Marty Nix may work in a serious business, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

The office of Hall County’s public safety director and self-described “cut-up” is proof enough — just one glance at the life-sized, cardboard Elvis, adorned with wig and cape, says it all. “You’ve got to keep it light,” Nix said of the work environment at the 911 center where a staff of 51 employees field 10,000 to 12,000 calls each month. “That’s my philosophy — don’t make it so gloomy. If you focused on that, you would not last long here.”

Nix, 46, is a lifelong Hall County resident who has worked in a variety of public safety jobs.

After starting out as a booking officer at the Hall County Detention Center for former Sheriff Dick Mecum, Nix worked his way up to investigating high-profile homicides. He was an investigator in the district attorney’s office and served as deputy warden at Hall County’s Correctional Institution.

In 2004, Nix took on the mammoth task of moving Hall County’s 911 center to its present location at the Fire and Emergency headquarters on Crescent Drive as the central communications director.

It was by far the biggest challenge for a man who craves them.

“I like new challenges,” Nix said in explaining his career path. “If it’s a new challenge or something I’ve not done before, I want to do it.”

Nix was recently named to the new position of Public Safety Director, overseeing Hall County’s animal control and code enforcement divisions as well as 911 operations.

He looks forward to his next challenge — with animal control supervisor Mike Ledford, opening the Hall County animal shelter by this fall.

Nix may have a lot of job duties, but he also has a lot of hobbies — “too many hobbies,” he jokes.

Almost every day after work, he spends an hour tending to his organic garden of vegetables and herbs. He likes playing progressive bluegrass on guitar with a group of friends, and is well-known for his passion for cycling.

A frequent participant in the Bike Ride Across Georgia, a lasting memory will be the day he was able to follow behind cycling star Lance Armstrong in an official’s car during the Tour de Georgia. Nix can often be seen on weekends riding his Trek touring bike around Clermont.

Nix and his wife of 21 years, Jan, also enjoying camping with their children, Matthew, 14, and Jessica, 9. They’ve travelled to outdoor music festivals in Telluride, Colo., and Winfield, Kan., another favorite pastime for Nix.

But even when he’s on vacation, Nix is often fielding work-related calls and solving problems on his BlackBerry. He doesn’t mind.

“I love coming to work,” he said. “I have a great staff who really support me, and they’re a great bunch of folks to work with.

“I think the Hall County government is a very well-run, efficient government, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”