Chapter: Akron-Canton
Name: Marvilla Miller
Company: Barbicas Construction Co. Inc.
Position: Controller
Sometimes things take longer to achieve – and for Akron-Canton Chapter Chair Marvilla Miller that’s more than alright.
Miller is nearing the end of her third year leading the local chapter, as she served as co-chair in 2023 and chair the last two years. “I find every year more and more rewarding,” she said. “… The network of friendship of all the contractors is beyond words.”
A 14-year veteran of Barbicas Construction Co. Inc., where she serves as a controller, Miller tries to extend to fellow chapter members the same feeling of hospitality that she and her company felt when it joined OCA nearly 10 years ago. “I think it has given us the opportunity as a small contractor to get ourselves known and be a part of what I call a great community,” said the Northeast Ohio native. “OCA has given us the opportunity to improve our efficiencies in many, many ways.”
“Many, many ways,” also describes the number of activities Miller and her Akron-Canton Chapter members have taken part in this year. “We’ve had some great programs: We did the golf outing, we did the shoot, but the most-rewarding thing for me that we did as a chapter is volunteering at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.” In late November, approximately 30 members donated several hours to work at the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank – which serves area townships and counties. “When you see the magnitude of families that we touch in the two hours that we donate to the food bank and what the difference in the lives we make is it’s an unspeakable feeling,” she said.
The chapter also held a standing-room-only holiday party at Canton’s Brew Kettle, which Miller described as “one of our best turnouts,” and have heard from members since about “‘having the best time ever.’”
While her two-year term as chapter chair ends, Miller will remain leading the charge in fulfilling a community service project with the Hattie Larlham Group, a care facility for special needs children and adults. “We started a service project this year that we are trying to get off the ground … We are in the process of raising funds and getting this done in the spring and I’m staying on for that!”