Will Coppage Named Executive Director at the Washington County Economic Alliance

Jul 22, 2019

Greenville, MS – The Washington County Economic Alliance (WCEA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the promotion of Will Coppage to Executive Director, effective July 17, 2019. In his new role, he will spearhead industrial attraction; retention and expansion of existing industry; workforce training and development; and Chamber-based initiatives centered on small business.

“The WCEA is delighted to have such a smooth transition in the leadership role of Will Coppage to Executive Director,” said Ryan Ashley, Chairman of WCEA. “Will has done an excellent job in serving our organization in his roles as Project Manager and Deputy Director over the last four years.  Will’s knowledge and experience with our communities combined with his passion and creativity will continue to propel the economic viability for Washington County in the future.”

Coppage, a Greenville, MS native, replaces Cary Karlson who is retiring from the WCEA on July 31, 2019. Coppage began with the WCEA in 2015 as Project Manager and in 2018 was promoted to Deputy Director.

“I am truly excited and grateful for this opportunity that the Board of Directors have allotted me to serve the residents of Washington County,” said Coppage. “We are growing as a community. We are a thriving as a community. And, we are a prosperous community. Now is the time to write our story, and our story is a story of success.”

Coppage has been the recipient of Mississippi Top 50 Under 40 (2017), Mississippi Business Journal; Washington County Top 20 Under 40 (2017), Delta Democrat-Times; Mississippi Development Authority Ambassador (2017); and the Ray and Jimmy Heidel Economic Development Leadership Award (2017), Mississippi Economic Development Council. Coppage holds both a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. He is graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Economic Development Institute. Coppage is a United States Air Force veteran. Prior to joining the WCEA, he worked as Executive Assistant to the Mayor of the City of Greenville, MS. His wife, Missy, is the Director of Gymnastics at the Hodding Carter Memorial YMCA in Greenville, and his daughter, Lyla Jane, will be four years old in August.

The Washington County Economic Alliance is the economic development and chamber partnership organization in Washington County, Mississippi. For more information call 662.378.3141.