Each quarter the Amherst Chamber of Commerce's Business Resource Council recognizes a member business for outstanding achievement, success or work within the community as part of the Member Success Showcase.  This quarter, the Council selected to honor S&W Contracting and President and CEO Shandra Spicer. No stranger to success, the young, self-made business owner has plenty of experience making sure she set S&W up for nothing less.   

In 1999, an 18-year-old Shandra helped her family form S&W Contracting, a company primarily focused on clearing out and painting old apartments. By the age of 22, she had assumed full responsibility and sole ownership of the construction and janitorial service company.  Despite belonging to a male-dominated industry, Shandra tenaciously moved S&W Contracting forward, within striking distance of service expansion and financial growth.  She sought out the Small Business Administration to enroll in its 8(a) program, a certification, training and development program for minority business owners. Shandra also graduated from the University at Buffalo's Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs program and LPCiminelli's Emerging Contractor Mentor Program. 

Shandra's resolve paid off.  S&W Contracting swelled from a three-person operation making $29,000, to a 27-person staff that generated $2.1 million in profits in 2010.  Along the way Shandra and S&W managed to secure contracts with Erie County, Buffalo Public Schools and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.  The surge in growth garnered national attention.  Shandra and S&W graced the pages of Fortune Magazine in May, ranking No. 47 on the year's Inner City 100.  The list tabbed the country's 100 fastest-growing, inner-city businesses.  Fortune reported that S&W, situated at 693 Seneca Street in the Larkin District, boasted a five-year annual growth rate of 33 percent.  Locally, the company nabbed No. 11 on Business First's Fast Track List.

It's no secret Shandra places a high premium on the enduring tenets of hard work and persistent effort.  Her message to aspiring small businesses is to do just that.  Even today, she continues to attend seminars at the Women's Business Center at Canisius College and can be seen at Chamber workshops, networking events and Emerging Business Leaders' programs.

"Keep in constant pursuit of your dreams, goals and vision," advised Shandra.  "Hard work will pay off."

With no shortage of hard work at S&W, Shandra looks forward to expanding commercial construction projects and making the company's presence known in the LEED building niche.  For more information on Shandra and S&W, log on to www.sw-contracting.com.