Washington, DC, July 10, 2023—The Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) is pleased to announce that Mike O’Hara, Principal of Bohler DC, has been elected as co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington DC Economic Partnership. He assumed this position, effective May 2nd.
Mr. O’Hara will be co-chairing the board with the Interim Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Keith Anderson. He is replacing Donna Cooper, former Pepco Region President, who officially stepped down as co-chair on May 2, 2023. Bohler DC has been on the WDCEP board of directors for more than ten years and Mr. O’Hara has served as a board member from 2020. The board of directors is comprised of public and private representatives working to advance economic development in the nation’s capital. The mission of WDCEP is to promote the District of Columbia’s economic and business opportunities, and support business retention, expansion, and attraction activities, with an enhanced focus on retail and corporate attraction.
“I am honored to have been selected by the WDCEP Board as the co-chair and look forward to working with the board to continue the leadership and guidance this prestigious group of individuals brings to the WDCEP,” said Mike O’Hara, principal, Bohler DC. “This organization’s mission and actions align with the Mayor’s Comeback Plan. We hope to play an integral part ensuring the continued and successful growth of this world class city.” The District of Columbia’s leading executives and thought leaders across economic and business development work closely with WDCEP to grow the economic ecosystem in attracting and retaining businesses, cultivating jobs, services and enhancing the quality of life of residents of the District, through aligned efforts.
“I look forward to serving as a co-chair with Mike O’Hara and working together on the major economic partnerships and projects in the District,” said Keith Anderson, Interim Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. “We know how important this moment is for our city to create new opportunities and attract more businesses. Mike has shown great leadership over the past three years on the board and brings a strong complement of skills and relationships to the Partnership that will help continue to advance the mission of this critical public-private partnership.”
Mike O’Hara has worked for twenty-five years in all aspects of site and civil engineering design with Bohler DC with a focus on urban redevelopment in the District and the Capital region. “Mike brings a wealth of knowledge of the real estate industry to WDCEP and has been a strong advocate for economic and real estate development in the District,” said Chad Shuskey, Interim President/CEO, WDCEP. Shuskey also noted that Donna Cooper has been an invaluable partner with the WDCEP, serving on the board since 2010.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the Co-Chair of the Washington DC Economic Partnership Board of Directors for the past two years and to have served as a member of the Board for over twelve years. The WDCEP is well positioned to continue its critical work of advancing the economic and social vitality of the District – as the two are not mutually exclusive. I know that Mike O’Hara, the new Co-Chair, Interim Deputy Mayor Anderson, the WDCEP Board and staff will only take the organization to new levels, with the interest of the District and its residents being foremost,“ said Donna Cooper, former Co-Chair, WDCEP.
Mike O’Hara, a native of Lancaster, PA and son to educators, is a long-time resident of DC and currently lives in Glover Park with his wife, Marie and two children who attend DC Public Schools. “My belief is that through the association of the Partnership, the city leadership and the development community we will create safe and inclusive spaces that will attract new businesses, grow existing corporations, and forge new opportunities for our citizens to thrive and enjoy all the District has to offer.”
The Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) is a non-profit, public-private organization whose core purpose is to actively position, promote, and support economic development and business opportunities in the District of Columbia.
WDCEP’s mission is to promote the District’s economic and business opportunities through supporting business retention and attraction activities. WDCEP is the central organization in the District that connects both the public and private sectors as well as neighborhood communities to local, national, and international audiences. WDCEP’s unique position is owed to its historical knowledge of the city’s business and economic climate; accurate analytics, data, and research; and access to community partners.
WDCEP collaborates with its partners in the city to facilitate dynamic relationships with technology visionaries, artists, real estate entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and global enterprise leaders based on independent thinking and objective insights. We stay one step ahead of the vibrant and evolving economic landscape by monitoring the pulse of DC’s developers, startups, entrepreneurs, and large and small businesses.
