For Jeff Ehrhardt, the building industry has always been about relationships. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, that belief took on a new level of urgency.
As part of the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM) Disaster Recovery Leadership team, Ehrhardt led the organization’s Health and Wellness Group, helping coordinate support for industry professionals navigating the challenges of recovery. His team set up resource stations at BABRM events, offering essentials such as water, sunscreen, and cooling towels, and organized educational sessions focused on stress resilience and navigating changes in health insurance.
Ehrhardt also showed up in the field, volunteering with organizations including Habitat for Humanity in Transylvania and Henderson counties, Madison Alliance for Rebuilding Communities, Hearts with Hands, and Marshall Relief Alliance.
That commitment to both leadership and hands-on service earned him the 2025 Community Champion of the Year honor from BABRM.
“I am proud of all the time I was able to give to a community in need,” Ehrhardt says. “I know my family and my peers are proud of me as well.”
A Foundation in the Trades
Long before he joined BABRM, Ehrhardt was learning the building industry firsthand through his father’s plumbing business.
“I knew from being involved in his business that is where I wanted to focus as a career,” he says. “I always loved being on jobsites and found satisfaction in watching and contributing to a project from the ground up.”
While studying business administration at Penn State University, Ehrhardt worked in hardware stores, building practical knowledge of the materials and tools that drive the industry. At the time, he planned to use that experience to return home and help grow the family business.
Those plans changed during his final semester, when his father was involved in an accident that left him paralyzed and ultimately led to the closure of the business. In the years that followed, Ehrhardt and his family learned to adapt to a new reality.
“I’ve taken that resiliency with me throughout my career to identify opportunities in every obstacle,” he says.
That mindset carried him into a new path at Sherwin-Williams, where he has spent 25 years advancing through roles ranging from part-time associate to store manager to his current position as a home builder representative.
“Every position and experience has helped me grow my knowledge,” he says. “My customers know that I am invested in their success because I truly feel and communicate that I am only successful when they are.”
A Commitment to the Next Generation
Today, Ehrhardt serves as First Vice President of BABRM and is active on the organization’s Workforce Development Committee, which focuses on strengthening the pipeline of skilled trades professionals across the region.
That work includes partnerships with local schools and hands-on initiatives like the “Pawrade of Homes,” where high school students design and build doghouses using a set of provided materials. The finished projects are later showcased at the WNC Build & Remodel Expo, giving students a chance to demonstrate their skills while connecting directly with industry professionals.
For Ehrhardt, that work is rooted in a long-term commitment to both the industry and the community it serves.
“Honestly, I get excited about every project I have the honor of being involved in. I love solving problems and having new experiences,” he says. “I am very excited about the opportunity to contribute to rebuilding our community and strengthening our industry through my efforts with our committees and groups.”
Join a Network of Industry Leaders
The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains is powered by members who are committed to strengthening Western North Carolina’s building industry. Join BABRM to connect with fellow professionals, expand your network, and support initiatives that help shape the future of building in our region.
