• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Generous!We Are Having Fun!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

MARCA Helps Local Adults with Disabilities Live Their Best Lives

By MarionMade! on June 30, 2021

For more than 50 years, MARCA Industries has supported local adults with developmental disabilities by empowering them to live their best, most productive lives. While they have decades of experience, this agency has undergone major changes in the last several years.

Ribbon cutting
MARCA Industries and the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting at the 2080 Harding Hwy E. on June 9.

Due to regulatory requirements, MARCA separated from the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities in 2017 and became an independent provider. Michelle Albertini had served as the Chief Executive Officer for just a few weeks when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Despite the challenges, this nonprofit continued serving clients and made major changes.

New Locations

MARCA moved from one large location to four smaller buildings. This freed up more funds for services for their 100 local clients.  “With COVID, we needed to operate in smaller groups. We provide individualized services in a range of environments,” Albertini said.

“Every client has their own individual goal. Some choose to work and to learn skills to compete in today’s job market. Sometimes their goal is to learn social skills or life skills like cooking. Everything is person-centered,” Albertini explained.

Shredding Business

For adults learning job skills, MARCA has a large shredding business. They pick up documents and shred them on-site or at their facility at 2080 Harding Highway East. MARCA clients also work on light industrial projects such as packaging for local manufacturers including Sika and CenMac Metalworks.

3 DD Awareness
Park National Bank helped MARCA celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

“When the community is in a hiring crisis, we have clients capable of doing a portion of the work, allowing companies to free up their employees for other tasks. We would love more of these opportunities,” Albertini said.

MARCA also has crews of four people who work at local companies, aided by a job coach. They earn minimum wage while gaining job experience.

The re-MARCA-ble Store Opens Downtown

To give clients opportunities to learn about retail, MARCA just opened the re-MARCA-ble store at 122 South Main in Downtown Marion. This boutique offers coffee and a variety of unique, socially responsible products from Ohio artists and small businesses. They are looking for more local products to feature.

“We wanted to prepare clients for jobs in retail. With coffee they gain experience with food service,” Albertini said. “They learn to count change, run credit cards, and stock shelves as well as developing soft skills.”

“MARCA is a great organization serving great people. I’m excited to see them join Downtown Marion and help their clients and our community!” exclaimed Luke Henry, partner with Main Street Reimagined.

MARCA Clients Shine

Bobby Wanamaker
Bobby Wanamaker (photo credit Jeff Evans)

Bobby Wanamaker, 34, of Marion, has been a client of MARCA for a decade. He works in the shredding operations and at the re-MARCA-ble store. Bobby also enjoys learning to play the guitar. MARCA prides itself on long-term relationships.

“Our goal is to make the clients excited to be here. I want them to learn and to have the best day possible,” Albertini said. “We all have challenges. Our staff focuses on people’s strengths.”

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

One additional asset is a welcoming, inclusive community. MARCA invited local businesses to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March.

Playing music together
Photo credit, Jeff Evans.
From left to right: Bobby Wanamaker, Randy Boldman, Michael Imboden, and Tyler Alexander play music together.

“We filled up our calendar so fast, we couldn’t keep up with the invitations,” Albertini shared. “I knew there was strong community support, but that response amazed me. It blew our clients and staff away. They were so completely grateful and appreciative to know we were supported in that way.”

Raising awareness is a part of MARCA’s brand: Maximizing Abilities Redefining Community Awareness.

Adults with developmental disabilities give back to the community. They have volunteered at many local agencies, including animal shelters, the Habitat ReStore, and the Explore-It-Torium. MARCA helps clients find volunteer opportunities and provides transportation. MARCA works collaboratively with the community, clients, and staff.

“I knew from growing up in the area that MARCA had a great reputation in Marion. I am grateful to work with this team and proud of the work they are doing,” Albertini said.

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Recycled Wood Brings New Products to reMARCAble Store

    Randy Boldman of Caledonia and his colleagues turn trash into treasure – sometimes literally. “We find furniture on the side of the road. We sometimes follow the trash man around to save pieces. We are regulars at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore! We also use old wooden skids,” said Boldman. Boldman and several others paint, […]Read More »
  • Dan Stull Leaves a Legacy

    Dan Stull left a legacy of family, music, engineering and entrepreneurship. The 80-year-old life-long Marion resident died Dec. 31, 2023. Stull Family Roots The Stull family had been in Marion for generations, with a grocery story on South Main Street in the late 1800s. Dan’s father, LeRoy Daniel Stull, was a civil and electrical engineer. […]Read More »
  • Volunteers Help Local Families Research Their Family Trees

    When local residents want to research their family history, a group of volunteers is ready to assist them. The Marion Area Genealogy Society (MAGS) helps people find marriage licenses, birth records, death certificates, and other documents to shed light on family trees. MAGS is a fantastic resource for people looking into their ancestry. MAGS President […]Read More »
  • Turning Point

    Responding to the Needs of Domestic Violence Victims During the month of December, MarionMade! is sharing stories focused on Marion organizations which help others. The number one reason someone may stay in an abusive relationship is love. It is human nature to want to love and be loved. When abuse – physical or emotional – […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image