Sundra L. Ryce

30 President-CEO - SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc., Buffalo, NY.

As a child, Sundra Ryce was exposed to the world of construction because her father owned his own construction firm. To those who knew her well, it was only a matter of time before she established herself as a formidable force in the industry. When she launched SLR Contracting & Service Co. in 1996, they were not surprised.

As the president and CEO of the general construction firm, headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., Ryce has successfully steered the company to gross annual revenues in excess of $31 million. With “Building in Excellence” as its motto, SLR expanded to a second office in Albany, N.Y. To obtain government contracts, Ryce has certified the firm with the U.S. Small Business Administration as a disadvantaged minority business enterprise operating in a designated HUBZone. SLR is part of the Ciminelli Construction team that will assist in a $1 billion, 10-year Buffalo Public Schools renovation project.

“I seek God daily for the wisdom, favor and strategic direction of the company,” she says. “My parents are my No. 1 mentors. They pushed me and taught me at an early age that there were no limitations in my life, except the ones I allow. My husband and children support me in my everyday life.”

A professional speaker, Ryce is featured in the 13th edition of Small Business Management-An Entrepreneurial Emphasis, a college textbook with a circulation of roughly 57,000 worldwide. She graduated from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and anticipates completing a master’s degree at Medaille College in Buffalo later this year.

Ryce is a member of the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association board of trustees, Buffalo Urban Development Corp. and the Buffalo State College board of directors. She also serves in various capacities in other organizations. She is a licensed pastor who draws inspiration from the question, “What would you do if you knew you would not fail?”