Serial Entrepreneur E. Randolph Marriner Honored for Decades of Business and Civic Leadership

E. Randolph Marriner, a 75-year-old serial entrepreneur who served on Maryland's gaming commission through four governorships, will be honored by Leadership Howard County for his decades of business success and community involvement. Marriner's career spans multiple industries from marketing to real estate development, restaurants, brewing, and now a national live events production agency that grossed $17 million last year.

While building his Howard County business empire, Marriner maintained a demanding role as a gubernatorial appointee overseeing what has become Maryland's second largest source of state revenue: gaming. Beginning in 2003, he was appointed by four different governors - two Republicans and two Democrats - to the commission that oversaw the state's lottery operation as it expanded to include slots, six full casinos with table games, and finally sports gambling. Marriner chaired the gaming commission for six and a half years.

Tim Payne, president and CEO of Leadership Howard County, described Marriner as "a steadfast champion of community stewardship and involvement" who earned respect "not only through success but through perseverance." Payne noted that Marriner "weathered challenges with grit and grace, always finding ways to help others along the way" and demonstrated that "true success comes from resilience, generosity and service."

Marriner's political engagement stems from his family's highway construction business in Jessup, where he had his first job. "That sort of led to my political engagement because we worked in public construction which required state contracting and state funding," Marriner explained. He learned early that "if you had a problem, and if you could get access to the people [who made decisions], by and large they want to help you."

As a registered Republican who describes himself as a "centrist," Marriner has become a bipartisan donor, giving over $120,000 to dozens of elected officials from both parties over the past 20 years. Campaign finance records show contributions to Democrats like Guy Guzzone, Calvin Ball, and Wes Moore alongside Republicans including Allan Kittleman and Larry Hogan. This bipartisan approach has provided access that helped with "tweaks of legislation and zoning" for businesses like Victoria's Gastro Pub and Manor Hill Farm brewery.

"If you want to be at the table, you need to buy a table," Marriner says of his political contributions. "If I give to you, that gives me the opportunity to say 'Hi, you got a minute?' And you better be able to make your case in a minute because there are lots of other people who want to make their case."

Most of Marriner's business ventures have involved his wife Mary and their two daughters. His daughter Rachael and her husband Corey now run Manor Hill Productions, which produces major live events for corporate clients including 7-Eleven and AMD. Marriner is now devoting "100% focus" to growing this business while maintaining financial stakes in his other ventures.

Marriner attributes his entrepreneurial drive to dyslexia, which he says forced him to "look at things differently" from an early age. "There's a high degree of highly successful dyslexics," he notes. "You look at things differently and your disability gives you an ability unlike the standard." He also credits his father's advice: "If you want to be successful, hang around with people that are smarter than you and bring them in as part of your thing and reward their performance."