In March 2024, Woda Cooper Companies opened The Doris on Main, a new 46-unit luxury apartment community in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia. The property represents more than a building—it’s a major public-private investment in the city’s future, backed by the City of Wheeling, PNC Bank, and the Regional Economic Development Partnership.

To mark that moment, Woda Cooper hosted a formal ribbon-cutting and grand opening for city leaders, financial partners, media, and stakeholders.

I was responsible for every aspect of planning and execution—from the first invite to the final teardown.

My Role & Responsibilities

I owned the event end-to-end, including:

Invitations & Guest Management

• Built and managed the full invite list including:
  • City leadership
  • Economic development partners
  • Lenders
  • Woda Cooper executives
  • Media and community stakeholders
• Designed and distributed invitations
• Managed RSVPs and attendance tracking
• Coordinated guest arrival and flow on event day

Vendor Coordination

• Selected and booked:
  • Tent, chairs, podiums, and staging
  • Signage and ribbon-cutting setup
  • Catering
  • Photography
  • Audio/visual
• Handled all vendor communication, timelines, and day-of execution

Run-of-Show

I created the full run of show and speaker flow, including:

• Welcome and introductions
• Speaking order for:
  • City leadership
  • Financing partners
  • Woda Cooper executives
• Timing for ribbon cutting
• Guest movement between spaces

I also prepared speaker notes so every voice on stage sounded confident, informed, and aligned with the project’s story. It’s a small thing, but I always include photos of all speakers in my runs-of-show as nothing is more embarrassing than the dreaded “who is this guy shaking my hand?” moments.

The Event Itself

Guests gathered on the property’s rooftop terrace—a defining feature of the building—before moving into the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Glenn Elliott, PNC Bank, the Regional Economic Development Partnership, and Woda Cooper leadership.

The building itself is a four-story, modern community featuring:

• 46 high-quality apartments
• Rooftop outdoor living space
• Fitness center, theater room, and community lounge
• Accessible units for residents with disabilities
• Parking and walkable access to downtown Wheeling

The property is named in honor of Doris Ann Ingold Woda, whose legacy was central to the event’s emotional tone.

This wasn’t just a building opening—it was a story of family, community, and long-term investment in a city’s future.

Why This Project Mattered

Public development events are high-risk and high-visibility. They require perfect coordination between:

• Government
• Finance
• Developers
• Media
• Vendors
• Residents

There is no room for confusion, delays, or mixed messaging.

By managing every piece—from invitations and RSVPs to vendor coordination, speaker prep, run-of-show, setup, and teardown—I ensured that the focus stayed exactly where it should: on the people, the project, and the impact.

The result was a polished, respectful, and meaningful opening that honored the legacy behind The Doris and positioned Woda Cooper as a trusted partner in Wheeling’s future.

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