Woodward Announces Blankenship As Gulf Coast Market Leader

Woodward has announced the addition of Wiley Blankenship as Woodward’s Gulf Coast Market leader, tasked with expanding the firm’s construction operations and market presence across Alabama and key Gulf Coast markets. In this strategic leadership role, Blankenship leads regional growth initiatives while strengthening relationships with owners, developers and institutional partners. Prior to joining Woodward, Blankenship served as president and CEO of Coastal Alabama Partnership, a private-sector-led, not-for-profit organization uniting regional leaders across Mobile and Baldwin counties to advocate for shared economic priorities. In that role, he helped align economic development organizations, port and transportation interests, chambers of commerce, tourism entities and business leaders to advance initiatives related to infrastructure, policy, environmental stewardship and regional competitiveness. He also served as executive director of Coastal 150 and Coastal PAC. His leadership experience includes appointments by Gov. Kay Ivey to the Southern Rail Commission, including as chairman, and to the Alabama State Tourism Council. He has also served on the boards of the Business Council of Alabama and the Southern Economic Development Council. He currently serves on the advisory boards of the Mitchell College of Business and the Center for Real Estate and Economic Development at the University of South Alabama.