About Marion CAN DO!
At Marion CAN DO!, we’re more than an economic development office.
We’re a team of business leaders and innovators.
We educate and inform other like-minded, forward-thinking executives looking for a prosperous community to relocate, launch or grow their business. We are dedicated to using our vast educational and technical training assets to provide businesses with the most qualified workforce to fit the needs of new and expanding industries.
We are a member of One Columbus – The Columbus Region, an 11-county collaborative and one of the most dynamic and diverse metropolitan regions in the U.S. One Columbus is known for its abundant opportunities, top-ranked market access, competitively-priced real estate and talented workforce.
Since 1993
Marion CAN DO! began in 1993 by a group of citizens who believed it was time for the community to focus its resources on rejuvenating the area economy. Today, Marion CAN DO! is a 501c(3) corporation marketing Marion’s assets and is governed by a 20-member board of trustees.
Investors in Marion CAN DO! are public and private partners working together to guide our collective funding, expertise, technologies and united power to attract new business investment to the region.
Marion CAN DO! is hard-working, and invariably understands exactly what economic development is all about. Based on my time working with this organization, they have lifted my professionalism to a higher standard.
Our Staff
Gus Comstock
Executive Director
Office: (740) 387-2267
Direct: (740) 272-0687
gusc@marioncando.com
2025 Executive Committee
Kevin Smith
Chair
Vidya Iyengar
1st Vice Chair
Dan Dreher
2nd Vice Chair
Roxane Somerlot
Immediate Past president
Gary Sims
Secretary/Treasurer
Commissioner Andy Appelfeller
Committee Member
Jim Parobek
Committee Member
Mayor Bill Collins
Committee Member
2025 Board of Trustees
Honorable Andy Appelfeller, Marion County Commissioner
Leslie Armstrong, Controller, Nucor Steel Marion
Scott Ballenger, Area Manager Marion/Tiffin, Aqua Ohio
Honorable Bill Collins, Mayor, City of Marion
Dan Dreher, Retired Agent, Generations Reality
Tami Galloway, Director, MTC’s America’s Workforce Development Capital Program
Vidya Iyengar, Retired CEO, Pillar Credit Union
Joe Jakubick, Regional External Affairs, FirstEnergy Corporation
Heidi Jones, President, Marion Area Chamber of Commerce
Spencer Mathews, Manager, Mathews Auto Group
Ryan McCall, Ph.D., President, Marion Technical College
Brian Murphy, Superintendent, Marion City Schools
Evelyn Warr-Omness, Director, Marion County/City Regional Planning
Jim Parobek, CEO, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital
Gary Sims, President, Sims Brothers Recycling
Howard Smith, President, The Wilson Bohannan Company
Kevin Smith, Retired Regional President, First Citizens National Bank
Honorable Ralph Smith, Marion City Council
Roxane Somerlot, Director, Marion County Job & Family Services
Dan Wigton, Senior Manager, Stifel
Board Member Emeritus
Tim Anderson, Retired Comptroller, Whirlpool Corp. Marion Division
Dan Burkhart, Retired Utilities CEO
Ken Lengieza, Special Projects, Marion County/City Regional Planning
Dr. Dal Madia, Retired Medical Professional
Rex Parrott, Retired CEO, Wyandot Inc.
Marion CAN DO! Investors
Alluvial Private Wealth
Alvada Construction
Aqua Water Ohio
ArcelorMittal
Boise Cascade
Dan Burkhart
Buckeye 1 Commercial Park
City of Marion
Clouse Construction
Cummins Facility Services
Dostal & Kirk Insurance
First Citizens National Bank
FirstEnergy
Humble Construction
Kegler Brown Hill Ritter
Marion County Commissioners
Marion Industrial Rail Park
Marion Solar Project LLC
Mathews Auto Group
Mennel Milling
Mid-Ohio Energy Co-op
OhioHealth/Marion General
Ohio State University Marion
Park Enterprise Construction
Park National Bank
Pillar Credit Union
Piston Automotive
RiAlto
Sakamura USA
Sika Corporation
Sims Brothers Recycling
Steam Turbine Alternative Res.
Stifel
United Church Homes
Verne Hart Insurance
Whirlpool Marion Division
Wilson Bohannan Lock Company
Marion CAN DO! is hard-working, and invariably understands exactly what economic development is all about. Based on my time working with this organization, they have lifted my professionalism to a higher standard.”
Gary Smalley, Charles Construction
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Marion is an innovative and evolving community composed of a diverse workforce ready to grow your business output.