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By Sonja Mack | Published February 10, 2012 | Full size is 621 × 480 pixels

Sundra L. Ryce, 37 President & CEO SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc. Instead of joining the family construction business after college, Ryce, with her parents’ blessing, started her own venture. She operates Buffalo, New York-based SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc. (No. 87 on the BE Industrial/Service Companies list with $28.8 million in revenues), a general contracting firm that provides construction, construction management, and design-build services throughout New York and neighboring states. SLR was recently involved in high-profile projects such as the $8.2 million construction of a dental clinic for the Army Corps of Engineers and a roughly $50 million construction deal for the Buffalo Public Schools. Last year, Buffalo Business First magazine named SLR among Western New York’s top 10 general contractors. And the New York State Executive Chamber honored Ryce with the Woman of Distinction Award, an annual honor bestowed to outstanding area businesswomen. For Ryce, who grew the three-person operation into a thriving company with 30 employees, entrepreneurship was her calling. “My parents are entrepreneurs; my father started his construction company when I was 8 years old. I started my construction company in 1996. It was just a natural progression.” Dream vacation: San Tropez Dream car: "I love the Bentley Coupe GT. I love that car." Phone: iPhone Laptop: HP Other tech tools: "I love my iPad 2. I use it all the time, more than my laptop. It’s really convenient." Favorite store: David Yurman Favorite beverage: Peach tea

Sundra L. Ryce, 37

President & CEO

SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc.

Instead of joining the family…