By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com
Carter-Lambert Divisions LLC is a small, Black veteran-owned business that’s focused on uplifting other small businesses. Based in Waldorf, Md., the business has been around since 2006, and in its 18 years it’s made some huge impacts with its community-first mindset. Founder and owner, Charles Lambert explained what sets his company apart from others, the driving force to keep his business going and what’s most important to him as a Black business owner.
CREDIT: Photo Courtesy of Carter-Lambert Divisions LLC
AFRO: Your organization offers a lot of different services and prides itself on helping small businesses. If you had to pinpoint it, what kind of business would you say Carter-Lambert Divisions LLC is ?
CL: Carter-Lambert is a small business itself–we just think big. Carter-Lambert provides information technology services, cybersecurity, logistics–and when I say logistics it’s the full scope logistics. We provide people trucking, warehousing, supplies … we help with supply training. During the pandemic we were providing masks and we bought and sold several items to multiple agencies and states and that gave us a chance to stretch our focus into other states that we are still dealing with now. Although we wear many hats, I’d call us an IT-logistics company.
AFRO: What are some of the things you’ve accomplished since your founding?
CL: Well, first and foremost, we’re still in business, through all the challenges that have gone on from 2006 to present day. We are blessed to be in business. That’s my first accomplishment. My second accomplishment is that we are still supporting other businesses as we did when we first started. My next accomplishment is now having partners. I’m not that sole proprietor like I was when I first got started. Bringing on two more people to be owners of Carter-Lambert has enabled us to continue flourishing and growing. The sheer fact that we can use the resources from Carter-Lambert and create a nonprofit setting where we could provide something to help children
Currently we are implementing our cyber training so we can train some of the high school students that are graduating and may not want to go to college. We are giving them their first step to what they can be in the marketplace. When they come to us we do the assessment and we put them into a training program, whether it is with some labor union or some of the junior colleges where they can learn a trade if they choose not to go to college. It’s my dream of continuing that support to community.
AFRO: What has been your greatest challenge as a business owner?
CL: One of our greatest challenges has always been funding. For several years, I personally financed the company, and my partners have also invested through personal funding. Now, we have a bank that believes in our vision and is stepping in to support us.
Securing business has never been an issue. Carter-Lambert was built on a foundation of strong relationships. However, our main challenge has been accessing funding quickly enough to support our growth. At times, we’ve had to stretch plans over several years, but ultimately, it all comes down to having the necessary funds available to put our growth into action.
AFRO: What sits at the center of your company’s mission?
CL: Supporting the community sits at the center of our mission. I’ll keep going back to my dream work which is rooted in ‘What can I do to assist someone else to get ahead ?’ Everything I do in that format keeps making this experience greater for me.
AFRO: What are some of your five year goals for your company ?
CL: My five-year goal is to call it a day. I want to finally sell off Carter-Lambert all the while to see it grow—however I won’t be a part of it.
My goal for this year specially is to see my community eye wear program get off the ground and watch it be totally successful. We’ve spoken with some community leaders and they’re interested in supporting us. I’ve spoken with other businesses and families in the community and we’re focused on how we can grow the program because it’s all about giving back.
I’m also hoping to continue my growth in the government sector as well.
AFRO: What sets your company apart from competing businesses ?
CL: I think our drive sets us apart. We’ve been in business for 18 years, and it has been the challenges in this field from the recession to now that have continued to fuel us. We’re different and most importantly we’re not ashamed to say that God is pushing us. We are faith based and as long as I’m leading, it’s going to stay that way. Our difference is we don’t give up. We don’t quit, no matter how hard it gets.
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