Wooster consistently ranks among the nation's top micropolitans, recognized by Site Selection magazine for business expansion driven by low costs, cooperative local government, and exceptional market access. The city hosts international manufacturing giants including PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, Daisy Brand, Schaeffler Group, Cargill, GOJO, and Morton Salt. The J.M. Smucker Company, Wooster Brush, and Artiflex round out a manufacturing sector that drives regional employment.
Wayne County recently secured a transformative $26 million National Science Foundation grant to lead research in alternative natural rubber production at The Ohio State University's Wooster Campus. This positions the region to become a Silicon Valley of Natural Rubber Production, creating economic growth through industry expansion and new job opportunities. Combined with educational resources from The College of Wooster (ranked #71 among National Liberal Arts Colleges) and Wayne College, the area offers both manufacturing strength and innovation potential.
Whether you're expanding a manufacturing facility, developing commercial property in the Wooster Innovation Park, or constructing research or educational facilities, projects here benefit from experienced oversight. An independent Owner's Representative ensures that the demands of working in an active, innovation-focused market don't compromise your budget and timeline.
Every construction project involves three core parties: the Architect, focused on design and code compliance; the General Contractor, focused on means, methods, and their own profitability; and the Owner, who funds everything but often lacks the technical expertise to protect their investment. This creates what we call the Leadership Vacuum, where no one is truly accountable for the owner's budget and schedule.
DeVore Consulting fills this vacuum. We work exclusively for you, never holding trade contracts or self-performing work. Our role is to translate your business objectives into construction outcomes, providing a single point of accountability from pre-design through project closeout.
We bring disciplined methodology to manufacturing, research, and commercial projects in Wayne County.
Manufacturing and research facilities demand precise budget control. We verify that pay applications reflect work actually completed, analyze change orders to separate legitimate costs from contractor overreach, and model the financial impact of decisions before they're made.
Projects in the $500K to $50M range are our specialty. These are often too complex for business owners to oversee part-time but may not attract attention from firms focused on major corporate expansions.
We never build; we only manage. This means our advice is never influenced by a desire to self-perform work or protect a margin. When we flag a problem, it's because it affects your outcome.
We support the project types driving Wayne County's diverse economy:
Facility expansions, equipment installations, and production line modifications for food processing, consumer products, and industrial manufacturers.
Supporting institutions with construction that must meet specialized requirements while maintaining academic and research operations.
Providing budget protection for projects in Wooster Innovation Park and throughout the county serving the business community.
Facilities serving Wayne County's significant agricultural sector, combining rural site requirements with commercial construction standards.
We serve communities throughout Northeast Ohio including Canton, Medina, and Ashland.
The greatest value we provide comes from early engagement, before you've committed to a property or finalized designs. Our Fatal Flaw Analysis investigates infrastructure capacity, utility availability, and site conditions while there's still time to negotiate or walk away.
If your Wooster project is already underway and facing challenges, we can help stabilize the situation through rigorous change order review and contractor accountability. But prevention is always more cost-effective than cure.
Reach out to explore how independent oversight can protect your Wooster investment.
We provide comprehensive project oversight for business owners and developers who need expert guidance through the construction process. With 20+ years overseeing the design and construction of residential and commercial, we know where problems hide and how to prevent them.
These FAQs are a starting point, but your project has specific goals, risks, and financial stakes. My role is to be your trusted guide.I protect your time and money by simplifying the process, providing experienced oversight, and preventing costly mistakes before they happen.
Wooster Innovation Park is a community-owned business neighborhood with lots up to 31 acres, full utilities, and heavy roadway infrastructure. Site neighbors include Daisy Brand, Wooster Brush, and Schaeffler USA. The I-2 General Industrial zoning supports manufacturing and industrial development. We help you navigate site selection, infrastructure coordination, and construction management in this premier development location.
Wooster hosts food processing operations from PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, Daisy Brand, and Smucker. Food processing facilities require specialized sanitary construction, FDA and USDA compliance, temperature controls, and materials suitable for washdown environments. Construction must meet food safety standards while maintaining production continuity. We ensure contractors understand these requirements and that facilities meet regulatory expectations upon completion.
The National Science Foundation's $26 million grant to Ohio State's Wooster Campus for natural rubber production research positions Wayne County to become a hub for rubber industry innovation. This could create demand for research facilities, related manufacturing, and supporting commercial development. We help clients position projects to serve emerging opportunities while managing construction in an evolving market.
Wooster's recognition by Site Selection magazine reflects low costs, cooperative local government, market access, and a concentration of international manufacturers including PepsiCo, Schaeffler, Cargill, and GOJO. Large shovel-ready sites, rail and interstate access, and skilled talent create attractive conditions for business expansion. For construction projects, this active market means opportunity but also competition for contractor resources.
Of course. We'll provide you with all the free advice you can handle. But to get started formally, we'll have to make sure our services align with you needs. We'll get to know your project aspirations and put together a proposal. Until we have an agreement no payment is expected.
Yes. An owner's rep with a strong financial background is invaluable here. With an MBA in Real Estate Finance, we help you prepare the realistic, bank-ready documents lenders need to see. We create defensible pro formas, validate construction budgets, and manage the loan draw process, which builds essential trust and credibility with your lender.
Yes. While some firms only focus on large institutional projects, we specialize in guiding small business owners and first-time developers. The need for an owner's rep depends more on your project's complexity than its size. A complex $2M restaurant renovation often has more risk than a simple $5M warehouse. We can help you assess if professional oversight makes financial sense for your specific project .
Depending on scope, fees typically range from 0.5% to 1% of the total construction cost, depending on the project's complexity, timeline, and the specific scope of services you need . Studies have shown this investment typically saves clients 3-5% on total construction costs through rigorous contractor management, change order review, and problem prevention, meaning the service more than pays for itself.
Yes. Our service doesn't end when the contractor hands over the keys. Our "Phase 4: Closeout" process includes comprehensive warranty management and post-occupancy support to ensure your building functions as intended. We ensure all final documentation and manuals are collected, which is the foundation for your long-term facility management.
Absolutely. While we add the most value by being involved from pre-construction through closeout , we can tailor our services to your specific needs. We are often brought in just for pre-construction planning, to help with contractor selection, or to get a troubled project that's already underway back on track.
This information goes to a real human being. Its a great way to learn more and start the conversation without any obligation. We will never provide your personal or contact information to a 3rd party.
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