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In the span of her 35-year career, Nelda Wilson has gone from equipment operator to business manager for one of the industry’s most important unions, learning along the way valuable lessons about team building and negotiation. From 1980 to 1995, Wilson was a crane operator for various construction and heavy equipment companies in the region. A longtime union member, she became the first assistant to the business manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701 in 1995.

In 2012, she was elected to fill the remaining term of the local’s exiting business manager and formally assumed the position in 2013. Her daily role includes maintaining harmonious relationships between contractors and the local’s members, and she has led many agreements on local projects that have provided living wages for the community.

She also manages pension, health and welfare funds for the organization. She holds the distinction of being the only woman in her position among all equipment operators unions across the country.

Wilson served as an executive committee member of Construction Apprentice Workforce Solutions and was selected as a member of the Oregon State Legislative Committee Apprenticeship Task Force.  She served as vice chairwoman for the Oregon State Apprenticeship Training Council and chairwoman of the Standards Review Committee. She was a member of the Portland Development Workforce Division Strategy Agreement Committee from 2007-10 and was a key participant in the city of Portland Resolution No. 36954 Model Committees Benefits Agreement.