John Wooldridge
Bio
As the current President and CEO of Excenture Business Solutions, John F. Wooldridge has employed critical applications of business strategy, structure and implementation to create a company that has experienced tremendous success on a national scale. With his proven background of over 25 years in economic development initiatives, Wooldridge has cultivated Excenture into a highly sought after business development consulting and product procurement services firm. His background of success has been built upon his engagement in high level community development and business consulting initiatives in major business markets across the United States.
Today, Excenture is successfully fortified with a broadened scope of business activity and a strong client/partnership alliance through long term business relations with national corporations and government agencies, including The Ohio Department of Transportation. Excenture’s platform of business activity has been widely recognized by corporate partners, community leaders and government officials, resulting in Excenture receiving numerous honors and awards.
Wooldridge, a native of Akron, Ohio attended Central-Hower High School, where he was a high school All-American football player. Based on his athletic achievements Wooldridge was awarded an athletic scholarship to The Ohio State University. As a student-athlete he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice while playing tailback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. From 1982 through 1986 he helped Ohio State earn two Big 10 Championships while leading the Buckeyes in rushing in 1985.
In 1987 Wooldridge signed a multiple year contract with the Dallas Cowboys; however, a series of knee injuries ended his football career in 1989.
Wooldridge has been inducted into both the Central-Hower High School Hall of Fame and the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.
After his football days were behind him Wooldridge began a professional career in law enforcement with the Ohio Department of Liquor Control and the State of Ohio Attorney General’s Office, where he worked undercover assignments and operated as a member of a covert investigative task force.
Wooldridge then moved on to enforcing laws against discrimination when he accepted a position with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. There, he worked tirelessly with Director G. Michael Payton, to help protect Ohio citizens against discriminatory practices in public accommodation, housing, employment, credit and disabilities in higher education.
After 16 years in law enforcement Wooldridge shifted his focus to business, by way of real estate development and community/supportive services. He accepted a position as vice president of business development for one of the largest minority owned real estate development firms in the Midwest. There he oversaw the structure and strategic implementation of the firm’s business development and diversity efforts. This included the planning and execution of stringent protocol to assure regulatory compliance of the federal Section 3 provisions as well as M/WBE inclusion for projects in urban markets such as New York, New Orleans and Pittsburgh. Beyond domestic, Wooldridge also spearheaded the firm’s international business development campaign by assisting in exploration efforts for growth and economic development in Israel and South Africa. Those actions resulted in a coalition of domestic business executives holding meetings in South Africa with government officials and community leaders to discuss opportunities for collaborative partnerships in various South African business markets.
Away from his business endeavors, Wooldridge is active on the speaker circuit and involved in various community and supportive service initiatives. He works to bridge the gap between students and the private sector through mentorship initiatives while acting as liaison for student athletes and the professional business community. He is a current board member and former president of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and current board member and former president of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame. He is a member of various civic organizations and alumni associations and organizations at The Ohio State University.
Wooldridge has been deeply rooted in strengthening the fibers of communities while supporting uncompromising efforts that offer growth and development opportunities to underserved communities.
John is married to Kimberly and has two adult children, daughter, Nakita and son, John II.
