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Rhonnda Edmiston has built a reputation for fostering diversity within the organizations she works for, a specialty she claims happened by accident.

Edmiston, who holds a master鈥檚 degree in business administration, joined U.S. Bank in 1985 and managed its executives鈥� travel, fleet service and other corporate functions. In 1997, U.S. Bank was acquired by a Minneapolis company and Edmiston鈥檚 position was eliminated. When the acquisition hit an impasse, U.S. Bank asked Edmiston to stay on and manage its new National Supplier Diversity Program.

鈥淚 was starting totally from scratch. I had never heard the words 鈥榮upplier鈥� and 鈥榙iversity鈥� in one sentence and I had never worked in the diversity realm before, so it was trial by fire,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was scary and fun, and I learned a tremendous amount.鈥�

In 2001, Edmiston joined the Port of Portland, where over nine years she developed and led programs such as the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, the Mentor Prot茅g茅 Program and the Small Business Development Initiative.

Now the Diversity & Business Equity Manager for Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Company, Edmiston said her previous experience working for a private company and a quasi-governmental agency have served her well. Howard S. Wright works with government agencies and, as a private company, encourages a culture of inclusion because it enhances its competitiveness, she said.

鈥淭he more we value equity and diversity, the more we will be able to attract top talent to our firm, attract skilled partners we can work with on projects, and attract clients who are like-minded,鈥� Edmiston said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l also gain the support of the communities where we are building projects because we鈥檒l be providing job opportunities for subcontractors.鈥�

Edmiston said it鈥檚 been rewarding to see companies she encountered through the port鈥檚 programs grow and succeed. She has coffee each month with a group of women business owners and continues to serve as a resource and mentor for them when they need advice.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding to be able to celebrate their successes,鈥� she said.