Our Someone 2 Know this week has lived in Reno for 20 years. He originally moved here to be a firefighter, which he did, in Incline Village, for two years.
Marvin Morgan now serves people in a different way - and every year participates in a very unique competition.
It’s called “Maintenance Mania” - and it's no joke.
(You really want to watch the video on this one).
It’s been described as the Olympics for service directors. Maintenance technicians across the U.S. race to beat the clock completing skill-based tasks.
"Like, how fast you can change your water heater, ceiling fan blades …”
Reno's Marvin Morgan is the only Nevadan to ever make it to nationals.
Employed by Sequoia Equities ( https://www.elevatetosequoia.com/ ), Morgan is the service manager for Vintage At South Meadows (https://www.elevatetosequoia.com/apartments/nv/reno/the-vintage-at-south-meadows-condominium-rentals/).
For almost two decades he's been in property management - and seven years ago his interest was piqued by the Maintenance Mania contest.
"…putting in an ice maker in a refrigerator can end up being a competition where you need to do it in three seconds."
Yup, he can do that - and has the medals to prove it.
Marvin is also a devoted dad, a loving husband, and a popular spin instructor at Full Pedal in Reno (https://fullpedal.com/)
Morgan was born and raised in California and credits his mom for teaching him that no race is superior to another.
"Everyone wants to be treated equally and respected at all times."
And while speaking out about race relations is not something Marvin is comfortable with, he remembers clearly what he was told growing up;
“I was always taught, things are different, and how I am to act when I am in front of law enforcement."
And to protect his teenaged son, he had the same conversation with him.
"You know, it can be just as simple as making sure your hands are on the steering wheel before they show up.” Marvin demonstrates for us with his hands up.
Marvin says when it comes to dealing with life's challenges, he chooses positivity. He chuckles as he explains, dazzling us with his big and very contagious, signature smile; "I’m always singing or whistling, whatever - they get annoyed with me doing it around here, but - that's just me.“
The next national Maintenance Mania is scheduled for October, and will likely be a virtual competition this year because of COVID-19, so if you catch it online, be sure to root on Marvin - for Nevada!
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Maintenance Mania
Maintenance Mania is a national program offered by NAA and presenting sponsor HD Supply (HDS), in which maintenance technicians compete against each other in various skill-based games.
