Gypsy Road Trip

Keep your eyes on the horizon and live in the moment.

All those who volunteer to help in our area organizations are deeply appreciated. They are the backbone of our communities to keep them being productive and growing.

One of those dedicated volunteers is Steve Marvin, who is involved in many local organizations as well as being a financial advisor for Edgar Jones. Steve wants to help make our community a better and happier place to live.

After Steve graduated from Muskingum College in 1988 with degrees in Business and Political Science, he began working at Cambridge Savings & Loan. He was there when it converted to Advantage Bank and later to Huntington National Bank. Customers said he listened carefully to their problems and gave sound advice.

After banking for about thirty years, Steve decided in 2017, with some encouragement from Teresa Cowden, to join Edward Jones as a financial advisor. He had already been advising people how to handle mortgages and businesses so it wasn’t a big change.

He saw it as an opportunity to help people in the community make informed decisions about their finances and offer customized solutions based on individual goals and needs. Many of his clients today remember him helping their parents or grandparents so they trust him to give helpful suggestions.

The amazing thing is how he can manage his time well enough to help with so many local groups, and he does it quite well. His suggestions are always appreciated on numerous boards. He has a long record of leadership and service throughout Guernsey County and the surrounding area doing everything with a smile and a kind word.

His involvement with the community began shortly after he began working at Cambridge Savings & Loan. Ray Drake approached him and asked if he would be part of the first Beautification Council in Downtown Cambridge. This group focused on enhancing the community’s visual appeal, promoting landscaping efforts, and supporting local historical preservation. Once he became involved, others started asking for his participation as well and Steve just couldn’t say no!

Some of those early organizations that he joined, and where he still participates, were Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, Guernsey County Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Guernsey, Noble, and Monroe Counties, and the Lions Club. Year after year, that list just kept growing.

Steve now serves on the board of the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, and proudly supports local businesses. He is an active participant in Chamber of Commerce ribbon cuttings and grand openings.

The Lions Club is one of his fun activities. He remembers that Jim Caldwell invited him to this group and told him they are a great bunch of guys to relax with on a weekly basis. Steve and Chris Rocco have helped as Stage Managers with the Lions Club Music & Comedy Show for many years.

The Lions Club members are a big help with placing and removing Flowers on Main and Hometown Hero banners. Steve encourages their help as he is on the Cambridge Main Street Design committee so still involved in beautification where his volunteering all began.

Golfing is one of his favorite pastimes so it’s no surprise that he is a member of the Cambridge Country Club and the Endowment Chair there. Steve also serves on the Golf Committee for Habitat for Humanity, where he was one of the founding members. Their Golf Outing each year at the Country Club raises between $10,000-$15,000 for use with the Habitat’s building projects. They are driving their mission forward – one swing at a time.

Even when he’s not helping with a project, golf is still one of his favorite ways to relax and has been since high school when he was on the Ridgewood High School golf team. Another thing he enjoys on almost a weekly basis during growing season is mowing his yard where on his riding mower, he can fill his mind with peaceful thoughts. He also has a strong interest in genealogy and keeps adding to information on his family tree.

Steve serves as a financial advisor on the Board of Realtors. His wife, Rhonda has worked in real estate for 35 years and presently is associated with Century 21 Darfus Realty in Cambridge.

Vacations are a big part of his life and Steve and Rhonda have enjoyed many exciting adventures including France, Italy, Amsterdam and Hawaii. A favorite spot is Aruba where they vacation in their time share every February.

Steve is very humble about all that he does. Not only is he a businessman and volunteer, but also a parent and grandparent. He would tell you, “I just try to do my part.”

Everyone has wonderful things to say about Steve. When mentioning him, words often included are kind, helpful, and trustworthy. Steve Marvin is a vital part of the community in so many ways and a great example of a wonderful volunteer.

Crossroads magazine has been running a monthly column called Locals We Love with area people being nominated for a feature article. Steve was one of those nominated by several who knew him well.