Every company has a history. Limbach's history is told through the people who have lived it.
When Dianne Rodgers walked through Limbach's doors in 1977, she wasn't thinking about making history. She was starting a new job as the company's receptionist.
At the time, Limbach had already spent more than 75 years building trusted relationships with customers and communities. Today, as the company celebrates 125 years of People, Purpose, and Progress, Dianne has been part of nearly 40% of that history.
Over the past 49 years, she's witnessed remarkable changes in the construction and building solutions industry. She's seen technology transform the workplace, watched opportunities for women expand across the organization, worked alongside multiple generations of leadership, and built a career defined by one simple idea: when people are trusted and given opportunities to grow, incredible things happen.
One Opportunity Led to Another
Dianne's career didn't follow a straight line. It grew one opportunity at a time. She began as Limbach's receptionist before being promoted to secretary for the LNCC Business Department Manager. Soon after, she became secretary to the company's Treasurer, and within two years was promoted again, this time to Executive Secretary for Walter Limbach.
Looking back, each promotion carried the same message: We believe you're capable of more.
That trust became the defining moment of her career. "When I was promoted to Executive Secretary for Walter Limbach, I realized very quickly that Walter's expectation of me was that I would do my job without the need for continuous oversight," Dianne says. "He trusted me to do my job well, to not hesitate to ask questions, and to feel free to challenge him if I thought something wasn't right."
The title mattered, but the confidence placed in her mattered even more. "I've carried that work ethic with me throughout my career with Limbach," she says. "I'm happy to see that our CEOs continue to have that same open-door philosophy today." When Walter retired, another opportunity presented itself. Dianne stepped into the role of Benefits Administrator, beginning a chapter that continues nearly two decades later.
Watching Opportunity Evolve
When Dianne reflects on her first days at Limbach, one difference stands out immediately. “When I started in 1977, management positions were held mostly by men, which was the norm at that time,” she says. “Almost every woman working at Limbach held secretarial or clerical positions.” At the time, the Payroll Manager in the LNCC Service Division was one of the few women in a management role.
Dianne also remembers when the first woman trained as a welder in Limbach’s Pittsburgh sheet metal shop. “Most thought she wasn’t going to succeed in that position, but she did,” she says. Over the decades, she watched opportunities for women continue to expand. Today, women contribute across Limbach in the field, operations, project management, finance, engineering, and executive leadership. Through the Women In Construction (WICS) Employee Resource Group, Limbach continues to support mentorship, professional development, and opportunities for future generations.
From Electric Typewriters to Today's Technology
Ask Dianne about the biggest changes she's seen, and her answer comes with a smile. "The next biggest change was technology, going from an electric typewriter to today's laptops! I love talking about what it was like in the 'old' days compared to how things are now." The tools may have changed dramatically over the past five decades. The culture has not.
Relationships, trust, and the willingness to invest in people continue to define the company just as much today as they did when Dianne first arrived. That consistency is one of the reasons she's spent nearly five decades building her career at Limbach. "The opportunities I was given for advancement within the company, the many, many wonderful people I've worked with over the years and am still working with today, and the fact that I really enjoy the work I do." It's a simple answer, but one that reflects a larger truth.
Long careers aren't built on a single promotion or milestone. They're built through meaningful work, supportive teammates, and leaders who encourage people to keep growing.
A Legacy Built by People
As Limbach celebrates its 125th anniversary, Dianne feels an overwhelming sense of pride in everything she's witnessed. "I am so proud to have experienced so many years working at Limbach and going through all of the changes and challenges over those years."
When asked what she hopes future generations take away from her story, her advice is straightforward. "Take advantage of the many opportunities offered to Limbach employees and consider putting down roots with the company. The fact that so many employees have built long careers at Limbach speaks highly of the company as an employer."
Companies don't celebrate 125 years because buildings last. They celebrate 125 years because people do. People who mentor. People who trust others with new opportunities. People who embrace change while staying true to the values that brought them here.
For nearly 40% of Limbach's history, Dianne Rodgers has been one of those people. Her story reminds us that every chapter of our company's legacy has been written by employees willing to grow, support one another, and build something that lasts.
As we celebrate 125 years of People, Purpose, and Progress, we're not just looking back at where we've been. We're honoring the people who continue shaping where we're going next.
