Michael Gainer

About Michael Gainer

Since arriving in Buffalo in 2005, my focus has largely been on creating and strengthening models for salvaging building materials for reuse. However, that is not my true passion! Most certainly I have tremendous concern for our environment and I don\'t want to see materials senselessly dumped into a landfill. However, as an educator, my vision is to create a model for mentoring and training out-of-school young adults. Both Buffalo ReUse and ReUse Action have been vehicles for both mentoring and employing at-risk young adults. My primary objective in the Fall of 2015 is to initiate a pilot pre-apprenticeship program focused on creating meaningful job-training and mentoring experiences for young adults.

Experience

1. President

   Reuse Action, Inc

   Jan 2011 — Present

   ReUse Action, Inc. is a specialty contractor that deconstructs buildings to salvage materials for reuse. We have refined our processing and milling techniques and have developed an entire line of repurposed products created from reclaimed materials including: flooring, siding, wainscoting, and moldings. Our redevelopment team has extensive experience incorporating reclaimed materials into new project designs. As the only licensed and insured deconstruction contractor in Western New York, we are leaders in the industry. We have successfully deconstructed residential structures, barns, and industrial buildings up to 4 stories in height. Recently, we completed one of the largest prevailing wage deconstruction efforts in New York State. Our team deconstructed 11 residential structures for the School of Environmental Sciences and Forestry in Syracuse. We use a hybrid method of deconstruction, utilizing both human labor and machines, to efficiently and safely dismantle structures in the shortest period of time, while salvaging the maximum quantity of materials for reuse. In 2015, ReUse Action, Inc.opened its first recycle/upcycle retail location in Buffalo, NY. We are eager to supply homeowners, developers, artists, and contractors with high quality, reclaimed materials that give projects a unique look and tell a story. Join our mailing list or \"like\" us on facebook. We look forward to seeing you. Our retail store is located at 980 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY and open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm.

Education

• Penn State University

  Bachelor of Science

  1991 — 1996

Skills

• Training
• Volunteer Management
• New Business Development
• Project Management
• Small Business
• Team Building
• Program Development
• Green Building
• Leadership Development
• Nonprofits
• Social Media
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Non-Profits
• Press Releases
• Restoration
• Event Planning
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Marketing
• Blogging
• Research
• Organizational Development
• Fundraising
• Marketing Strategy
• Residential Homes
• Public Relations
• Business Strategy
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking