October 2026

Celebrating Careers in Construction Month

Left to right: Building Value Construction Training Program graduates Niles Whatley and Lonzo Clark; Rose Automotive

Sales Consultant Joe Imhoff, Workforce Development Manager David Daniels | Photos by Elijah McKenzie

Keys to the Future:

Keeping Our Graduates on the Job

Lonzo Clark gets keys to his new (used) car.

Niles Whatley gets keys to his new (used) car.

October is Careers in Construction Month, a time to celebrate the skilled tradespeople who build our communities and the paths that lead people into those careers. At Building Value, we see every day that talent and hard work aren’t always enough. Sometimes the biggest obstacle between a person and a lasting career is simply getting to work.

That’s why we’re thrilled to share some news. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, Building Value can purchase up to EIGHT cars for graduates of our Construction Training Program who face economic challenges tied to a lack of reliable transportation.

When the ride stops, the career can stop too

Andre Monroe-Cottingham knows how quickly a career can be put at risk.

Andre came through our Construction Training Program in January 2026, where he trained on two very different job sites. At Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa, he and his fellow trainees worked a fast-paced commercial deconstruction and cleanout, learning to operate jackhammers, floor grinders, and polishers while coordinating safely alongside electricians and other trades. At Mecklenburg Gardens, he took part in a large-scale project with general contractor Kaiker Development + Construction, moving through deconstruction, demolition, and cleanout phases and gaining experience around heavy equipment like skid steers.

Andre’s interest was always plumbing, and that’s exactly where he landed. Today he works with Nelson Stark as a plumbing pre-apprentice. Nelson Stark is a commercial plumbing and site development company serving Greater Cincinnati and Dayton, with roots dating back to 1931 and union-trained crews.

Then Andre’s car broke down.

In construction, job sites change from project to project, and many are far from bus lines. Andre turned to Uber just to get to work, an expensive and unpredictable fix that could have derailed the career he had worked so hard to start. When Andre received a grant-funded car, that risk disappeared.

"I'm glad because this car helps me stay at my job and get to work on time. I'm grateful."

-Andre Monroe Cottingham

Two more graduates, two more sets of keys

This month, two more graduates joined Andre. Lonzo Clark and Niles Whatley both trained on our Warsaw Avenue project, where Building Value was hired by 8K Construction to deconstruct a historic building once home to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Institute for Christian Education. There, trainees learned to safely shut off water and gas service, took the building down to the studs across three floors, and worked carefully around original trim, molding, windows, and doors to preserve the building’s historic character.

Since graduating, Lonzo has been working with TJ Dyer, and Niles is building toward a career in carpentry. Earlier this month, our Workforce Development Manager, David Daniels, drove both of them to Rose Automotive in Hamilton, Ohio, where they signed their paperwork and received the keys to cars of their own.

Thank you

To our anonymous donor: you’ve given our graduates far more than a ride. You’ve given them stability, independence, and a clear road toward lasting careers in the skilled trades. We’re deeply grateful.

We also want to thank Rose Automotive for helping us put these graduates behind the wheel, and Nelson Stark, TJ Dyer, and all of our employer partners who open their doors to Construction Training Program graduates.

This Careers in Construction Month, we’re celebrating every graduate who’s building something lasting, and everyone who helps clear the road ahead of them.

Want to help more graduates like Andre, Lonzo, and Niles build lasting careers in the trades? Your gift to Building Value supports hands-on construction training, job placement, and the kind of support that keeps graduates on the job. Make a gift today and help clear the road for the next generation of skilled tradespeople.