Charles D. (Chuck) Mills is the third generation President of Mills Machine Company (est. 1908) an international custom manufacturer of Earth Drilling Tools, Bits and Related Accessories. Chuck is a former Mayor of the City of Shawnee, OK and still serves on many statewide boards focusing on global trade, small business, economic development, workforce and education initiatives.

Chuck Mills born in Shawnee in 1956, graduated from Shawnee High School in 1974 and the University of Central Oklahoma in 1979 with a BBA in Management. Married to Karen W. Mills and have two daughters, Britan (OU) Grad and Kurstyn (UCO) Grad.

Current Activities:

Local:

Central Oklahoma Workforce Development Board since 2002

Red Earth Brewers OKC – Member since 2017

Shawnee Forward (Chamber of Commerce) – Member since 1980, Workforce, SME, Entrepreneurship/Tech

Former Mayor, City of Shawnee, OK 2004-2008

State and National:

Oklahoma District Export Council – Member since 1988 Chairman since 2005  

Governor’s International Team – Board Member since 2009 Chairman 2012

Port Authority for the Greater Oklahoma City area – Vice Chair & Trustee since 2012

            U.S. Global Leadership Coalition since 2018           

State Chamber of Oklahoma – Board Member since 2000 Chairman 2014 

            Oklahoma City Community College Business Advisory Committee       

            National Federation of Independent Business – SAFE Trust Former-Chair & Leadership Council 

Oklahoma City Economic Roundtable – Member since 2009

            Central Oklahoma Manufacturers Association - Member

Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development – 2005 - 2018 

Oklahoma Workforce Youth Council – Co-Chair 2014 - 2018

Oklahoma Career Pathways Committee - Member

            OK Superintendent of Public Instruction Business Advisory Board - Member

OK State Career-Tech Director’s Business Advisory Board - Member

Awards:

NASBITE Outstanding Exporter in Oklahoma - 2021

Lt. Governor’s Small Business Award of Excellence - 2018

Oklahoma Works – State of Oklahoma Workforce Business Champion - 2015

Entrepreneurial Excellence in Oklahoma Award - 2014

University of Central Oklahoma - Distinguished Alumni Award - 2012

U.S. Export Achievement Certificate - 2012

Oklahoma Governor’s Small Business Person of the Year - 2011

Oklahoma Mayor of the Year – 2008

Mayor’s Art Star Award – 2008

Certified Municipal Official - 2007

Oklahoma Mayor of the Year Finalist - 2007

Shawnee Citizen of the Year - 2006

Workforce Oklahoma Business Leader of the Year - East Central WIA - 2004

As Managing Partner, Rick Nagel leads the strategic direction of firm and its portfolio assets.

He first served Acorn as an Advisory Board Member and in 2004, joined as a partner and founded the firm’s private equity practice. Since, he has led the firm’s geographic footprint, fund operations, fundraising activity, investment deal generation, portfolio merger integrations, company performance improvement and organizational effectiveness.

Prior to joining Acorn, Nagel was managing director of Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity, where he led several revitalization and transformation strategies that spanned high growth enterprises and successful turnarounds. In this capacity, he managed and led several companies in Platinum’s information technology and telecommunications portfolio, which included DCA Services, Matrix Telecommunications, and numerous bolt-on acquisitions. He joined DCA in 1995 before WorldCom divested it to Platinum in 1997 and was named president of DCA in 1999.

He is a recipient of the Oklahoma Journal Records’ Achiever’s Under 40 Award and a seven-time "Metro 50" winner as CEO or Chairman of four different companies, two of which are currently operated by Acorn.

Nagel is a current member of the Board of Governors for the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the Oklahoma Aerospace Association, and the US Air Force Association.  He serves on the Board of Directors for the State Chamber of Oklahoma, is a member of Rotary International and the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Nagel has served as President and is currently on the Board of the Oklahoma County Boys and Girls Clubs, is the acting President of the Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs for the State of Oklahoma, and serves on the National Government Relations Committee for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

He is the Chairman of Maverick PAC and campaign treasurer for US Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK, Appropriations & Rules), a position he also served for former US Congressman JC Watts.  Nagel is also a former Finance Chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party.  

A Phillips 66 Scholar, Nagel holds a B.S. degree from the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering in Environmental Science.