known as the “banker to the poor.” He pioneered the concept of making “micro-loans” to the extremely poor for very modest businesses so they could begin to break the cycle of poverty. Dr. Yunus envisions a world where “one day our grandchildren will go to museums to see what poverty was like.” 

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?

My wife and I would love to live in England for a year.

What is one necessary extravagance in your life?

Maybe this is more of a guilty pleasure, but reading escapist novels from writers like Robert Crais, Lee Child, Diana Gabaldon and John Sanford is a great way to completely relax and set your mind free, along with puttering in the kitchen.

What other businessperson would you like to see featured in “10 Questions?”

Mike Silvas of Morgan Lane Real Estate, Dan Dawson of Back Room Wines, Robert Klingman, MD, medical director of the Cardiac Surgery Program at Queen of the Valley Hospital.

The 11th question for Merritt Fink

What’s your favorite magic trick?

“It’s a trick I saw at a Penn and Teller show, where Teller inserts 15 or 20 sewing needles in his mouth and then eats most of an apple and then appears to swallow everything,” said Fink.

“After swallowing, he put his finger in his mouth and pulls out the needles all strung together on a single thread. Very neat.”

“One of my favorite tricks that I have performed is a great one for kids. You present two glasses, one with water and one without water. Into the glass with water you put several drops of blue ink of the type you use to fill pens,” he said.

“The water turns blue. You then pour the blue water into the empty glass and it turns back to clear water. It’s magic.”

To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com