Marvin "Skip" Marlin worked as an industrial packaging designer for a paper company starting in 1975. He then moved to regional design manager for the Midwest Region and later, product marketing manager for produce packaging in Florida, packaging director for the mill division, then divisional design manager for industrial packaging in 1998. After 23 years with the paper company, he took a position as packaging director for a produce company in 2001. In 2004, he was promoted to vice president for corporate packaging. He retired from corporate work in 2017. In addition to his career in packaging, he was always interested in astronomy, buying his first 6-inch telescope in 1986, then building his own 13-inch Dobsonian telescope in 1993. After he retired, he began pursuing amateur astronomy in earnest, joining the Panama City, Florida astronomy club and participating public observing sessions, using his 13-inch telescope. Locally, he started working with his local public library and state parks. He also became a contributing member of the International Dark Sky Association to promote the proper use of night lighting and raise awareness of the environmental concerns for "overlighting." He has always wanted to teach, share, and be an advocate for space exploration and the night sky.