South KC woman-owned construction company wins Small Business of the Year

South KC Perspective

By John Sharp

South Kansas City based Parrish & Sons Construction became the first Black woman-owned business to win the Small Business of the Year award from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce that was presented on June 14.

The company specializes in excavation and grading and self-performs earthwork related to demolition, excavation, grading and land clearance.  Local projects it has been involved in include trail work around Avila University, expansion of the city’s streetcar system and the new single terminal airport.

This is the third year in a row the company has been named by the Chamber as a Top 10 Small Business.  Last year it won the Chamber’s Small Business Equity Award.

“We’ve gone from averaging 15 employees to averaging now more than 35 employees, depending on the season and the project size,” said Fahteema Parrish, president and founder of the company.

The company also has tripled the amount of its heavy equipment and is now preparing to purchase land for a new headquarters capable of housing both its growing fleet of heavy equipment and its growing workforce.

The Chamber’s criteria for winning the Small Business of the Year award include demonstrating business growth and strong employee relations; prioritizing diversity, equity & inclusion; and giving back to the community.