About Marikay
Marikay credits her husband, Isa, and her children, Joey and Michael, for supporting her in her community leadership.
Public Safety
Safer Streets Week
Community Service
Resolution – Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Leadership
Serving Greensboro since 2011
Public Safety
Prior to 2024, Greensboro had a significant rise in the number of children who died in home fires. The Greensboro Fire Department had hoped to buy a fully equipped, technologically advanced safety trailer that would teach children how to call for help and safely exit a burning building. Knowing that the trailer would be very expensive, Marikay approached her Kiwanis Club of Greensboro. Their foundation raised $50,000 to add to the Fire Department funds in order to purchase the safety trailer. It has been tremendously successful and is taken to events and neighborhoods to teach children about fire safety.
Prior to 2017, fatalities on train tracks, especially in East Greensboro, were happening at an alarming rate. Marikay had already taken the Citizens Police Academy and later took her ATV certification in order to be able to assist our Police Department in educating those who chose to walk in the right of way of train tracks. Because it is an “education only” initiative, no tickets are given. Pedestrians who are trespassing on tracks are given information on the dangers of doing so. Thankfully, since this program began, there have been no more pedestrian deaths in the 3 mile corridor that was specified as being one of the most dangerous in the state.
Community Service
Marikay’s Civic Involvement
- Executive Committee, Family Justice Center
- Chair, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART)
- Chair, Municipal Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee (MPO/TAC)
- Vice-Chair, Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC)
- Board Member, Casa Azul
- Board Member, Confident Girls Rising
- Board Member, Greensboro/Guilford Crimestoppers
- Board Member, Greensboro Sports Foundation
- Board Member, Greensboro ArtsHub
- Board Member, Kiwanis Club of Greensboro
- Greensboro City Council Liaison to the following Boards and Commissions: Commission on the Status of Women, Human Rights Commission, Community Sustainability Council, International Advisory Committee
- Greensboro Police Citizens Academy Alumni Group
- #1 Most Influential Person in the Greensboro News and Record, June 2017
Leadership
Marikay knows the importance of small and medium sized businesses. As a small business owner (Mahi’s Restaurant) for 22 years, she understands that they are an integral part of our economy. She also knows the challenges of being a small business owner. Even though she was no longer in the restaurant industry, during COVID she set up a “Takeout” Facebook page for restaurants who told her they would have gone out of business if not for their increased takeout business. Marikay’s entire family is comprised of small business owners: Her husband, Isa, and her children, Joey and Michael, are all entrepreneurs.
Recognitions
- Friend of the Firefighter Award
- Dawn Chaney Foundation “Woman of the Year”
- 1 in “People of Influence”, News and Record
- Grady Hunter Regional Excellence Award, Piedmont Triad Regional Council
- Greensboro Regional Realtors Association Public Servant Award
