911±¬ÁϳԹÏ

(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Letter to the Editor)

Many of you know me as the guitar man who performs the marketing for a local pizza company on Division Street, on the south side of Parkersburg. In the recent past, during the holiday season; I learned that a local musician had written a song celebrating my work as a street marketer for our community pizza company. The song is called “Cardboard Rockstar” featured on their 2025 CD “Route Fifty Six,” and it dubs me a cardboard rock star. While the air guitar and theatrical energy might seem like just good fun, this recognition means so much more to me than I can adequately express.

For seventeen years, I’ve been on Division Street with my cardboard guitar, bringing energy and enthusiasm to every shift. The musician who wrote the song “Cardboard Rockstar” actually came to my workplace on a cold, rainy, and otherwise gloomy day and gave me two free CDs of “Route Fifty Six.” He told me regarding the song Cardboard Rockstar, “I don’t sing the song I wrote it.” He informed me that I inspired the song. The musician told me he didn’t know how long I had been working here, but he knew it was at least six years.

What started as a way to draw attention to our pizza company has evolved into something far more meaningful. The people I encounter every day — from regulars who honk, beep, wave and smile to new faces discovering our restaurant, have become part of my story.

This local musician’s recognition of my work is humbling. It shows that when we commit to bringing our whole selves to what we do, people notice. They see the dedication, the joy, and the heart behind it. In a world that often feels disconnected, street marketing with genuine enthusiasm creates moments of real human connection.

I’m deeply grateful to our local music community for taking the time to celebrate not just me, but what street marketing represents — showing up, being present, and brightening people’s days through authentic engagement. This song is a reminder that every job, no matter how unconventional, has value when approached with passion and purpose. I am so thankful for the kindness that the people in our community afford me, especially those who travel on Division Street. Special thanks to my girl Leecee and our dog Buddy!

People ask me all the time what kind of music I listen to or what my favorite song is. Now, I can honestly say that my favorite CD is “Route Fifty Six” and my favorite song is “Cardboard Rockstar!”

P.S. Most of all I would like to thank and give all the glory to God!

Mark Powers

Parkersburg