The People Behind Marden Motors
Meet Our Team
A small, experienced crew who handle every purchase personally. No anonymous sales floor. No runaround.
Our Approach
No Salespeople. Just People.
When you come to Marden Motors, you deal directly with Steve, John, or Ivan — not a commissioned salesperson whose goal is to move you off the lot. That's been our approach since 1979, and it's why so much of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals. Google rated us 4.9 out of 5 — the highest of any used car dealer in the Guelph area.
Owner / Operator
Steve Van Dam
Steve started Marden Motors in 1979 and has been on Highway 6 North ever since. He handles every sale personally — inspecting vehicles, talking through your options honestly, and making sure you leave with something you're genuinely happy about. There's no pressure here because Steve doesn't need it; the cars sell themselves when they're good, and he doesn't put bad ones on the lot. Ask him about the hockey teams he's sponsored over the years or the vehicles he's turned down at auction — you'll quickly understand how the business has lasted over 45 years.
Manager & Finance Expert
John Post
John brings over 25 years of auto financing experience to the team. He's helped hundreds of buyers — first-timers, people rebuilding credit, buyers who've been turned down elsewhere — find a payment structure that actually works. John can arrange 6-month deferred payments and zero-down financing, and he'll give you the straight answer on what you qualify for without wasting your time.
Sales Consultant
Jim Gallina
Jim is here to help you find the right fit — not just any fit. He knows the inventory inside out and will match you with vehicles that suit what you actually need, whether that's a practical daily driver, something with towing capacity, or a reliable family SUV. No upselling. Just good information so you can make a confident decision.
Administration & Bookkeeping
Shelly Ciccia
Shelly keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes — paperwork, bookkeeping, and making sure every purchase goes through without a hitch. When your deal closes, it closes cleanly because Shelly has already sorted the details.
Service Manager
Ivan Porcellato
Ivan runs the service side of Marden Motors and sets the standard for what "reconditioned" actually means here. Every vehicle that comes through gets a safety inspection that goes well beyond what OMVIC requires — if it doesn't meet Ivan's standard, it doesn't go on the lot. That includes a full oil change, detailed fluid checks, brake inspection, and a complete detail. Ivan is also on hand when you buy — if you have questions about the mechanical condition of a vehicle, he's the right person to ask.
Mechanic
Steve Damaren
Steve D. is part of the service team that makes Marden Motors' reconditioning process stand out. He works alongside Ivan to ensure every vehicle is mechanically sorted before it reaches the lot — and handles ongoing service and repairs for customers who return for maintenance.
Mechanic
Brock Moules
Brock brings hands-on mechanical expertise to the Marden service team. From engine diagnostics to brake work and seasonal maintenance, he keeps vehicles in the shape they should be — both before sale and after.
Mechanic
John Crewson
John rounds out the service team with a focus on thorough, reliable mechanical work. He's part of why Marden Motors can confidently back every vehicle with a 30-day, 2,000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty — one of the strongest in-house warranties in the area.
Detailer
Bruce Tawse
Every vehicle that leaves Marden Motors gets a full professional detail — that's Bruce's doing. His work is the finishing touch on a reconditioning process that already exceeds industry standards. When you sit in a car for a test drive here, it's genuinely clean.
Why It Matters
You Know Who You're Dealing With
At most dealerships, you deal with a salesperson who passes you to a finance manager, who passes you to a service advisor. Nobody has the full picture. At Marden Motors, Steve, John, and Ivan each know every vehicle on the lot — what it came in as, what was done to it, and whether it's right for you.
When we say we offer a 30-day/2,000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 15-day money-back guarantee, it means something because the same people who put the car on the lot are still here the day after you drive it off.
That's what over 45 years and a 4.9-star Google rating is built on.