Marvin Neal, Co-founder & Executive Director
Marvin and his wife, Jan, are co-founders of Sierra Nevada Teen Ranch and he is currently serving the Ranch as executive director. Marvin is the pastor of children and youth ministries at A Voice In The Wilderness Church, downtown Reno. Additionally, for over 25 years, Marvin served as the chaplain at Jan Evans Juvenile Justice Center. There he developed and coordinated a city-wide ministry team where he and they ministered and mentored the youth incarcerated there It was in the course of his working with the youth at Jan Evans, that God gave Marvin the vision for Sierra Nevada Teen Ranch; the idea is to build a facility where he and others could minister to these youth 24/7, as well as provide them with the programs and services necessary for their success in society.
Marv has an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Business Mid-Management from Truckee Meadows Community College and a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a Licensed Social Worker by the State of Nevada.
Marv was born in a small town in Tennessee, as the middle child into a single-parent family that eventually grew to 10 kids. At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because Marv’s own background is very similar to many of the youth he encounters, he feels uniquely equipped to share the life-changing power of God with at-risk kids.