For Jarod Coffman, the trades aren’t just a way to make a living. They’re a way to give something back. One of the clearest examples of that? A trip to Tijuana, Mexico, where his crew helped build homes, start to finish, in under four days.
Jarod’s story is exactly what doing good work looks like: people using trade skills to strengthen communities, create opportunity, and leave a lasting impact far beyond the job site.
We sat down with Jarod Coffman of Coffman Construction for an episode of the Good Contractor podcast to talk about building a business, leading young crews, and finding deeper meaning in the work.
Framing a Future in Tijuana
During the pandemic, when travel and work were uncertain, Jarod and a group from his church joined a nonprofit trip to Tijuana. The mission: build two homes for families in need using whatever tools and time they had.
“We went to Tijuana and built two houses for families in need,” Jarod said. “It’s probably the size of a two-car garage, but it’s wired, drywalled, painted, and we move furniture in — all in three and a half days.”
The goal wasn’t to build something flashy. It was to build something essential — a safe space, a secure shelter, and a home that would outlast the trip. With their crew’s framing experience and the help of donated tools, they got it done.
Jarod saw it not just as a project, but a reminder of what trade skills can do. “We brought down tools donated by some of the brands we’ve worked with,” he said. “And then we left them there so the local teams could keep building.”
This Work Has Weight
The trades are often talked about in terms of physical labor, but there’s something else that comes with the job: emotional responsibility. In Tijuana, the framing crew wasn’t just building a structure — they were delivering stability. And that kind of impact stays with you.
Jarod explained it simply: “It’s not just about being good at the work. You have to care about what the work is doing for someone else.”
That mindset doesn’t only apply to mission trips. Back in Colorado, he sees it every day — on job sites, in mentorship moments, and through the online content his crew shares with new tradespeople around the country.
Good work takes more than skill. It takes initiative. It takes ownership. And when you combine that with purpose, it becomes something far more powerful.
Passing It On
Jarod’s long-term vision is clear: help more people learn what this trade can offer. He’s already doing that through content and hiring, but there’s more ahead.
“We like building cool stuff, having fun doing it, and sharing it online,” he said. “Eventually, I’d like to open a school or some kind of academy where people can come learn.”
The reason is simple. He wants others to feel what he’s felt in the work — purpose, pride, and progress that doesn’t rely on titles or degrees. Just a willingness to show up and try.
“I was inspired by others, so I wanted to be that person for someone else,” Jarod said.
Building for Something Bigger
What Coffman Construction did in Mexico wasn’t flashy. But it was real. It was fast, physical, and meaningful. And it reminded everyone involved that the trades have the power to create real change, sometimes in just a few days.
This is the heart of Do Good Work. It’s not about prestige. It’s about purpose. The kind of work that builds not just homes, but hope. The kind that strengthens communities, creates security, and changes lives — one project at a time.
Because when you build for others, the work stays with you. And so does the reason you keep doing it.
