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Maurice Rahming carved out his career path early in life. Both of his parents worked in electronics and Rahming began training as an electrician when he was a junior in high school.

The president of Portland’s O’Neill Electric Inc. was born and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire. One of 11 children, Rahming began to learn the intricacies of electrical work as part of Merrimack High School’s vocational program and soon got his start as a journeyman electrician. Since then, he has risen through the ranks to become a foreman, general foreman and business owner.

While in New Hampshire, Rahming met his future wife, Ali O’Neill, and the pair lived in Texas before moving to Portland in 1992. Now married for 13 years, Rahming and O’Neill established O’Neill Electric in 1998.

Today, the company employs 54 people in its Southeast Portland office, and does all phases of construction, including excavation, concrete, framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, cabinets and casework, fire protection and HVAC.

Recent projects include Mercy Corps’ new world headquarters, Bonneville Dam spillway power and distribution improvements, several projects at the Portland VA Medical Center, and the mixed-use Patton Park Apartments on Interstate Avenue.

In addition, the company recently installed photovoltaic systems at two fire stations (No. 16 and No. 25) in Portland as well as several residential applications and installations in Oregon for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service.

Rahming said he enjoys the variety his work has to offer. “I like being able to go to different sites, look at unique problems and come up with solutions for those problems,” he said.

O’Neill Electric graduated from the Port of Portland’s Mentor-Protégé Program and is a member of the National Association of Minority Contractors. The company twice received the Minority Business Opportunity Committee’s Outstanding Construction Entrepreneur Award.

Rahming said his business philosophy is about hard work and empowerment: “Produce the best product you can and allow other people the ability to advance forward, both in terms of product and personnel.”

Who was a mentor who helped shape you into the person you are today? What did that person teach you?

“My original mentor was Mr. Wall, a British instructor in my vocational program back East. He helped me define what it means to have a strong work ethic.”

Tell us something about yourself that most people might not know.

“I’m a pretty decent poker player.”