The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western PA

What The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western PA does

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania is a private, membership-based trade association headquartered at 1372 Youngstown-Kingsville Rd. SE in Vienna, Ohio, representing more than 130 commercial construction firms across 15 skilled trades in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties (Ohio) and Mercer and Lawrence Counties (Pennsylvania). Its membership spans over 9,500 tradesmen working for hundreds of employers, and the association provides member services including a searchable contractor directory, labor relations support (contract negotiations, arbitration, building trades liaison), OSHA-compliant health and safety resources, free training and continuing education for journeymen, wage rate publications, and project submission tools.

The association's core commercial offering is the membership subscription itself, with annual dues of $150 (contractor members, plus $50 per additional representative) and $300 (associate non-contractor members, plus $150 per additional representative). Beyond dues, it generates operating support through events such as the annual meeting at The Lake Club, the Bustin' Clays fundraiser (Lawrence County Sportsmen's Association), and the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo. A separate ecosystem layer — Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades (MVST), ACT Ohio Foundation, Western Reserve Building Trades, and 19-20 partner school districts — supplies apprenticeship information and pre-apprenticeship programs that feed talent into member contractors.

In 2025 the regional non-residential construction volume served by members exceeded $1.2 billion (including a $400 million Trumbull County project), with member man-hours totaling just over 3 million, a 2.1% increase from 2024 but slightly below the 20-year average of 3.1 million. The association is governed by an elected Executive Committee and has a small operational staff led by Executive Vice President Kevin M. Reilly, with newly elected President Chris White (Boak & Sons, December 2025) and newly hired Association Services Director Ken Reid (January 2026).

Name

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western PA

Legal name

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania

Website

https://thebuildersonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western PA is a private trade association representing 130+ commercial construction firms across 15 skilled trades and 9,500+ tradesmen in a five-county Ohio-Pennsylvania region, offering members labor relations, training, apprenticeship pipeline access, and a contractor directory for project owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services (Commercial Construction)

NAICS

Specialty Trade Contractors (238), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAOAE

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Commercial construction membership
• Union apprenticeship programs
• Workforce development trades
• Contractor directory referral

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The association generates revenue through annual membership dues from contractor and associate members. Contractor members pay $150 + $50 per additional representative. Associate members (non-contractors) pay $300 + $150 per additional representative. Annual dues are established by the Executive Committee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania is a membership-based trade association that represents more than 130 commercial construction contractor firms across 15 skilled trades in a five-county region spanning Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Its core offering is a dues-supported member services package that includes a searchable contractor directory, labor relations and contract negotiation support, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, training and continuing education, wage rate resources, safety/OSHA compliance materials, scholarships, and signature workforce development events such as the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo and Bustin' Clays fundraiser.

Product overview

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western PA is a membership-based trade association for commercial construction contractors, not a unified software product or platform. Its offerings consist of member services including a searchable contractor directory (featuring over 130-150 firms across 15 skilled trades), workforce development programs (apprenticeship information, high school pre-apprentice programs, Skilled Trades Expo, scholarships), training resources (OSHA safety, foreman training, continuing education), labor relations services (contract negotiations, arbitration), project submission tools, and wage rate information for member contractors. The portfolio centers on connecting commercial contractors with project opportunities while developing the skilled trades workforce pipeline in the five-county region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Contractor Membership Directory Searchable online directory of 130+ member commercial construction firms organized across 15 skilled trades, enabling project owners and businesses to find qualified contractors in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer, and Lawrence Counties.
• Contractor and Associate Membership Annual membership in The Builders Association for commercial contractors ($150 base + $50 per additional representative) and non-contractor associate members ($300 base + $150 per additional representative), granting access to labor relations services, training, directory listing, and workforce development programs.
• Apprenticeship Programs Workforce development initiative delivered with Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades that connects adults and students with apprenticeship opportunities across all building trades including boilermakers, bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, glaziers, ironworkers, laborers, marble/tile/terrazzo, operating engineers, painters, plasterers, plumbers, roofers, sheet metal workers, teamsters, cement masons, insulators, and pile drivers.
• High School Pre-Apprentice Programs Pre-apprenticeship programs run in conjunction with 19-20 area high school districts to expose students to skilled trades careers, including the annual Adirondack chair competition and scholarship awards.
• Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo Annual event showcasing career opportunities in the building trades, drawing record-breaking attendance of 6,500+ students and connecting educators, students, and industry professionals.
• Training and Continuing Education Free training programs and continuing education for skilled journeymen, including specialized safety topics, OSHA standards, foreman training, and labor relations services for member contractors.
• Health and Safety Resources OSHA compliance resources for member contractors including record-keeping requirements (Forms 300, 300A, 301), injury tracking application guidance, severe injury reporting procedures, and links to OSHA resources for maintaining workplace safety.
• Wage Rates Information PDF-based wage rate sheets for multiple construction trade unions including Bricklayers, Carpenters, Cement Masons, Electricians, Glaziers, Insulators, Iron Workers, Laborers, Millwrights, Operating Engineers, Painters, Pile Drivers, Plasterers, Roofers, Sheet Metal Workers, Teamsters, and Marble/Tile/Terrazzo, with expiration dates and downloadable wage sheets.
• Labor Relations Services Services for member contractors including contract negotiations, arbitration of disputes, labor agreements, building trades liaison, and intra-industry relations.
• Project Submission Platform Online form for members to submit projects for spotlight features on the association website, including project details, contact information, and attachment capabilities for project reports and documentation.
• Scholarships Scholarship program for students in building trades pre-apprenticeship programs, awarding gift cards totaling $600 for tools and boots to ten high school students annually, recognized at association events.
• Bustin' Clays Fundraiser Annual fundraising event held at Lawrence County Sportsmen's Association to raise money for pre-apprenticeship programs, scholarships, and education expenses for students entering skilled trades.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.1% increase in man hours from 2024 to 2025, reaching just over 3 million total man-hours
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mahoning Valley Skilled TradescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMahoning Valley Skilled Trades (MVST) serves as the Valley's hub for apprenticeship opportunities across all trades. The Builders Association partners with MVST to create a unified gateway where anyone—adult or student—can find information about trades, apprenticeships, and connect with career opportunities. MVST hosts apprenticeship information across 15+ trade categories including boilermakers, bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, plumbers, and more.
• Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation (ACT Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT Ohio Foundation conducted a presentation at Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 JATC in Boardman on apprenticeship pathways and the role educators can play in helping students connect with careers in the building trades. The Builders Association co-hosted this event with Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades and Western Reserve Building Trades.
• Western Reserve Building TradesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Reserve Building Trades co-hosted an educator presentation with The Builders Association, Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades, and ACT Ohio Foundation focused on apprenticeship pathways and career guidance for students.
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 JATCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for educator presentations on apprenticeship pathways. Local 396 business manager Marty Loney participates in career guidance presentations and provides tours of the training center to help educators understand apprenticeship curriculum and opportunities.
• ESC of Eastern OhiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational Service Center of Eastern Ohio works with The Builders Association on pre-apprenticeship programs. Rob Eggleston, career counseling coordinator, helps identify eligible students for scholarships based on good standing and instructor recommendations.
• The Lake ClubminorOthersVenue host for The Builders Association annual meeting where leadership transitions occur, industry performance is reviewed, and scholarship/contest winners are honored.
• Lawrence County Sportsmen's AssociationminorOthersHost venue for the annual Bustin' Clays fundraiser event that raises money for pre-apprenticeship programs, scholarships, and education expenses for students entering skilled trades.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association representing the commercial construction industry. While ABC is primarily open-shop (versus The Builders' union focus), both organizations serve as industry hubs providing workforce development, training, and member services for commercial contractors across many trades.
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): The largest and oldest national construction trade association in the U.S., representing general contractors, specialty contractors, and service providers. AGC's mix of member services, workforce development, training, and advocacy directly parallels The Builders' role at a regional scale.

Direct peers

• American Subcontractors Association (ASA): National trade association specifically focused on subcontractors in the construction industry. ASA mirrors The Builders' emphasis on representing specialty trade contractors (across multiple trades) and providing advocacy, education, and networking resources.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA): National trade association for electrical contractors. NECA's combination of labor relations, apprenticeship/training programs (through the NJATC), and member service delivery closely resembles the multi-trade support model The Builders delivers regionally.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA): National trade association for mechanical contractors. MCAA similarly combines labor relations, workforce development, training resources, and advocacy for specialty contractors, making its service mix highly comparable to that of The Builders.
• Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA): National trade association for sheet metal and HVAC contractors. SMACNA's focus on apprenticeship, training, contractor education, and labor relations parallels one of the 15 trades represented within The Builders' membership ecosystem.
• Finishing Contractors Association (FCA): International trade association for union finishing contractors (drywall, plaster, paint, tile/terrazzo). FCA's labor relations, training, and member advocacy services map closely onto several of the 15 trades represented within The Builders' membership.

Regional players

• Master Builders' Association of Western Pennsylvania: Regional trade association serving commercial construction contractors in western Pennsylvania. It is a direct geographic neighbor with overlapping trade coverage, a similar member directory/discovery model, and comparable workforce development programs.
• Cleveland Building Trades Council: Regional umbrella of union building trades councils covering the Cleveland/Northeast Ohio area. It mirrors The Builders' union-affiliated, multi-trade approach to representing contractors and apprentices within an Ohio geography adjacent to the Mahoning Valley.

Others

• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): National nonprofit that develops and credentials curriculum for construction trades workforce development. NCCER's training, certification, and apprenticeship support activities are functionally comparable to the apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs The Builders runs locally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheBuildersOnline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-builders-association-of-eastern-ohio-&-western-pennsylvania
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_builders_association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western PA