May 7, 2025 • 9 mins
Sheryl Woodhouse is Director of Building Value, a non-profit whose purpose is to accelerate careers in construction, and repurposing building materials, fixtures and such, for resale and reuse. Building Value is a program sponsored by Easterseals Redwood of Cincinnati.
Click here for more about Building Value
Here's the place to go for Building Value's services
Click here to apply for the construction program
Building Value
4040 Spring Grove Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45223
(513) 475-6783
Click here for more about Building Value
Here's the place to go for Building Value's services
Click here to apply for the construction program
Building Value
4040 Spring Grove Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45223
(513) 475-6783
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome back. This is Sandy Collins and this is iHeart Cincy.
Today we're talking about getting a job as a trades person,
whether it's in plumbing, electrical, construction. There's so many jobs
not only now but coming in the future, and there's
a huge need for workers. Today I'm speaking with Cheryl
Woodhouse and she is the director of Building Value, which
(00:26):
is a program to help folks get into the trades. Cheryl,
welcome to the show. Why don't you tell me a
little bit about Building Value and working in the construction industry.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Sure, well, I think the construction trades are looking for
really good people. You know, a lot of people are
retiring out of the trades, and there's a lot of
opportunity for people to start careers in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, steel, cement.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I mean, there's just so much opportunity.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
But I think some of the pathways have not been
easy for certain groups of people, and I think that's
part of where Building Value comes in. At least ninety
percent of the people coming through our training program live
below the federal poverty level, and really it is our
mission to help people facing these economic barriers and other
(01:20):
employment challenges to get into the trades, and it's really
meant to be a nice pathway from these difficult situations
into a long term middle class career that's going to
impact not just them but their families going forward.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
So that really excites me.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
And so we have a lot of women, people of color,
and also second chance individuals coming through the program. It's
as easy as going onto our website and submitting an application.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
One or two of.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Our workforce development specialists interview you and see your interest
in what's going on. And we've got a really nice
new program in twenty twenty five where we've consolidated several
of the programs underneath the Easter Seals Redwood Umbrella Building Value.
(02:13):
The business has been around for twenty years and we
have been providing deconstruction, demolition, warehouse clean out for all
that time and training people for these jobs.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
But now we are offering.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Three weeks of paid classroom training at Easter Seals Construction
Training Lab. Every four weeks or so, a cohort of
five individuals is entering the program, and we first have
a boot camp to see if people are up for
(02:47):
it and they actually want to do physical work and
if they think okay, yeah, this is a good thing.
Then they go to three weeks of construction training. We
call it the classroom, but it's a lab might be
more accurate because they're going to OSHA ten safety training.
They learn how to do construction math and use a
(03:07):
tape measure, and then they get hands on practice with
hand tools and power tools.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
And then they come over to.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Where I work with our team of about fifteen people
on Spring Grove Avenue and we do the work hardening
portion of the program. So as a business, we take
on decon jobs, demolition work, warehouse clean out, and our
training crews learn what it's like to be on construction
(03:39):
like job sites.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I would imagine deconstruction's got to be a lot of fun.
You know, it's demo day. Let's tear it down and
throw it away. So that's one of your main areas.
And also deconstruction demolition, warehouse clean out, which is interesting.
And then the retail portion. So let's say, for example,
(04:02):
you said every five weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, it's about every four or five weeks we get
five new individuals.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
And then those people are paid to go through this program.
If they feel like they're up to hauling wood and
learning to drive do they get to drive little cars
and little little forklifts and stuff like that? Yeah, do
you get to drive little things like that? That's the
fun part.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
It is in the training lab portion they will get
their bobcat and forklift certification, So yes, they do get
to drive the funds.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
And depending on.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
The jobs we take on here at Building Value, they
will potentially and hopefully get additional practice. But it really
kind of depends on the specific jobs that we have
and what those opportunities are. I think something that might
be of interest to the listeners is how they could
get involved with the salvage material our crews are taking
(05:01):
out of these projects, and that's how we stock our
retail store at forty.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Forty Spring Grove.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
You know, deconstruction sounds like fun, but it's actually extremely tedious.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Because you're trying to not destroy it, right, You're trying
to get.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
It down, trying to not destroy it. Yes, there you go.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I remember years ago remodeling a room an attic in
my home and my husband and I like taking a
hammer to the wall, and that's not what's going on.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Oops, I'll patch that up, honey.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Yeah. Oops.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
But you know, we really, you know, they are it's
it has to be extremely careful and painstaking, of course
for safety, but also to bring back materials that can
be used again and sold at the store.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
So it's nail by nail, board by board.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
So the retail business appeals to folks that are renovating
their own homes. Does it also appeal to construction companies
that need to buy materials or who's actually your customer?
Speaker 2 (06:06):
There? We have a number of people who like to
come into building value. Yes, the DIY homeowner who likes
a DIY project and wants to remodel their home on
a budget, especially with the cost of building materials going
way way up.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I think this is a great option for people, especially.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
For people with a creative eye or people who don't
need to have every single thing match. And then they
can say, ah, okay, there's not enough tile here for
a whole floor, but if I mix that tile and
this tile, I can make this great pattern and no
one else will have a floor quite like mine. And
so that's kind of fun. So we have a lot
of artistic minded people coming to do that, but also
(06:49):
a lot of smaller landlords with a handful of rental
properties who need to replace a sinker, a toilet or
a tub and without spending crazy amounts of money.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
So yeah, these things last forever, and they just end
up a lot of times in the in the landfill
because people don't necessarily know how to resell them or
who's going to take it. So where's the retail outlet again?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Forty forty Spring Grove Avenue.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So if you're interested in site, and is that normal
hours nine.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
To five Monday through Friday and then nine or excuse me,
nine to six Monday through Friday and nine to five
on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Okay, And then if they want to tell a young
person in their life or someone that they're interested in
or meybor themselves that want to look into a career
in construction through Building Value, where.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Do we go the website Building Value dot org.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
On the about us dropped down menu, you can find
the application.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
It's a very simple application.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
And if somebody is hesitant because they don't know if
they qualify, they don't want to really waste your time.
I would imagine you would say that at least talk
to us and we'll get you on the right path,
whether it's with us or someone else. Was that fair
to say?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Cheryl absolutely, absolutely fair.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
If someone's interested, they should contact us before they assume
they can't participate.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And age is not a disqualifier. Most of our participants
are between eighteen and twenty four.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
But we regularly have people in their thirties and even
in their forties and sometimes older. And I think the
diversity of ages is really good for the crews, for
people to get the perspective of the older workers and
really kind of sort of meant the mentorship and the
(08:38):
inspiration too.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
So finding like minded people boosts your morale and your
hopes and maybe your pocketbook someday.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Right, that's right, right, right.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Well, Cheryl Woodhouse, thank you so much for being on here.
Building Value. They will help with careers in construction for
those that are economically challenged. And if you need any information,
it's Building Value dot org the website. Thank you, Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, thanks, Sandy, appreciate talking to you.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
All Right, that's all the time we got for this week.
If you've got a question, comment, or a suggestion, I'd
love to hear from you, shoot me an email to
Iheartsinsey at iHeartMedia dot com. Iheartsinsey with an I at
iHeartMedia dot com. You can always listen to the show
as a podcast on the iHeartRadio app. Just go there
and search for my name, Sandy Collins until next week.
(09:29):
Thanks for listening. iHeart Cincy is a production of iHeartMedia
Centinadi
Welcome back. This is Sandy Collins and this is iHeart Cincy.
Today we're talking about getting a job as a trades person,
whether it's in plumbing, electrical, construction. There's so many jobs
not only now but coming in the future, and there's
a huge need for workers. Today I'm speaking with Cheryl
Woodhouse and she is the director of Building Value, which
(00:26):
is a program to help folks get into the trades. Cheryl,
welcome to the show. Why don't you tell me a
little bit about Building Value and working in the construction industry.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Sure, well, I think the construction trades are looking for
really good people. You know, a lot of people are
retiring out of the trades, and there's a lot of
opportunity for people to start careers in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, steel, cement.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I mean, there's just so much opportunity.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
But I think some of the pathways have not been
easy for certain groups of people, and I think that's
part of where Building Value comes in. At least ninety
percent of the people coming through our training program live
below the federal poverty level, and really it is our
mission to help people facing these economic barriers and other
(01:20):
employment challenges to get into the trades, and it's really
meant to be a nice pathway from these difficult situations
into a long term middle class career that's going to
impact not just them but their families going forward.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
So that really excites me.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
And so we have a lot of women, people of color,
and also second chance individuals coming through the program. It's
as easy as going onto our website and submitting an application.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
One or two of.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Our workforce development specialists interview you and see your interest
in what's going on. And we've got a really nice
new program in twenty twenty five where we've consolidated several
of the programs underneath the Easter Seals Redwood Umbrella Building Value.
(02:13):
The business has been around for twenty years and we
have been providing deconstruction, demolition, warehouse clean out for all
that time and training people for these jobs.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
But now we are offering.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Three weeks of paid classroom training at Easter Seals Construction
Training Lab. Every four weeks or so, a cohort of
five individuals is entering the program, and we first have
a boot camp to see if people are up for
(02:47):
it and they actually want to do physical work and
if they think okay, yeah, this is a good thing.
Then they go to three weeks of construction training. We
call it the classroom, but it's a lab might be
more accurate because they're going to OSHA ten safety training.
They learn how to do construction math and use a
(03:07):
tape measure, and then they get hands on practice with
hand tools and power tools.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
And then they come over to.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Where I work with our team of about fifteen people
on Spring Grove Avenue and we do the work hardening
portion of the program. So as a business, we take
on decon jobs, demolition work, warehouse clean out, and our
training crews learn what it's like to be on construction
(03:39):
like job sites.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I would imagine deconstruction's got to be a lot of fun.
You know, it's demo day. Let's tear it down and
throw it away. So that's one of your main areas.
And also deconstruction demolition, warehouse clean out, which is interesting.
And then the retail portion. So let's say, for example,
(04:02):
you said every five weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, it's about every four or five weeks we get
five new individuals.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
And then those people are paid to go through this program.
If they feel like they're up to hauling wood and
learning to drive do they get to drive little cars
and little little forklifts and stuff like that? Yeah, do
you get to drive little things like that? That's the
fun part.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
It is in the training lab portion they will get
their bobcat and forklift certification, So yes, they do get
to drive the funds.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
And depending on.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
The jobs we take on here at Building Value, they
will potentially and hopefully get additional practice. But it really
kind of depends on the specific jobs that we have
and what those opportunities are. I think something that might
be of interest to the listeners is how they could
get involved with the salvage material our crews are taking
(05:01):
out of these projects, and that's how we stock our
retail store at forty.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Forty Spring Grove.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
You know, deconstruction sounds like fun, but it's actually extremely tedious.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Because you're trying to not destroy it, right, You're trying
to get.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
It down, trying to not destroy it. Yes, there you go.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I remember years ago remodeling a room an attic in
my home and my husband and I like taking a
hammer to the wall, and that's not what's going on.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Oops, I'll patch that up, honey.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Yeah. Oops.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
But you know, we really, you know, they are it's
it has to be extremely careful and painstaking, of course
for safety, but also to bring back materials that can
be used again and sold at the store.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
So it's nail by nail, board by board.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
So the retail business appeals to folks that are renovating
their own homes. Does it also appeal to construction companies
that need to buy materials or who's actually your customer?
Speaker 2 (06:06):
There? We have a number of people who like to
come into building value. Yes, the DIY homeowner who likes
a DIY project and wants to remodel their home on
a budget, especially with the cost of building materials going
way way up.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I think this is a great option for people, especially.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
For people with a creative eye or people who don't
need to have every single thing match. And then they
can say, ah, okay, there's not enough tile here for
a whole floor, but if I mix that tile and
this tile, I can make this great pattern and no
one else will have a floor quite like mine. And
so that's kind of fun. So we have a lot
of artistic minded people coming to do that, but also
(06:49):
a lot of smaller landlords with a handful of rental
properties who need to replace a sinker, a toilet or
a tub and without spending crazy amounts of money.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
So yeah, these things last forever, and they just end
up a lot of times in the in the landfill
because people don't necessarily know how to resell them or
who's going to take it. So where's the retail outlet again?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Forty forty Spring Grove Avenue.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So if you're interested in site, and is that normal
hours nine.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
To five Monday through Friday and then nine or excuse me,
nine to six Monday through Friday and nine to five
on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Okay, And then if they want to tell a young
person in their life or someone that they're interested in
or meybor themselves that want to look into a career
in construction through Building Value, where.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Do we go the website Building Value dot org.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
On the about us dropped down menu, you can find
the application.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
It's a very simple application.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
And if somebody is hesitant because they don't know if
they qualify, they don't want to really waste your time.
I would imagine you would say that at least talk
to us and we'll get you on the right path,
whether it's with us or someone else. Was that fair
to say?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Cheryl absolutely, absolutely fair.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
If someone's interested, they should contact us before they assume
they can't participate.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And age is not a disqualifier. Most of our participants
are between eighteen and twenty four.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
But we regularly have people in their thirties and even
in their forties and sometimes older. And I think the
diversity of ages is really good for the crews, for
people to get the perspective of the older workers and
really kind of sort of meant the mentorship and the
(08:38):
inspiration too.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
So finding like minded people boosts your morale and your
hopes and maybe your pocketbook someday.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Right, that's right, right, right.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Well, Cheryl Woodhouse, thank you so much for being on here.
Building Value. They will help with careers in construction for
those that are economically challenged. And if you need any information,
it's Building Value dot org the website. Thank you, Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, thanks, Sandy, appreciate talking to you.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
All Right, that's all the time we got for this week.
If you've got a question, comment, or a suggestion, I'd
love to hear from you, shoot me an email to
Iheartsinsey at iHeartMedia dot com. Iheartsinsey with an I at
iHeartMedia dot com. You can always listen to the show
as a podcast on the iHeartRadio app. Just go there
and search for my name, Sandy Collins until next week.
(09:29):
Thanks for listening. iHeart Cincy is a production of iHeartMedia
Centinadi
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