Accomplished Under 40 – Alesha Willis

Internal Auditor – HDR Engineering, Inc.

Alesha Willis is no stranger to hard work and perseverance. At the age of 15, she left the home she knew with her single-parent mother to move states and schools to live with her grandmother. She knew that she had to make a change that gave her a more stable foundation to succeed in life and looking back, she sees that this decision to move was something that changed the course of her life. She completed high school and went on to be the first person in her family to graduate from college.

“I’ve looked nowhere but up since then,” Willis said.

She said that she looks up to her mom and grandmother.

“My grandmother serves as a matriarch in our family,” she said. “She takes care of everyone. I aspire to love everyone the way she loves ― without judgement or limitations, and so fiercely. Professionally, my mother has had the most positive impact on me. Her work ethic is out of this world; there’s nothing like it. If I apply myself half as much as she has demonstrated, I’ll succeed in any scenario.”

Willis began her career at HDR Engineering as a project accountant in Billings, Montana, where she quickly mastered her craft. She received a promotion to project accountant II which brought her to Boise five years ago. This April, she transitioned into her newest role as internal auditor, where she’s excited to continue learning and assisting the company to reach its mission and goals.

Aside from her accounting duties, Willis also serves as the HDR Foundation Ambassador for Idaho at HDR. She encourages Idaho’s approximately 160 employees to donate to the HDR Foundation, which is 100% employee-funded, and sponsor grants for nonprofits in their communities. Last year, under her leadership, the Foundation granted more than $87,000 directly into nonprofits in the Gem State, one of which was a $10,000 grant to NeighborWorks Boise of which she was sponsor.

Willis also recently accepted a volunteer role with NeighborWorks Boise, serving on their Paint the Town committee. She also has experience volunteering with Boise Pride, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, The Idaho Foodbank, FACES of Hope and United Way of Treasure Valley.

Willis said that she has a true love for the Boise community and looks forward to investing her time and talent in it.

“I’m eager to help make Boise a better place in any way I can,” she said. “Boise has given me so much and I can only try my hardest to return the favor. I’ll forever be a champion for our great state and look forward to what I can achieve in my next five years here.”