By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | The Birmingham Times
In addition to being “mom” to Baby Slade, L’Tryce Slade’s other title is “businesswoman”—and she gives her all to both roles.
Slade considers becoming a first-time mom at age 45 one of her greatest accomplishments. She is owner of Slade Land Use, Environmental, and Transportation Planning LLC in Birmingham. Her son will turn 2 in June, and Slade, now at the age of 47, embraces motherhood every second she can.
As Mother’s Day—Sunday, May 12—approaches, Slade reflected on work-life balance and being a business owner in a male-dominated industry.
The mission statement of her company, Slade Land Use, Environmental and Transportation Planning LLC, is simple: “We build more than buildings, we build communities,” said the award-winning entrepreneur and Managing Partner for the Birmingham-based firm.
Slade’s company, founded in 2006, specializes in construction material testing, general contracting services, geotechnical services, environmental consulting, and urban planning. Clients include federal and county governments, universities, law firms, nonprofits, transportation consulting firms, and engineering firms. The company is licensed in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina.
As one of the few Black female contractors in Alabama, Slade knows there are some who doubt her abilities, but she has two prominent ways to respond to doubters: with confidence and top-quality work.
“I am often the only woman at the table, and I feel being a woman is an issue, more so than being Black,” she told The Birmingham Times in a 2017 article. “If I didn’t feel comfortable and believe I am just as equal to others, I would be unable to exude [my attitude] to others.”
Even though Slade has been turned down for jobs and some companies have changed bids on projects to keep work out of her reach, she is determined to press ahead. When a minority company produces high-quality work, it can counter any discrimination, she said.
“It’s not just about you when you’re working that hard,” Slade added. “You’ve got to have a purpose behind what you do and be aware of the impact you will have on other people.”
For more information on Slade or her company, Slade Land Use, Environmental, and Transportation Planning, LLC, visit https://www.sladellc.com.
