Local business leader and U.S. Air Force veteran Al Wofford applies his “Can-DO” attitude to everything in his life, including his work, community and family. It’s not only his personal motto, it’s also the name of his first company, CDO Technologies, founded in 1995.
“With hard work, determination and good people to stand beside you, anything is possible,” said Wofford, CDO president and operator of eight locations throughout the United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Washington, D.C.
Based in Riverside, CDO is a leading provider of business and technology solutions, including data collection, advanced technology communications and managed IT services to help customers operate more efficiently and effectively. Wofford also owns and operates VT Design Solutions, an engineering services firm located in Cincinnati. Both companies are recognized as certified minority business enterprises (CMBEs) and are members of the Minority Business Partnership’s Focused 40 Group through the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and both the Ohio and the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Wofford has a drive for being involved and making good things happen for his community. He’s volunteered for dozens of local boards and special initiatives, including Air Camp, CityWide, Commission on Minority Inclusion, Dayton Development Coalition, Dayton Technology Task Force, Engineering and Science Foundation, Omega Community Development Corporation, among others.
“Helping students, particularly African-American students, develop a better understanding of STEM education is an important part of creating a more diverse business environment and is pivotal to meeting future challenges in clean water, energy, manufacturing and more,” he said. “It’s about awakening kids to what’s cool about science and engineering.”
To fulfill both his personal and corporate charitable giving goals, Wofford has established several charitable funds, including Charitable Checking Accounts, through the African-American Community Fund, a component of The Dayton Foundation. Most recently, Wofford helped to celebrate the Foundation’s 100th anniversary in 2021 by participating in its 100 Gifts to the Community campaign. Through this effort, 100 Dayton Foundation fund holders made special gifts to the charities of their choice. Wofford’s gift to the Dayton Early College Academy helped make an impact on the education of our region’s youth.
“There were individuals who helped me along the way. Strong communities foster strong families, so this gift was one way I could give back and help others in their endeavors,” Wofford said.
Through grants awarded from one of his Dayton Foundation funds, he’s also part of a pool of investors for the Downtown Dayton Investment Fund held with CityWide Development Corporation. The Investment Fund provides loans to private businesses, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs who are looking for funding to support real estate development in Dayton’s urban core.
“I like that the fund focuses on filling vacant property in our downtown core that ultimately will benefit our broader community,” Wofford said. “These loans help bridge funding gaps and provide flexible dollars to enhance growth opportunities for new businesses. I see it as a winning investment for all.”
His staff at CDO also share his philosophy for giving back to their neighbors in need. For more than 20 years, employees have adopted families with the help of organizations such as Artemis, Family Violence Prevention Center of Greene County, Omega’s Hope Center for Families and St. Vincent de Paul Society, among others. They raise money through employee-sponsored raffles and provide one or two families with gifts during the holiday season each year.
Whether he’s providing business solutions through his companies or assisting up-and-coming businesses, current initiatives, nonprofits or future leaders through his time and treasure, Wofford believes in paying forward his blessings.
“I owe a lot of my success to the people of this community. The African-American Community Fund and The Dayton Foundation have helped me to help others in so many ways. Their guidance and understanding of community needs pairs with my desire to see our community grow,” he said. “I’m proud to be a part of the Foundation that is making our region stronger for future generations. I’m part of my community, and together we can achieve great things.”