Updated 2.17.23
February 16, 2023, Columbus, Ohio — Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. is pleased to announce three updates in the company’s leadership:
Bruce Watts, Vice President-Development, who has been with the company since 2012 and manages the company’s Norfolk office, takes on additional duties as the company’s Chief Diversity Officer.
In his expanded role, Mr. Watts will guide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies and practices for the company to ensure fair and equitable treatment for employees and subcontractors regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disabilities.
“As a longtime Woda Cooper team member, I am passionate about our mission to serve with equity and inclusiveness in our workplaces and in the communities we serve,” said Mr. Watts. “I’m honored to add the duties of Chief Diversity Officer to my role developing quality affordable housing communities in Virginia.”
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 a college-age daughter, NeVear.
Frank Yankovich will join the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective March 1, 2023. As CFO, Mr. Yankovich will be responsible for all of Woda Cooper’s finance and accounting operations. He will lead a talented team of approximately 40 employees in the affordable housing company’s Development, Construction, Property Management, and Corporate Accounting Departments.
“I am extremely excited to work for an organization that is committed to providing affordable housing options,” said Mr. Yankovich. “This is a fast-paced, growing company that makes a difference in people’s lives. I am confident we can execute and deliver plans to drive consistent growth. I look forward to becoming a part of the Woda Cooper family.”
Mr. Yankovich has more than 35 years of accounting, financial, and operating experience. Prior to Woda Cooper, Mr. Yankovich worked in the financial services industry as CEO at SafeRent Solutions, LLC, and CFO at CBC Companies, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Yankovich served as a Senior Vice President in commercial lending at First Commonwealth Bank. Earlier Mr. Yankovich had a long career in public accounting as a Certified Public Accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting with a core in Economics from Bethany College. Mr. Yankovich, who will be based in Columbus, is married to his wife of 30 years, Kristin, and he has two children, Nate and Sarah.
Paige Woda has been promoted to Acting People Ops Director effective immediately. In this role, Ms. Woda is responsible for overseeing human resources functions including onboarding, benefits, talent management and performance, and employee experience. Ms. Woda started her career in human resources in 2018 in the hospitality industry, focusing on recruiting and onboarding while learning how to cultivate an impactful employee culture. She joined Woda Cooper in 2020 focused on employee rewards, employee experience, compliance, talent management, and performance management. Ms. Woda holds a Masters of Science in Human Resources from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications from Point Loma Nazarene University. Ms. Woda is based in Columbus.
“I am dedicated to serving Woda Cooper Companies’ employees across all of our divisions as Acting People Ops Director,” said Ms. Woda. “I look forward to new challenges and opportunities to lead the People Ops team and ensure all Woda Cooper employees are supported in their career paths.”
About Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. and its affiliates specialize in the development, design, construction, and management of high-quality affordable multi-family communities, senior communities, and single-family homes. The company was founded in 1990 and works in 16 states, with a portfolio of over approximately 350 communities and 15,000. Green building is standard with certifications including Passive House, Zero Energy Ready Homes, LEED, Enterprise Green, EarthCraft, and ENERGY STAR. Woda Cooper Companies has offices in Savannah, GA; Indianapolis, IN; Shelbyville, KY; Queenstown, MD; Mackinaw City, MI; Columbus, OH; and Norfolk, VA. Affordable Housing Finance magazine ranked Woda Cooper Companies 10th in nation among Developers and 17th among Owners in 2022.
