By Jennifer K. Morita

November 07, 2024

Marco Rodriguez has loved counting money ever since he was a little boy growing up in Mexico.

“I’ve always counted money. I could not read, but I could count money,” he said. “I loved finance. … I didn’t have the money to buy stocks and bonds, but I knew how it worked.”

The son of farmworkers, Rodriguez immigrated to the U.S. when he was 19 years old and worked his way through school before graduating from Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance. Today, he is a senior financial advisor and branch manager for Principal Finance Group.

“The biggest thing to know is that happiness and time are more valuable than money,” he said. “However, money does buy comfort. I’ve been in the back of the airplane many times, and the front is a lot more comfortable.”

Rodriguez, who has used his business savvy and talent for generating money to help community nonprofits, has received a 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Sacramento State Alumni Association. He and five other Distinguished Alumni Awards honorees will be recognized at a reception and dinner on Nov. 7.

“My experience at Sac State was incredible,” Rodriguez said. “I got the education I needed that has allowed me to pursue my career.”

Sac State President Emeritus Alex Gonzalez nominated Rodriguez for the award.

“I’m humbled because I’ve been there with other people who have done incredible things. … It’s always easier to write a check to an organization than to do the actual volunteer work. But I’m a big believer in walking in and finding out what it’s all about.” -- Marco Rodriguez

While he was a University student, Rodriguez served on the Associated Students Inc. board of directors, representing the College of Business.

“And the most important thing is, I met my wife of 31 years, Elva, at Sac State. We met at a Halloween party,” he said.

The past president of the Sacramento State Alumni Association Board of Directors, Rodriguez has also served on the boards for the American Leadership Forum, Cien Amigos, and Pride Industries.

He has also been on the Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California board since 2003 and continues to serve as its president, bringing art, music and educational programs to the Sacramento community.

“They asked me to join the board because they wanted my input from the business side of things,” Rodriguez said. “I made a deal with them. I said I would love to know more about my culture and art, so you teach me more about my culture and what it is to be Mexican American, and I will do everything I can business-wise to show you how to run the center.”

In addition, he partnered with the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento to promote higher education to Northern California high school students, and has worked to raise scholarship funds for undocumented students to continue their education.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Rodriguez to the California State Independent Living Council, and in 2005 President George W. Bush appointed him to the National Council on Disability.

“I’m very happy about the Distinguished Service Award,” Rodriguez said. “I’m humbled because I’ve been there with other people who have done incredible things. … It’s always easier to write a check to an organization than to do the actual volunteer work. But I’m a big believer in walking in and finding out what it’s all about.”

For more information about the Distinguished Alumni Awards, visit the Alumni Association web page.