About Us
The Woda Cooper Story
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. is an employee-owned, vertically-integrated affordable housing firm with 730+ employees. With just a few thousand dollars in capital, Jeffrey Woda founded Woda Construction and Development in 1990 to build single-family homes and apartments. David Cooper, Jr. served as the company’s legal counsel from its inception, and joined the firm full time in 2003. The two men saw opportunities to utilize the emerging Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program to develop much-needed affordable housing, and formed the partnership that would become The Woda Group, Inc. and eventually, Woda Cooper Companies.
Today, Woda Cooper Companies owns and operates more than 350 properties and 16,000 housing units. Woda Cooper consistently ranks among the top affordable housing developers and owners in the country by Affordable Housing Finance. The firm operates in 16 states in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and has a development portfolio of $1.5 billion.
16
STATES
Where we build quality homes.
16,000
UNITS AND GROWING
New construction to historic restorations.
730+
EMPLOYEES
Helping people find their new home.
Mission
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. is dedicated to developing, constructing, and managing high-quality affordable housing. Our residents are our ultimate customer. It is a privilege to provide each household we serve with a safe, modern, and well-maintained place to live.
Mission Statement
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. is dedicated to developing, constructing, and managing high quality affordable housing. Our residents are our ultimate customer. It is a privilege to provide each household we serve with a safe, modern, and well-maintained place to live.
We recognize the importance of our relationships with state housing agencies and federal, state, and local governmental entities. We understand the trust placed in us by local communities, and we seek to become valued members of those communities.
As an employee owned company, we endeavor to create a positive and diverse work environment that allows individuals to achieve personal and professional growth. Our investors, lenders, and other financial partners can count on us to be good stewards of their resources. We strive to constantly improve in all aspects of our business so that we remain at the forefront of the affordable housing industry.
Vision
The impact of Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. can not be summed in spreadsheets. Despite a winning scorecard of profitable developments, the real measure of Woda Cooper’s success can be seen in the lives we have touched and in the vibrant neighborhoods of which we’ve become a part. We currently provide homes to more than 30,000 people, and our work has impacted the lives of 100,000 residents since 1990.
Leadership Team
Jeffrey J. Woda
Principal
Jeffrey J. Woda is the Founder of Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. (“WCCI”), which wholly owns Woda Construction, Inc., Woda Cooper Development, Inc., and Woda Management & Real Estate, LLC. Mr. Woda launched the company’s predecessor Woda Development & Construction in 1990. In 2018, WCCI became the first vertically integrated, employee-owned affordable housing development company in the United States. Mr. Woda also serves as an officer of affiliates PCI Design Group, Inc., The Woda Group, Inc., and Woda Cooper Communities, LLC.
Mr. Woda has been involved in the residential construction and housing industry for most of his career and was fortunate to grow up involved in his family’s construction business based in eastern Ohio. Mr. Woda graduated from Bethany College with a degree in Accounting, then worked for Ernst & Whinney (later Ernst & Young) in Charleston, WV, where he achieved his CPA designation. Mr. Woda received his Master of Science degree from Syracuse University in Professional Accounting.
Mr. Woda currently serves as a board member of the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association, Bethany College, Main Street Bank, Ohio Housing Council, Housing Services Alliance, Inc., the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio, the Multifamily Housing Chair for the Ohio Home Builders Association, the Appalachian Partnership, Inc., Appalachian Growth Capital (a U.S. Treasury federally-designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)) and as a steering committee member of the Housing Credit Group of the National Association of Home Builders.
Mr. Woda is past President of the Council for Rural Housing and Development of Ohio, the Ohio Housing Council, and is a past board member of Benchmark Bancorp, VisionTrust International, Partners in Housing, Habitat for Humanity of Delaware and Union Counties, and the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. He was appointed by the Ohio Governor when he previously served as an Advisory Committee member to Ohio Housing Trust Fund. He has also served previously as an Advisory Council member for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and as a member of the St. Clairsville Historic District Architectural Board of Review.
Mr. Woda and his wife, Lynette, have three daughters.
David Cooper, Jr.
Principal
Mr. Cooper serves as President and Chief Legal Counsel for WCCI, and in conjunction with Jeffrey Woda, oversees all aspects of day-to-day operations of Woda Cooper’s business units.
Mr. Cooper joined Woda Cooper in 2003. He was previously a partner at Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey, LLP, an international law firm, and the director of acquisitions and corporate counsel for Alliance Holdings, a privately held investment company. As a practicing attorney, Mr. Cooper represented syndicators, lenders, and developers in hundreds of tax credit and other affordable housing transactions.
Mr. Cooper received his B.A. from Wittenberg University, magna cum laude, and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Mr. Cooper is the past chair of the Housing Credit Group of the National Association of Home Builders and has served on the boards of directors of several manufacturing, service, and financial companies, as well as serving as a trustee and officer of numerous community and charitable organizations.
Mr. Cooper and his wife, Cheryl, have two adult children and five grandchildren.
Bruce Watts
Vice President-Development and Chief Diversity Officer
Mr. Watts guides Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies and practices for Woda Cooper Companies to ensure fair and equitable treatment for employees and subcontractors, regardless of items such as gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disabilities. He has been with the company since 2012, focused on developing quality affordable housing communities in Virginia, and he manages the company’s Norfolk office.
Prior to joining Woda Cooper, Mr. Watts was Senior Commercial Development Manager for the City of Norfolk, VA, where he resides, and he also worked for many years for the Marriott Corporation. He is a graduate of Averett University and attended graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Watts has Mr. Watts has a college-age daughter, NeVear.
What people say about us
Iretta, Wheatland Crossing Resident
“It makes me feel proud of the community where I live, and gives me hope for better days.”
Sallie, Community Manager
“We are kind of breaking the mold and showing people that affordable housing buildings are nice and we have good amenities and we have a really nice community. I think that sets us apart from even some of the market rate apartments in the area.”
Joe, Project Executive
“Why I really love working for Woda Cooper Companies is because the emphasis is on the end users. The residents are going to live here for decades to come and we tailor the project to plan for their comfort and meet their energy needs for well into the future.”
Charles, Grand View Place Resident
“They have 21 apartments for veterans in this building. Everything is fully furnished, I mean from a blender, toiletries, you name it. I marvel over that alone. They were really thinking of the veterans. It is rare to find someone or a place that would provide you with everything you need. I’m just grateful.”
Mary, Tristan Ridge Senior Living Resident
“When my son comes to pick me up I feel proud that he’s pulling up into a nice driveway, beautiful landscaping, a really beautiful building that’s clean and neat and well kept. It is a source of pride for me.”
Tracy, Bell Diamond Manor Resident
“After a hard day of work, I come home, unlock my door and it is just ‘wow.’ It makes me feel good that I would be able to afford something like this. I love it.”
What we believe in
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. believes that affordable housing options are the cornerstone of strong communities. Everyone deserves a well-constructed, modern and affordable housing option that meets their needs. Our sustainable properties provide open-concept living spaces with modern, high-quality finishes, well-equipped kitchens with ENERGY STAR appliances, including dishwashers. Most units have washer-dryer hookups. Common spaces include community rooms with kitchens, fitness centers, computer centers, dog runs, playgrounds, grandchild rooms, craft rooms, gazebos and BBQ areas, and on-site management offices.
Your career starts here
If you are looking for a fast-paced, growing company that provides the ability to make a difference in people’s lives, you have found it. Your talents and drive are needed at Woda Cooper, an employee-owned company that believes in extraordinary rewards for extraordinary people.
Become a Partner
Our company builds more than just communities. We build relationships. Discover how Woda Cooper can be a part of the next big plan. Invest with us and discover how.