OTC contributes to ‘Extreme Makeover’ project

By Steve Koehler

Thousands of volunteers helped construct an amazing new home for the Niki and Chris Hampton family near Ash Grove that will be featured on the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” television show in the fall.

Among those working away were a number of folks from Ozarks Technical Community College, including David Aderhold, chair of the construction management department at OTC. Aderhold is a good friend of Sam Clifton of Millstone Custom Homes, whose company was selected to build the house.

Aderhold was called to join Clifton’s management team that oversaw the project because the two have known each other for a long time.

“I’ve done a little bit of everything, kind of a jack of all trades, so Sam called me,” said Aderhold, who has been with OTC since its inception and before with Graff Vo-Tech.

Other OTC volunteers, like Kristin Farish, administrative assistant to public relations and grants development, pitched in anyway they could to help make the house become a reality.

“We ran bottled water to workers, carried lumber, picked up rocks and helped put a 32-foot beam in place. We wanted to get our hands dirty,” Farish said.

“It was awesome. There were all these worker ants. It ran like clockwork. Everybody was upbeat and having a good time.”

For Aderhold, who was at the site since about 14 hours a day, he did everything from helping set up the blast that took down the family’s one-bedroom farmhouse to performing any task that needed to be done to get the project finished.

Proudly wearing a hardhat autographed by the stars of the television program, including one from Ty Pennington, the show’s host, Aderhold said he was amazed how smoothly everything went.

“All the trades were working together. There were 75 framers instead of the normal four or five. There were 100 dry wallers. Electricians, plumbers were all working together at the same time, shoulder to shoulder. It looked like a well-orchestrated ballet,” he said.

Aderhold was especially proud to see some graduates from OTC trades programs on the site working. Some worked for other companies; others had started their own businesses.

“That was really neat to see them apply their trades out here,” he said.

In the end, the Hampton family of eight got a new home, thanks to everyone’s efforts.

“There’s lots of love out here,” Aderhold said.

Steve Koehler is the coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College.