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 Ave. opened on October 28, 2025 which is national 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.
      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.
      Dickey Electric rewired for new HVAC units installed at the first responder wellness center. Renovations included additional HVAC units.
      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.
      A former swimming pool space was turned into a large conference room for first responder trainings. The former pool area is now a large conference room for trainings.
      A garage space was renovated into an area for smaller group gatherings, trainings and other events.
      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 in opioid settlement funds 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.”
      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 Smith’s best friend. 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.
      Trustees, Commissioners Seek To Rename Portion Of Highway To Honor Smith
      Boardman Township Trustees and Mahoning County Commissioners have both passed resolutions supporting designation of a portion of Market St. to be renamed the Clarence Sonny Smith Jr. Memorial Highway, urging support of Senate Bill #216.
      The resolution is support of the renaming the roadway was the last, official proposal made by outgoing Boardman Township Trustee Tom Costello, who first gained office by appointment more than two decades ago with the support of Mr. Smith.
      The resolution notes that Mr. Smith was a lifelong advocate for education and youth who left behind “a legacy of leadership, service and generosity that continues to enrich the Mahoning Valley.”
      If approved, the portion of Market St. stretching from the Boardman Township Government Center to Western Reserve Rd. will be named in honor of Mr. Smith.
      Copies of the resolutions approved by Trustees and the Board of County Commissioners have been forwarded to Ohio Sen. Al Cutrona and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
      The resolution notes that Mr. Smith “gave tirelessly of his time and resources to civic and charitable causes,” including the Mahoning Valley Council of Churches, the Organization of Protestant Men, Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill Industries, Boy Scouts of America, Sister Jerome’s Mission and the Mahoning County library system.
      In addition, Mr. Smith served as a member of the Boardman Board of Education and was a strong supported of Youngstown State University where he was once honored as ‘Penguin of the Year.’
      “Mr. Smith’s generosity extended directly to the Township of Boardman through his donation of 11 acres of land that now serves at the site of the Boardman Township Government Center,” says the resolution approved by Boardman Trustees, who said the portion of roadway to be named in his honor “passes directly by this donated property and serves as a fitting location to honor his enduring contributions to the community.”
     
      PICTURED: from left to right are Boardman Police Chief Todd Werth, board member of the Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family Wellness Center Tom Costello and Kurt Eisenbraun, project manager, Dickey Electric. They are pictured in front of a laser cut, metal sign crafted by Mr. Smith’s grandson, Rick Kamperman, who heads-up Compco Fab and Machine, a division of Compco Industries.