If you ask Jerome Wilson how he ended up managing one of Cincinnati’s most unique retail stores, don’t expect a conventional answer.
His story begins with storytelling.
As a student at Ohio University’s School of Film, Jerome learned that every great story has a journey. That lesson culminated in his work editing the feature-length documentary River Story, which followed Jerome and friends as they traveled from Cincinnati to the Gulf of Mexico. The film highlighted the devastating effects of pollution along the Ohio River while celebrating the resilient communities connected by its waters.
That experience shaped more than Jerome’s filmmaking career—it deepened his appreciation for the environment and the importance of preserving what already exists.
After graduation, Jerome worked in freelance video editing and post-production with PPS in Covington before moving into marketing and advertising in New York. Yet despite working in creative industries, he found himself increasingly drawn toward another form of creativity: reuse.
“I inherited a love for salvage materials,” Jerome said. “I’m disappointed by our culture of waste. Reused materials have so much more value than something mass-produced because they invite creativity.”
That philosophy eventually led him to the Cincinnati Reuse Center, where he immersed himself in the local reuse movement. Later, as Retail Manager of the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, Jerome founded The Tinker Team, a volunteer repair initiative that gives broken household items a second life.
The program continues today, repairing everything from microwaves to toasters—not for resale, but for donation through New Life Furniture Bank, helping individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness furnish their new homes.
It’s a perfect example of the circular economy Jerome believes in.
Today, he’s bringing that same passion to Building Value as our new Retail Manager.
Standing among the remarkable collection from the Ursula Roma estate, Jerome reflected on what makes reuse special.
“I love finding the exact right piece for someone,” he said. “Every item has potential—they all have another story.”
Whether it’s a reclaimed door, vintage hardware, or architectural salvage with decades of history, Jerome believes every object deserves another chance.
He also appreciates the fascinating ways people assign value—whether monetary, sentimental, historical, or artistic.
Now leading Building Value’s retail operation, Jerome hopes to help every customer discover the excitement of creative reuse while advancing our Triple Bottom Line mission of People, Planet, and Financial Sustainability.
We’re thrilled to have him on the team and can’t wait for you to meet him during your next visit.
Welcome to Building Value, Jerome!
