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Rhonnda Edmiston鈥檚 job at 125-year-old construction giant Howard S. Wright focuses on assuring that the company business practices are fair and equitable.

The company has maintained an internal directive to sustain community access, which in turn has helped promote company growth for more than a century while integrating it into the communities it serves. And under Edmiston鈥檚 careful eye, HSW has become widely known as a leader in the initiative toward cultural diversity in hiring employees and subcontractors.

鈥淚 encourage small businesses we come in contact with to register as a disadvantaged, minority-owned, woman-owned or emerging small business,鈥� Edmiston said. 鈥淚t may not get them a bid, but they might not be asked to bid if they don鈥檛.鈥�

Edmiston began working on diversity issues in 1977 while managing the Port of Portland鈥檚 Disadvantaged Business Programs. She then went on to work at U.S. Bank as supervisor of its employment diversity efforts.

At HSW, she鈥檚 been able to build on her philosophy of diversity in the workplace.

鈥淲e believe that by increasing cultural awareness, HSW will be a more successful company,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 community is composed of young and old, races, religious, political and gender differences.聽By paying attention to including a broad mix of employees and subcontractors, we鈥檙e better able to serve the needs of our clients and the communities we work in.鈥�

Her 10-plus years with the company have given her a chance to see the fruits of her labor flourish in unexpected ways.

鈥淚 like to see the transition in my co-workers from the eye-rolling when someone mentions (equal opportunity employment) to them wanting to see more small businesses succeed,鈥� Edmiston said.聽鈥淚t becomes apparent that small business owners are also leaders and often need help developing sophistication in the marketplace that will make them competitive.鈥�

She also keeps an encouraging word for the next generation by working with area middle- and high-school students to introduce them to career opportunities in construction.

鈥淚 was making a simple presentation about our work on the $135 million Edith Green-(Wendell) Wyatt building renovation to a group of seventh-graders and you could almost see the wheels turning in their minds,鈥� she said.

The business of HSW may be construction and engineering, but Edmiston sees it at its core as something that can be found in any company 鈥� a group of people who interact with others.

鈥淔or HSW to be a leader in diversity, all co-workers have to work toward that goal,鈥� she said.聽鈥淲e鈥檙e getting there. In fact, I look forward to the day when my position is no longer needed.鈥�