Meet Shenika Carter | Co-CEO & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shenika Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shenika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I decided to walk away completely from Corporate America in 2011 after years of being overlooked, underpaid and not valued. Starting a business takes faith and courage and believing in yourself more than imaginable.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Carter Truck Driving Academy is the only Black Owned and Operated Truck Driving School in the State of Colorado and in the United States of America that offer a one stop shop from CDL Prep to Training to Testing and then Career Placement. We have trained the most diverse group of students from more than 42 countries and over 20 different languages. As we approach our 1 year Anniversary, our biggest challenge has been growth and securing a location big enough to be our main Corporate Headquarters. We have two locations at the moment but our goals is to have our office, classroom, training center, testing center, maintenance repair shop, and Truck Wash on one campus. I want the world to know that we are committed to diversity in Trucking. We welcome everyone to the industry and want this experience to be unlike never before. Prior to the pandemic, the world had no clue how essential Truck Drivers were and now people from all over the globe are taking interest.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Denver is a city for outdoor lovers and most of my friends are not into hiking or skiing. My ideal weekend with friends would be full of pampering. It would include a massage at Brown Palace, Brunch at Four Friends Kitchen, and then a relaxing evening in the Hot Springs. After a day of pampering, we would head over to the Black Hawk Casinos to enjoy drinks & fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My spouse, life partner, business partner, and best-friend Matthew Carter has never told me “No”. and is my inspiration for never giving up. In this life of Entrepreneurship. With the seed that was planted by Shana Shaw of Compound of Compassion to ask Matthew if he could train some folks in her program. I had a vision of a not only training her participants but bringing more people of color and more women into the trucking industry. My vision included training to obtain a CDL which could ultimately release folks from poverty. It also included offering a program at an affordable rate and raising money from community to ensure no one would be turned away due to financial restraints. After discussing this with Matthew, he quit his job 2 weeks later and help me to turn this vision into a reality.

Website: https://www.cartertruckdrivingacademy.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teachmetodrivetrucks/