Karen Friese

I am proud to announce that I have retired from my corporate role as a Senior Vice President and Water Practice Leader of HW Lochner, an Egis Company. I remain a Lochner Board member and still look forward to supporting the growth of this amazing company. Prior to our merger with Lochner, I was President and founder of K Friese + Associates (KFA) and led the growth and dynamic culture of our 100+ team member consulting firm from 2003 until I merger 2023. Based in Austin, Texas, with additional offices in Round Rock, Houston, and San Antonio, we offered our public sector clients throughout the State award winning engineering and planning expertise. I currently serve as Secretary on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and am an incoming ACEC Vice Chair. Previously, I have served as Chair of ACEC Texas and the ACEC National Small Firms Council. An active supporter of developing women engineers in leadership positions, I am a founding member of the ACEC Women in Leadership Group. Non-profit affliations include President of the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), and board member of Austin Chamber of Commerce and I Live Here I Give Here, A graduate of Leadership Austin, my civic engagement includes appointments to a number of Boards and Commissions for the City of Austin including the Water and Wastewater Commission, the City of Austin Bond Oversight Committee, the 2010 Austin Transportation Bond Citizen Task Force and the 2011 Austin Energy Public Involvement Committee.