Board Member Biography
Karen A. Friese, P.E.
Karen A. Friese, P.E., is a Senior Vice President with H.W. Lochner, a civil engineering and planning
consulting firm serving clients nationwide. Prior to merging her firm, K Friese + Associates (KFA) with HW. Lochner in 2023,
Friese was President and CEO of KFA, since it was established in 2003 in Austin, Texas. KFA also provided civil engineering
and planning services throughout Texas, specializing in a wide range of aviation, drainage, transportation, municipal
infrastructure, and regional water and wastewater projects.
Friese is an active member of the community, participating in professional, civic, and non-profit organizations. As a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), she has served as Chair of ACEC Texas, Chair of the ACEC National Small Firms Council, and a founding member of the ACEC Women in Leadership Group. Locally, Friese has served as Chair of the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO) and as a board member of the Austin Chamber and the local nonprofit I Live Here I Give Here. She is also a member of the Junior League of Austin and a graduate of Leadership Austin. Friese has served the City of Austin through several commission appointments including the Austin Water and Wastewater Commission and an Austin Bond Oversight Committee.