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.
Our Staff
Gus Comstock
Executive Director
Office: (740) 387-2267
Direct: (740) 272-0687
gusc@marioncando.com
Executive Committee
Jennifer Adams
Board Chair
Dan Dreher
Committee Member
Ted Graham
Committee Member
Lars Olson
Committee Member
Roxane Somerlot
Incoming Board Chair
Gary Sims
Committee Member
Ken Stiverson
Committee Member
2021 Board of Trustees
Jennifer Adams, Superintendent, Pleasant Local Schools
Scott Ballenger, Area Manager Marion/Tiffin, Aqua Ohio
George Bowman, Plant Lead, Whirlpool Corporation – Marion Division
Dan Dreher, Agent, Generations Reality
Ted Graham, Advisor, Marion Industrial Rail Park
Curtis Gingrich, MD, FACHE, COO, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital
Ron Iarussi Ph.D., Superintendent, Marion City Schools
Joe Jakubick, Regional External Affairs, FirstEnergy
Dal Madia, MD, Retired
Honorable Kai Meade, Councilman, Marion City Council
Ryan McCall Ph.D., President, Marion Technical College
Ted McKinniss, Esq.
Lars Olson, President, Alluvial Private Wealth
Todd Petrie, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, Sika Corporation
Honorable Scott Schertzer, Mayor, City of Marion
Gary Sims, President, Sims Brothers Recycling
Howard Smith, President, The Wilson Bohannan Company
Roxane Somerlot, Director, Marion County Job & Family Services
Honorable Ken Stiverson, Marion County Commissioner
Lowell Thurston, President, Carroll’s Jewelers
Evelyn Warr-Cummings, Director, Marion County/City Regional Planning
Board Member Emeritus
Tim Anderson, Retired Comptroller, Whirlpool Corp.
Dan Burkhart, Retired Utilities CEO
Ken Lengieza, Special Projects, Marion County/City Regional Planning
Rex Parrott, Retired CEO, Wyandot Inc.
Marion CAN DO! Investors
Alluvial Private Wealth
Alvada Construction
Aqua Water Ohio
ArcelorMittal
Dan Burkhart
Carroll’s Jewelers
Charles Construction Services
City of Marion
Clarity Technology Solutions
Cummins Facility Services
Custom Professional Accounting
Dan Dreher
Fetter Brothers Construction
First Citizens National Bank
First Financial Bank
FirstEnergy
Kegler Brown Hill Ritter
Lehman Daman Const. Services
Marion Community Foundation
Marion County Commissioners
Marion Industrial Rail Park
Marion Technical College
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
POET Biorefining
Savion Energy
Sakamura
Sika Corporation
Sims Brothers Recycling
Snyder Funeral Homes
Steam Turbine Alternative Res.
Stifel Nicolaus
United Church Home
Verne Hart Insurance
Whirlpool Corporation Marion
Wilson Bohannan Lock Company
Wyandot Snacks
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Marion is an innovative and evolving community composed of a diverse workforce ready to grow your business output.