Parrish & Sons Construction Named Small Business of the Year

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2023 Small Business of the Year is Parrish & Sons Construction! President & Founder Fahteema Parrish accepted the award June 14 at the Chamber’s Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon at the Marriott Muehlebach Tower.

Parrish & Sons is the first Black woman-owned business to win Small Business of the Year. This is the third year in a row they were named a Top 10 Small Business. Last year they won the Small Business Equity Award.

Founded in 2015, Parrish & Sons Construction specializes in site clearing, demolition grading, aggregate recycling, hauling, and water & storm services. They have been part of some of KC’s most high-profile construction projects over the past few years: the Meta data center in Smithville, the KC Streetcar expansion, Three Light Apartments, trail work at Avila University, and the biggest of all, the single terminal airport.

Fahteema Parrish lives by a mantra. “In order to grow, I have to continue to step out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I have to stay hungry, humble, and smart.” It’s paying off, as Parrish & Sons has doubled in employee size. “We’ve gone from averaging 15 employees to averaging now more than 35 employees depending on the season and the project size."

In addition to employee growth, Parrish & Sons has tripled in size of heavy equipment. They’re preparing for a land purchase to build a new headquarters where they will be able to house their equipment and grow their workforce.

Parrish & Sons also gives considerable time and resources to community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, aSTEAM Village, Parkway Healthy & Rehab, and more. 

The Chamber also awarded the Specialty Awards at the Luncheon. Those awards and the winners include:

• The KC Chamber Emerging Small Business of the Year Award: NvisionKC
• The KC Chamber Legacy of Kansas City Award: Quantum Resource Professionals
• The KC Chamber Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year: J. Rieger & Co.
• The KC Chamber Small Business Equity Award: Resolve Counseling and Wellness

The KC Chamber Small Business Celebration has been a business community mainstay for more than 35 years. It’s recognized as one of the largest Chamber small business celebrations in the United States. The Small Business of the Year receives the coveted Mr. K Award, named for Ewing Kauffman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. To be named Small Business of the Year signifies that a company has shown growth or sustainability of their business with strong employee relations, a record of giving back to the community, and prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our 2023 Awards Luncheon Presenting Sponsor is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Our Small Business Presenting Sponsor is Evergy. Our Small Business CEO Sponsor is Kansas City National Security Campus, managed by Honeywell FM&T. Our Small Business Superstars Presenting Sponsor is EAG Advertising and Marketing. Our Media Sponsor is Startland News. Our Superstar Sponsor is FastSigns Overland Park. Our Top 10 Announcement Event Presenting Sponsor is UMB Bank. Our Top 10 Reception Event Presenting Sponsor is Bank Midwest. Our Executive Sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Our Partner Sponsors are Commerce Bank, Meta. Our Associate Sponsors are Arvest Bank, Country Club Bank, Enterprise Bank & Trust, H&R Block, Mazuma Credit Union, Menlo, PNC Bank, Southwest Airlines, US Bank. Our Table Sponsor is Sunlighten. Florals provided by Shop Local KC: Midtown.