Massillon builder Charles Danzy works to improve community
Editor’s note: As part of Black History Month in February, The Repository’s weekly Business Roundup will highlight a Black-owned business in Stark County.
MASSILLON – After studying computer aided drafting and design in college, Charles Danzy knew that he didn’t want to sit inside an office at a desk.
So in 2000, he started working in construction, on crews building houses in North Canton and Plain Township. He learned framing and how to hang drywall. He started working on roofs and with siding.
Fourteen years of working for other contractors and Danzy decided to work for himself. He formed DCD Construction Services.
“We do everything from the block at the foundation to the rooftop,” said Danzy who grew up in Massillon.
The company started in Columbus, where Danzy worked with his father to rehab houses for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
While the company now is focused on the Massillon area, Danzy said he still takes jobs around the state. Over the past five years, the company has started working on insurance restoration projects, helping customers work with insurance companies on repair projects.
More:Business roundup: Contractor moves to broaden business to include residential properties
DCD is a preferred contractor for Owens Corning roofing products, Danzy said. He said the company also installs Malarkey Roofing Products, which are made from recycled plastic and rubber, and metal roofs made by Tilcor Roofing Systems.
The business name stands for “dependable community development,” Danzy said.
He hopes to help revive the Massillon community by rehabilitating existing structures. For example, he’s working with the owner of a Federal Street NE property that was built in 1884, according to Stark County records. Last summer, Danzy and his crew replaced the roof. He now is finishing work to install vinyl siding.
“You rebuild neighborhoods one house at a time,” he said.
Danzy owns buildings on Third Street SE and Chestnut Avenue NE that he is working to remodel. He hopes to have the buildings available as sites where needy veterans can get a meal, sleep or receive other assistance.
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“The only reason I enjoy the freedoms I have is because of the veterans,” Danzy said, explaining his desire to establish a center. He’s working to get programs started, he said.
Danzy said he worked last year with Washington High School students in the building trades programs, offering them on-the-job training with pay. He would like to continue the program, possibly bringing in veterans who have construction skills and can work with the students.
Aultman sets supplier diversity plan
Aultman has announced supplier diversity guidelines aimed at expanding opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and the disadvantaged or disabled.
The guidelines address construction, supply and equipment opportunities and are designed to “assist the growth of diverse prospects by creating product and service opportunities with Aultman Health Foundation,” according to a press release.
“Within our products and services projects, Aultman is committed that all prequalified and preapproved contractors, subcontractors and suppliers have an equal opportunity to participate,” Rick Haines, president and CEO of Aultman Health Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “We’ve always believed in this mission, and these guidelines are a way for us to formalize and enhance the process across the Aultman system.”
Aultman worked with community leaders and the Stark County Minority Business Association to create the guidelines. Haines, local activists and businessmen George Lemon and Ron Ponder, and Leonard Stevens from the business association announced the plan on Wednesday.
The guidelines will help ensure that Aultman is offering equal opportunities to all businesses, Lemon said in the release. “It’s an important step in making sure everyone has a seat at the table for construction, supply and equipment projects.”
World’s largest solar power plant relying on Timken Co. parts
High-precision parts developed by Timken Co. will be used in what is projected to be the world’s largest single-site solar power plant being built in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
More:The largest solar power farm is set to open in the United Arab Emirates.
The Al Dhafra PV2 site will use solar-tracking technology developed by Timken’s Cone Drive subsidiary to position solar panels in line with the sun.
The power plant is set to come on line this year. Once operational, the facility’s 4 million solar panels — controlled by 83,000 Cone Drive units — are projected to power as many as 160,000 homes in the country. Carbon dioxide emissions are expected to be cut by 2.4 million metric tons annually.
Timken acquired Cone Drive in 2018. Since then, the company has played a role in more than one-third of the utility-scale solar tracking system projects constructed worldwide. Cone Drive’s high-precision drives can be used for tracking and positioning on photovoltaic (PV) panels, such as those used at the Al Dhafra site, and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems.
Diebold Nixdorf broadens European vehicle charger business
Diebold Nixdorf has struck another deal to service vehicle charging stations in Europe.
The company announced it will provide managed services for hypercharger units built by alpitronic, an Italian company that makes high-power DC charging stations. Diebold Nixdorf will service 2,600 alpitronic units in Germany and the deal will be expanded to include more than 10,000 stations in other parts of Europe.
More:Details about Italian-based vehicle charging station maker alpitronic.
According to Diebold Nixdorf, hypercharger is the market leading brand in Europe for fast charging power stations. Diebold Nixdorf will provide service desk, logistics and on-site services for the hypercharger stations.
Over the next year, alpitronic and Diebold Nixdorf hope to extend their service partnership globally, the companies said in a press release.
January housing sales good
Real estate agents in Northeast Ohio reported good sales during January, Ohio Realtors said.
Members of MLS Now, which covers Stark and 22 other counties, reported closing deals on 3,391 properties in January, a 3.9% increase from 3,264 sold in January 2021.
Around Ohio, real estate agents reported selling 9,540 residential properties, a gain of just under 1% from the 9,451 units sold last year.
Read More: Massillon builder Charles Danzy works to improve community