Southeast Cherokee Construction

The company, which does grading, site preparation and paving projects for public and private contracts and constructs buildings for defense contracts, employs 73 people.

Carter said her company was no overnight success, but was built with slow, controlled growth.

It is a company she learned to run somewhat on the fly, she said. She took control of the firm when her mother, company founder Jean Matthews, died in 1987.

Carter was then just two years out of college and was doing clerical work for the firm, which opened in 1985.

She faced not only learning on the job, but being the only female to own an area government contractor firm. She overcame both obstacles, and the business has become a success. She said there is no secret to that success.

"It is an accumulation of hard work, persistence and a lot of dedicated employees," she said.

Carter also turned regularly to the Troy University Small Business Development Center for help in getting past rough spots.

The Troy SBDC was impressed enough to nominate Carter for the honor.

Sandra Lucas, who helped Carter at the SBDC, said Southeast Cherokee went beyond the requirements for nomination.

She said the companies are judged on number of years in business, growth in employment, increased sales, innovation, response to adversity and community contributions.

Carter excelled in every area, she said.

Lucas pointed to employment.

Southeast Cherokee started with about a dozen employees. Now it has 73 spread across three states.

Carter said 55 of those workers are based in the Montgomery area, where the company does most of its site preparation work.

She was honored at a reception Wednesday at the Wetumpka Civic Center.

Wetumpka Mayor Jo Glenn and Prattville Mayor Jim Byard said her company provided great service on projects in those cities.

Carter, asked about favorite projects her company has done, pointed to a pair of them in Montgomery.

"We did all the foundation for Gateway Park," she said of the recreation complex near Interstate 65.

"We also did the site preparation for EastChase, where Costco is."

Carter said she wants to one day be able to pass on the company she inherited from her mother to her four children.

Sons Jason and Brent already work at the company. Daughter Jessie Stubbs is at Auburn, and younger daughter Alex is still in high school.

"I hope we can keep it a family business," she said.