Murphy with the company for 15 years despite a break to manage global real estate for Amazon.com and a stint as VP/leasing for Equity Office Properties Trust—is responsible for leasing and marketing more than 4 million sf of Class A office and retail space in Seattle and Bellevue. She formulates marketing strategies for development projects.

Undi-Haga, who has been with the company for nine years, oversees project design and construction of City Center Plaza, a class A office high-rise in Bellevue that will be completed later this year. Undi-Haga will continue to serve in leadership roles on future large-scale projects, Johnson says.

A 2005 study conducted by the Commercial Real Estate Women network found that the percentage of women in the industry had increased from 32- to 36% over the previous five years. It also found that given comparable levels of experience significantly more men make more than women and achieve more senior level positions. Last year, CREW followed up the report by outlining strategies that commercial real estate companies can use to ensure a more diverse workplace in which women play greater leadership roles.

Johnson says Wright Runstad offers family leave benefits as well job sharing, flexible hours and the ability to work from home, all things mentioned in the report. Two of the VPs have "a reduced-hour work schedule" in order to accommodate other things in their lives, Johnson says.

"Whether it's for family or other things, it doesn't matter," he says. "If it keeps them motivated and creative, so be it."

In addition to the fringe benefits, Johnson says Wright Runstad pays its female VPs salaries commensurate with that their male peers in the industry. "If you are not consistent, word gets around," he says.