Portland State Magazine Winter 2016

10 pORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE winter 2016 “We have always hired a diverse workforce,” says Hermann Colas, Jr., ’77. “We do it because that’s how I set the company to be.” The company is Colas Construction, which Hermann Colas founded in 1997. His company’s commitment to diversity doesn’t stop with hiring practices. Colas Construction also looks to the future of its industry by participating in service programs in the community. One such program is at Roosevelt High School in north Portland, where students get to visit active construction projects. The students see a diverse workforce excelling in careers that the students may not have considered. “At times the students are inspired by the stories of my company and its mission in our community.” Colas, who grew up in Haiti, remembers when he arrived in Portland to attend PSU in the mid-’70s, and the campus was brimming with inter- national students. He loved the mix of cultures in downtown Portland. “The international community—it was so important to me. And being at PSU, I was able to do what I needed to develop myself as a person. It helped me understand how the world was changing.” Colas has seen an immense amount of change since his college days. He went to work for Pacific Northwest Bell straight out of PSU, eventually holding various positions with US WEST. However, having been raised in an entrepreneurial family—it owned the second largest rum distillery in Haiti, Rum Marie Colas—he was always looking for an opportunity to start his own firm. A stint as general contractor for the building of his own home showed him a new direction. Today Colas Construction concentrates on commercial construction, including renovations, tenant improvements, mixed-use buildings and higher education. All three of his children work for the company, and he feels gratified that it is now being managed by a second generation. His legacy is assured. Because of their passionate beliefs and efforts, these seven alumni are making a difference in their Portland-area communities. Written by Meg Descamp Illustrations by Nguyen Tran Hermann Colas, Jr. Bu i l d e r Talent l o c a l “Students are inspired by the stories of my company and its mission in the community.”