Marley Purdy: July 2026 Member of the Month!

Marley Purdy: July 2026 Member of the Month!

Every once in a while, you meet someone whose attitude is so positive that it changes the atmosphere around them. Someone who is genuinely grateful for every opportunity, always smiling, always encouraging others, and who reminds us that life is a blessing—even on the hardest days.

That person is Marley Purdy, and it is with great pride that District Council 16 Local 159 recognizes him as our July Member of the Month.

Marley has the kind of energy that’s contagious. Spend just a few minutes talking with him, and you’ll leave in a better mood than when you started. His outlook on life reflects the spirit of his namesake, Bob Marley— on love, gratitude, positivity, and treating people with kindness and respect. In a world that often focuses on what’s wrong, Marley reminds us how powerful it can be to focus on what’s right.

Our union—and our industry—needs more people like Marley.

Painting Is in His Blood

Painting has always been part of Marley’s life.

His father is an in-house painter at the MGM, and several of his uncles and cousins are proud members of Local 159. Watching his father provide for his family through the trade gave Marley a deep appreciation for hard work long before he ever picked up a spray gun himself.

His uncle later introduced him to Olsen Precast, where Marley has worked his entire career.

That introduction would become life-changing.

Olsen Superintendent Dave saw potential in Marley from the beginning. Dave has always believed in developing apprentices the right way—teaching them solid habits from day one instead of trying to undo years of bad ones. Over the years, Dave has become much more than a supervisor to Marley.

“He has been like a second father to me.”

Dave invested not only in teaching Marley industrial painting, but also in teaching him about responsibility, leadership, and life. Marley credits much of the person and tradesman he has become to the guidance and mentorship he has received at Olsen.

Embracing the Challenge

Although Marley had painting experience working alongside his father, industrial painting presented a completely different challenge.

His grandfather used to tell him,

“If you’re uncomfortable, you’re doing something right.”

Those words have become one of Marley’s guiding principles.

Industrial painting is demanding. There is no room to become comfortable or let your guard down. Every day requires focus, discipline, and a willingness to keep learning.

Recently completing his apprenticeship at just 32 years old, Marley believes this is exactly the time in his life to push himself.

“I know I’m a creature of habit. If I don’t challenge myself now, I’ll develop comfortable habits instead of productive ones.”

That mindset has allowed him to excel.

Whether it was improving his spraying techniques after learning valuable tips from apprenticeship instructor Adolf or taking on overtime whenever the opportunity arose, Marley has consistently shown that he welcomes hard work. In fact, he enjoys being pushed because he knows that’s where growth happens.

His outstanding work ethic, humility, and eagerness to learn recently earned him another tremendous honor—Paint Apprentice of the Year.

Being recognized both as Apprentice of the Year and now as Local 159’s Member of the Month says everything about the kind of worker and person Marley has become.

Looking ahead, Marley hopes to continue growing within the trade and one day become a foreman, leading crews with the same patience, positivity, and mentorship that Dave has shown him.

Family Is Everything

Ask Marley who he is, and he won’t tell you he’s an industrial painter.

He’ll tell you he’s a father.

Before everything else, that’s the role that defines him.

Coming from a large family with eight brothers and sisters and nearly forty nieces and nephews, family has always been at the center of his life. Today, that focus is on raising his own two boys alongside his wife, whom he has been with for more than half of his life.

Marley says becoming parents strengthened their relationship in ways he never expected.

“I didn’t think it was possible to love my wife more than I already did until I watched her become a mother.”

When Marley isn’t working overtime or perfecting his craft, he isn’t chasing hobbies or looking for the next adventure. He’s simply being Dad.

Whether it’s spending time with his boys, helping around the house, or making memories with his family, that’s where he wants to be. Those moments mean more to him than anything else.

His father showed him what it meant to work hard and provide for a family, and every day Marley strives to be that same example for his own children.

The Union Changed His Family’s Future

Marley speaks passionately about the difference Local 159 has made in his family’s life.

Before joining the union, he constantly carried the stress of wondering how he would provide financially. Every unexpected expense created anxiety, and even welcoming a child into the world came with significant financial strain.

Marley and his wife had their first son before he joined the union and their second after becoming a Local 159 member.

He says the difference between experiencing childbirth without union health insurance and with District Council 16’s medical benefits was truly night and day.

The financial burden that once caused so much stress was replaced with peace of mind.

While Marley is quick to point out that life isn’t about money or material possessions, he also knows the opportunities the union has provided are life changing.

Because of his union career, his family was able to purchase a home—something he doesn’t believe would have been possible otherwise.

Even more importantly, his wages and benefits have allowed his wife to stay home and raise their boys full time, something they both deeply value.

For Marley, those aren’t just financial benefits.

They’re family benefits.

They’re the gift of time, security, and peace of mind.

A Union That Invests in Its Members

Marley says one of the greatest surprises about joining Local 159 was discovering how many people genuinely wanted to see him succeed.

“The instructors, office staff, business representatives—everyone checked in on me, encouraged me, and taught me little tricks of the trade.”

That culture of mentorship is something Marley deeply appreciates.

He believes people succeed when others invest in them, just as his father, Dave, Adolf, and so many others invested in him.

High Performance. High Value.

When asked what District Council 16’s slogan, High Performance, High Value, means to him, Marley answers without hesitation.

“It means showing up every day with your game face on. Stay focused on the task in front of you. Work hard, stay consistent, be proactive, keep learning, and make yourself as valuable as possible. If you’re willing to work hard, people notice.”

That simple philosophy has guided every step of his career.

More Than a Great Painter

Marley Purdy is an outstanding industrial painter.

He’s an Apprentice of the Year.

He’s a future foreman.

He’s a dedicated husband.

He’s a proud father.

But above all, he’s the kind of person every union hopes to have wearing its logo.

His positivity is infectious.

His gratitude is genuine.

His work ethic is inspiring.

His humility is refreshing.

If we had more members who approached each day with Marley’s optimism, appreciation, and willingness to lift others up, our union would be even stronger than it already is.

Congratulations, Marley, on being named Local 159’s July Member of the Month and Paint Apprentice of the Year. Thank you for representing District Council 16 with humility, professionalism, and a joyful spirit that inspires everyone around you.

Keep bringing the positive energy.

We could all use a little more of it.