Karen Friese is President of K. Friese Consulting, LLC and is a member of the Board of Directors of HW Lochner, a trusted infrastructure services provider serving aviation, surface transportation, and water clients across the U.S. She brings decades of experience in leading and growing engineering firms, including 20 years at the helm of her own company, before joining the Lochner family of companies. Karen has been deeply engaged with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), serving as Chair at the State level, Vice-Chair of the Planning Cabinet, and Chair of the Small Firms Council. In addition, she currently serves as Secretary of the Texas Professional Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Karen holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and remains a proud advocate of advancing the profession and supporting the next generation of engineers.