Inclusivity succeeds when founders are held accountable, says winner of Chamber’s equity award

Fahteema Parrish doesn’t mind putting forward extra work to make sure her employees feel included, she shared, embracing an environment that supports individuals of all backgrounds. 

“Parrish & Sons Construction is an example of what intentional execution of equitable work within an organization actually looks like. Equality and inclusivity are key focal points as my team consists of individuals who know what it feels like to continually be left out or not feel welcome when entering an organization or industry,” said Parrish, the owner and president of Parrish & Sons Construction.

Parrish & Sons was honored with the Business Equity Award during the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s June 15 Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon. The award comes alongside Parrish & Sons’ second consecutive year as a finalist for Small Business of the Year.

“The [Business Equity] award was an exciting surprise,” Parrish said. “Team Parrish & Sons Construction was glad to take home a win! And being honored as a Top 10 Small Business two years in a row is encouraging — as despite each day’s obstacles — it reassures me that I am leading my organization in the right direction.”

Click here to read more about the winner of the 2022 Small Business of the Year award.

Parrish & Sons Construction team, winners of the Business Equity Award at the 2022 KC Chamber Small Business Celebration; photos by Channa Steinmetz/Startland News

Parrish’s secret to creating an equitable and inclusive business: think S.M.A.R.T.

“Create a specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely [S.M.A.R.T.] plan and be accountable to the actions required to make it all happen,” Parrish said. “It must be collectively throughout the organization — starting from the top down.” 

Responsible leadership has always been an important part of Parrish’s life, she shared, recalling growing up and watching her mother and father own and operate their own business. Parrish later gained several other mentors throughout her educational journey to determine a career path, she said. 

In an effort to pass along the mentorship she once received, Parrish started an internship program for the next generation, she continued.

Parrish & Sons has a busy year ahead of them, Parrish teased. The expansion of the Kansas City Streetcar, Project Velvet (also known as the Golden Plains Technology Park that will be the site for Meta’s upcoming data center), and the KC Water Department’s Smart Sewer program are a handful of the projects that the Parrish & Sons team will be tackling in 2022.

Click here to read more about Meta’s plans to bring its massive data center to Kansas City.

With these major projects on the horizon, Parrish is not going to do it alone, she said. Prioritizing her team and building a community is what will ultimately lead them to success, she continued. 

“We strive each day to ensure that all are welcome with each encounter as we will continue to carry the torch onward and upward — as the time is now to do the right thing,” Parrish shared.

 ​​Click here to check out the other nine companies named the Top 10 Small Businesses of 2022.

This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

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