Today we’d like to introduce you to Fahteema Parrish.
Hi Fahteema, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story really begins in Kansas City, where I grew up in a small business household watching my father run his HVAC company. As a young girl, I was often helping with paperwork and learning how important it was to make sure things were structured correctly and done with integrity. Those early experiences planted the seeds of entrepreneurship and taught me that work should ultimately serve people and community.
That entrepreneurial spirit followed me into college. While attending MCC Penn Valley, I organized Business Essentials Training & Awareness (B.E.T.A.), a program designed to help people understand the fundamentals of business and personal growth. Around that same time and in the years that followed, I launched several ventures including a cleaning service, lawn care company, beauty and barber salon, and later real estate investments and property management. Each of those experiences taught me lessons about leadership, customer service, and resilience, and helped shape me as a serial entrepreneur.
At the same time, I built a long professional career in technology. I began as a Computer Programmer, advanced into roles as a Technical Engineer and Senior Interdisciplinary Engineer, and eventually retired as a Managing IT Developer at Verint Systems. That career allowed me to travel the world and conduct business on every continent except Antarctica. Those experiences gave me a global perspective on systems, leadership, and innovation that I still apply today.
Even after that global experience, I felt called to build something more tangible in my hometown. In 2015, I founded Parrish & Sons Construction with faith and determination. My husband Clark—my middle school sweetheart—became my very first employee. We started with one piece of equipment a 289C Skidsteer and took on the jobs that others overlooked, determined to do every project with excellence and integrity.
Over time those opportunities grew into larger and more complex projects. Today our work includes contributions to projects such as the KCI Airport redevelopment, the KC Streetcar expansion, the MCC Engineering & Technology Center, and high-profile Google and Meta data center projects. One milestone that meant a great deal to me personally was earning our first prime contract with the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks & Recreation Department, where we completed trail improvements that enhanced green spaces and helped create sustainable communities where people can live, work, and play.
For me, the story has never been just about construction. It’s about creating opportunity. Through our work and through initiatives like Parrish Cares, I’m committed to mentorship, workforce development, and helping women and minorities see a pathway into an industry that can change lives.
When I look back, I see how every chapter—from organizing B.E.T.A. at Penn Valley, to building multiple small businesses, to traveling the world in technology, to now leading a heavy-civil construction company—was preparing me for this moment. Today I’m proud that our company is not only helping build infrastructure, but also building futures, strengthening communities, and laying the foundation for a legacy that will last generations.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship—especially in the construction industry—comes with real challenges, and I’ve had to navigate quite a few along the way. Starting a company in a highly technical, capital-intensive industry meant we had to build credibility from the ground up. In the early years of Parrish & Sons Construction, we were working with limited resources, sometimes just one piece of equipment and a lot of determination. Access to capital, building the right team, and earning the trust of clients in a competitive industry were all hurdles we had to overcome.
Another challenge has been operating in a field where women—and particularly women of color—are still underrepresented. At times, I had to work twice as hard to demonstrate our capabilities and prove that we belonged in the room and on the jobsite. Instead of allowing that to discourage me, I leaned into preparation, technical knowledge, and strong relationships. Over time, delivering quality work consistently helped us build the reputation we have today.
Like many contractors, we’ve also faced the practical realities of the industry: equipment breakdowns, supply chain delays, subcontractors walking off projects, and the unpredictability that comes with construction. Those situations can create tremendous pressure, but they also force you to grow as a leader. They taught me the importance of strong systems, clear communication, and staying solution-oriented no matter what happens in the field.
There were also personal sacrifices. My husband Clark—my middle school sweetheart—and I built this company together while raising our four sons. There were long days, early mornings, and moments where the responsibility of leading a growing company felt heavy. But those challenges also strengthened our family and our vision.
Looking back, the road hasn’t been smooth, but every obstacle helped prepare me for the next level of leadership. What kept me going through the toughest moments was my faith and the belief that this work is bigger than just building projects—it’s about creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and leaving a legacy for the next generation.
As you know, we’re big fans of Parrish & Sons Construction. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Parrish & Sons Story: Building Infrastructure & Opportunity
Who We Are & What We Do
Parrish & Sons Construction is a heavy-civil and infrastructure firm based in the heart of Kansas City. We specialize in the “foundational” work that makes modern development possible—the grading, excavation, land clearing, and utility installation that happens before a single brick is ever laid. Whether we’re hauling material or performing complex aggregate crushing and recycling, we focus on preparing the land to support the future of our city’s transportation and commercial hubs.
What Sets Us Apart
What truly defines us is our hands-on leadership. We are a self-performing contractor, meaning our own team is in the seats of the equipment, moving the earth ourselves. This allows us to maintain an uncompromising level of quality and safety. As an Authorized OSHA Trainer, I’ve made sure safety isn’t just a checklist; it’s our culture. We start every single day with one goal: ensuring our crew goes home exactly the same way they arrived.
Our Impact on Kansas City
Over the last 11 years, we’ve been honored to help shape the region’s landscape. From the KCI Airport modernization and the KC Streetcar expansion to the mission-critical Google and Meta data centers, we’ve been on the ground for some of KC’s most transformative projects. We also take great pride in our work with Kansas City Parks & Recreation, where we’ve served as a prime contractor on trail improvements—building the sustainable green spaces where our neighbors live, work, and play.
The Vision & Legacy
More than anything, Parrish & Sons is built on a foundation of faith, resilience, and opportunity. We are a family-founded company with a 90-year multi-generational vision. Through our nonprofit initiative, Parrish Cares, we’re dedicated to ensuring the next generation—especially women and minorities—see the skilled trades as a viable, high-impact career path.
Our Message to the Community
We want people to know that we aren’t just moving dirt; we’re building pathways. Every project is an opportunity to create economic mobility and leave Kansas City better than we found it. We are building a legacy of excellence that will continue to create opportunities for generations to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
“To be honest, I don’t really believe in luck. I believe in faith, preparation, and God’s timing. When I look back, the moments some might call ‘luck’ were actually the result of hard work meeting opportunity—and trusting that God was guiding my steps.
In construction, things rarely go perfectly according to plan. We’ve faced broken equipment, shifting projects, and the heavy financial pressures that come with a capital-intensive business. Early on, when resources were limited, those challenges could have easily stopped us. But instead of seeing them as bad luck, I chose to see them as lessons that sharpened my leadership and prepared me for what was next.
When the big doors finally opened—like our first prime contract with Kansas City Parks & Rec, or the work we’ve done for the KCI Airport and major data centers—I didn’t see it as luck. I saw it as God’s favor and the result of years of showing up with integrity.
What others call luck, I call alignment: that sweet spot where preparation, faith, and opportunity all come together at the right time.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://parrishandsonsconstruction.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parrishandsonsconstruction/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parrishandsonsconstruction/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parrish-sons-construction
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/parrish_n_sons
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PASCKC
Image Credits
SGF, 3 Shots photography, and Greater KC Chamber
