Dickey Electric’s powerful purpose and connection to first responder wellness center
Not only has “Joe” Dickey Electric energized a Boardman property now renovated to support area first responders, but the electrical contractor also brings unique connections to the project.
The Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family Mahoning Valley First Responder Wellness Center on Raupp Avenue opened on October 28, which is First Responders Day.
The center serves as a dedicated space for training, peer support and mental health services for 152 agencies across Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
Rewired for a cause
The home originally belonged to the late Clarence Smith Jr., longtime chairman of Compco Industries.
Smith was known for supporting first responders and giving back to various community causes and organizations. His family donated the residence for creation of the center.
“We had to turn it into a functioning, code-compliant facility for public use,” said Kurt Eisenbraun, project manager at Dickey Electric.
Electricians had to apply some creative strategies to change the older home into a modern, commercial-grade wellness facility.
“There was a lot of rewiring. All the switches, outlets and circuits were replaced. We made upgrades to the electrical service and did the mechanical wiring for four new HVAC units,” Eisenbraun said.
The kitchen was converted for commercial use, and all the lighting throughout the center is now high-efficiency LED.
To meet code and be ADA compliant, the project required some demolition and additions, like a wheelchair ramp for the first floor. It was a major pivot from the home’s original layout.
“Walls and closets had to come out so we could rework everything,” he said.
Grounded in community
The center has conference rooms, small-group spaces and a second-floor area designated for private counseling sessions to help ensure first responders and their families can access resources in a comfortable setting.
A large outdoor patio with a fire pit, seating and tables offers space for rest, recovery or informal gatherings.
The First Responder Wellness Center operates as a nonprofit, and Boardman Police Chief Todd Werth has been involved from the beginning. He read about a similar center in another state and saw the need to replicate it here in the Mahoning Valley.
Werth emphasized the value of a place for first responders to relax and connect with others who understand the job, which isn’t a clinical or structured therapy environment.
“Every day they’re out there responding to people’s worst moments. That takes a toll, even if they don’t always talk about it.”
He noted that the money for the wellness center came from $464,000 in opioid settlement funds from Mahoning County Commissioners, along with $253,000 from Boardman Township.
Dickey Electric also donated a portion of its work to support the center’s opening.
“Clarence Smith was the kind of guy who would have wanted something like this,” Werth said. “The Dickey Electric team took this project very seriously. They understood what we were trying to do.”
Completing the circuit
Eisenbraun had a shocking realization when he first showed up to the project.
“Years ago, when I was an apprentice, I did some work here when it was Mr. Smith’s home,” he said. “Coming back as project manager brought things full circle for me.”
Eric Carlson, Dickey Electric’s president and owner, feels closely connected to this project after spending 15 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMS and assistant fire chief for Beaver Township.
The mission to help first responders care for their physical and mental health holds a special place in his heart.
“Accidents, fires, medical emergencies or violence might happen once in a person’s life, but first responders see these things every day and have to deal with it. Hopefully, this center gives them a safe place to recover, strengthen and heal,” Carlson said.
Beyond electrical work, the center holds sentimental meaning tied to the legacies of two local men.
The late Joe Dickey Jr., founder of Dickey Electric, was a close friend of Smith’s. Their friendship and shared sense of service are now part of the foundation of this space.
That deep-rooted relationship made the project even more meaningful to the Dickey team.
“It feels like we’re honoring both of them by bringing this center to life,” Eisenbraun said.
While the first phase of the center is completed, more work lies ahead.
The second phase will involve renovating an adjacent garage on the property. Plans include a fitness facility, physical therapy areas, a sauna and wellness-focused recovery resources for first responders.
“It’s been amazing to see what this place has become – and rewarding to know we’ve created something that’s already making a difference,” Eisenbraun said.
Dickey Electric is a member of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association consisting of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.
