Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlo Catroppa.
Hi Marlo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My path to teaching mahjong seamlessly blends my professional roots with my personal life. With a Master’s degree in teaching, I spent years breaking down complex literacy skills as a reading specialist for young children. I later stepped away from the classroom to stay home and raise my four kids, where we naturally became a big “game family.” When I first fell in love with mahjong, my family members were my very first students. Soon, others noticed and kept asking me to teach them because I knew exactly how to demystify the rules and structure the game step-by-step. Applying those exact same foundational teaching skills to the mahjong table allowed me to make a complex game feel accessible and easy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I never intentionally set out to start a business, but it grew rapidly and organically through word-of-mouth recommendations. Today, this venture offers the perfect flexibility, working beautifully alongside my daily schedule and family life. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey, allowing me to teach over 4,000 new players in just the last three years.
We’ve been impressed with MAHJ WITH MARLO , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Now operating as MAHJ WITH MARLO, I bring the game to life all over the Charleston area, hosting lessons at my own home, in private residences, and at local places of business. Basically, anywhere there is a table and room to gather, I can set up a game. My favorite place to teach is at THE HAPPY SOUTHERNER gift Shop in Mount Pleasant. To maintain a super high-quality learning experience, I intentionally limit the guest count in my beginner classes so every player gets the attention they need. Above all, I make sure each session is incredibly fun and enjoyable, ensuring my students walk away loving the game as much as I do.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around our family game nights. Growing up, we constantly gathered around the table to play games like Rummikub, Scrabble, and Monopoly. Looking back, what I loved most about those moments was that screens weren’t in the way of us truly connecting, talking, and laughing with one another. That deep sense of together-time is something I cherished so much that I brought it right into my own home, and today, we still play those exact same games with my own children and extended family.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahjwithmarlo/
- Other: MAHJWITHMARLO@gmail.com
