Part Two: Community

By: Adrienne Stronge

Our company mission has always been to serve our community, which is a mission shared by Marvin. It was great to see how a deep community commitment can play out at a larger scale.

Warroad and Marvin are inextricably linked. The company was founded in 1912 as a family run lumber company, and now the fourth and fifth generations are still mostly in Warroad, leading the growth and expansion of the business that now employs over 8,000 people across 16 cities, including Roanoke, VA.

Standing in front of the Marvin plane that flew us to and from Warroad.

Just by employing most of the town’s population, the company has an enormous impact on the community, but the company and its founding family have contributed so much more. Any time they have seen a need in the community, the company or Marvin family members have helped to fill that need. The library, hockey rink and heritage center were contributed by the family. There is a performing arts center slated to open soon that was developed by a huge donation by a family member. Even things like the retirement community and daycare were family contributions.

The town library.

An impressive window in the Cultural Center.

One of our favorite stops was a place called “The Shed”. Bob Marvin was a serious collector of classic cars, and instead of hoarding his personal collection, he created a museum of sorts where all his cars are displayed and open to the public for free.

Row of cars in “The Shed”

Row of cars in “The Shed”

Row of cars in “The Shed”

During our tour of the town, we were shown where many of the current family members live, and they all live in modest houses and send their children to the local public schools. The current CEO, Paul Marvin, even made time to meet with our groups and introduce himself, speaking volumes about his approachability.

While our contributions may differ in scale, we share Marvin’s dedication to our local communities. We strive to make a positive impact through sponsorships, volunteering, and ensuring that the work we do helps our neighbors and our community.