Top 40 Under 40: L’Tryce Slade, Slade Land Use, Environmental, and Transportation Planning LLC

Top 40 Under 40: L’Tryce Slade, Slade Land Use, Environmental, and Transportation Planning LLC

Date: Friday, February 3, 2012, 5:00am CST – Last Modified: Friday, February 3, 2012, 3:47am CST

L’Tryce Slade, 35, managing director and founder of Slade Land Use, Environmental and Transportation Planning LLC, focuses on urban planning, civil, environmental, hydrology and geotechnical professional services. Slade is also active in the Junior League.

L’Tryce Slade, 35, managing director and founder of Slade Land Use, Environmental and Transportation Planning LLC, focuses on urban planning, civil, environmental, hydrology and geotechnical professional services. Slade is also active in the Junior League.

Education: B.A., communication studies, University of North Carolina , B.A., political science, UNC, master’s in regional planning, UNC, J.D., UNC.

City of residence: Chapel Hill.

Family: Parents, Jesse and Debra Slade; sisters, Queena Goings and Wanda Ashe Moore; nephews Mychal Moore, Parris Moore and Zion Goings, and niece, Genesis James.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? I would have a fairy magic wand to be able to grant everyone’s reasonable wishes to bring happiness to others. Wishes would be screened for their ability to help advance our community, mankind, spiritual growth and philanthropy.

How would you use it to change Birmingham? It would make Birmingham the Magic City by proactively embracing diversity; spurring economic growth by promoting culture and strengthening our image; supplementing public education with new learning experiences and augmenting communications in government.

How would you use it to change Alabama? Alabama has not generated enough minority-owned businesses and our external perception persists to impede our ability to compete in the economic development arena. I envision a diverse business community that works together on an equal color-blind basis.

Who is your “super hero” community leader? Mayor William Bell has persevered and worked to become the mayor. Many people win everything they set out to do on the first try, and they may think it a failure to not do so. I have overcome and persevered challenges with the hope that I too will reach my goals.

What’s your ultimate career goal? To own the largest woman-owned general contracting and environmental firm in Alabama. Once I reach that goal, I will set another one. This dream seems even more amazing because I started my business in my apartment while I was on unemployment.

What’s been you career track? My firm specializes in environmental consulting, construction management, safety, quality control and urban planning. I completed certifications: OSHA; construction quality management; lead, asbestos and Alabama Workforce Program for Green Building Associates.

What’s your most notable career achievement? I completed the Dartmouth Tuck Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Executive Program. Tuck also offers a full-time MBA and executive education programs. Non-degree programs include the Tuck Business Bridge Program.

Why did you choose your profession? My mom told me I encouraged her to recycle before I was 5 years old. In high school, I volunteered to shadow the public works director and kids laughed. I discovered discarding waste had equity issues. In college, I focused on environmental classes.

How do you stay competitive? I stay abreast of research and trends in my field; surveying customers’ needs and expectations; maintaining and building relationships with clients, and obtaining certifications that allow me to offer services tailored to the trends, surveys and relationships.

If you could be a crayon, what color would you be? Many of my happiest days were at UNC. I would paint every day a Carolina blue sky day.

What’s a hot topic in your industry? Sustainability, green building, safety and quality controls. I support being environmentally friendly as a way of life because it is socially responsible. I also love protecting humans from environmental threats.

What’s your guiding business advice? Follow your heart.

What did you learn in the Great Recession? Give, give, give. I notice the more I give, the more I flourish and those around me.

What’s your favorite tech toy or app? My smart phone allows me to maintain constant contact with my clients and to obtain information from the web and task list. The calendar feature on my smart phone is my favorite app for business. It keeps me organized and on time.

What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list? I love the movie, Eat Pray Love. I would really like to go a trip around the world. I would like to visit a major city in each continent. I love architecture. I would start with the amazing architecture of Greece, Rome and Italy.

What’s your favorite quote? “We all have the drum major instinct. We all want to be important.surpass others achieve distinction.lead the parade.harness the drum major instinct. Keep feeling the need for being first, but I want you to be first in love, moral excellence, generosity.” Martin Luther King

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten? Follow your heart. Sometimes people try to put me in a box and tell me how I should use my degrees to reach success. I love blazing new trails in the environmental and construction field for women.When you follow your heart, success will come.

What’s your quirkiest habit? I like to clean up as I go, so that my environment will not get dirty. A clean environment helps me work better. It also gives me a sense of control and balance. I am a Libra. What can I say?

The most influential person (s) in your life? My parents because they talk to me on my high and low days. I can be transparent and they speak life into me. My mom and dad are religious. This spiritual environment provided me a great foundation in order to deal with many of the challenges I face daily.

Got a guilty pleasure? I love to eat gummy candy. I recently had to cut back to avoid health and wellness issues. I still eat some from time to time. It is all about control. I do not believe in dieting. I believe in changing your lifestyle.

Got an interesting fact about your self others may not know? I love to teach Sunday School, aerobics and college-level courses. I saw the dean from a local University where I teach and I was dressed in aerobics clothes in Wal-mart. He said “You just love teaching?” I just laughed. I must admit, I do love it.