Celebrating Black Excellence: The Journey of Steven Frieson
We’re kicking off Black History Month by putting the spotlight on our talented Chief Operating Officer, Steven Frieson. With more than 40 years of experience, from bikeways to freeways, we had a chance to chat with him and hear about his incredible professional journey.
In the lively sprawl of 1970’s Southern California, where the steady buzz of freeways and the rhythmic beats of construction orchestrate the cityscape, Alta Chief Operating Officer Steven Frieson kicked off an exhilarating professional adventure propelled by inspiration and unwavering determination.
Born into a family of five in Santa Ana, CA, Frieson’s pivotal moment occurred during a family trip to UCLA one summer to participate in a study.
“I sat in the back seat of my parents’ station wagon while driving up the 405 [freeway] and looked out the window and saw all this construction, all these bridges being built,” said Frieson. “And I thought to myself, that’s something that I really, really want to do. I want to be the person who creates those roads, the person who creates those interchanges.”
With a desire to become an engineer but a lack of substantial knowledge about the field, Frieson found an unexpected source of guidance in his father. His father, Wyatt Frieson, Orange County’s first Black planning commissioner, introduced him to Jack Hall, one of the minds behind the engineering firm Hall and Foreman. This led to Frieson’s introduction to the world of engineering, marking the beginning of his professional journey. However, as an African American teenager in the engineering field, Frieson faced challenges beyond the technical aspects.
Recalling a moment when he misspelled “site” on a drawing, Frieson highlighted the uncomfortable experience of being talked about derogatorily by his white colleagues.
“It was 1976 — I was 16!, and one of the things that happened right off the bat helped shape my future resolve,” said Frieson. “I was given this set of plans to draft, and one of them was a site plan. It’s spelled s-i-t-e. But I spelled it wrong on the drawing. I spelled it c-i-t-e. As I’m sitting there, these middle-aged white men stood in front of my desk like I wasn’t there. They talked about me like I had a tail, wondering how I could do such a stupid thing. Mr. Hall walked over, listened for a minute, then stood up for me, saying ‘we all make mistakes. Let him fix it.’”
This encounter left a lasting mark on Frieson, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and not succumbing emotionally to the judgment of others.
Frieson’s perseverance continued during his time at Stanford University, where he was the only black Civil Engineering student in his class, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance as he often studied by himself. This quality became a cornerstone of his professional career as he dedicated his life to working as an engineer in Southern California.
After spending the first years of his career in Illinois and New Jersey, Frieson eventually relocated to Orange County, California for work, securing a position with a local consulting firm. His dedication to a particular project pursuit garnered praise from an impressed client:
“The reason why you’re getting this work is because of Steve,” the client said.
Rather than celebrating, Frieson received unsettling news from his superior, the office manager, on the way back to the office from the client meeting: he would not be leading or working on the project. This incident left a lasting impact on Frieson, who had worked diligently to secure the project. The setback escalated when, a week later, he was invited to a project manager meeting by the same office manager where lunch was provided for everyone except him.
Nevertheless, Frieson’s talent and determination remained unwavering. Instead of seeing the treatment as a roadblock, he perceived it as an opportunity to move onward and upward. This marked the beginning of a remarkable professional journey that saw Frieson ascend through various senior management positions to eventually establish his own company. His career not only extended in duration but also flourished in prominence. The following chapter in his professional life brought him to the dynamic and ambitious environment of Alta.
“I saw an opportunity to help Alta,” said Frieson. “I wrote a manifesto. I wrote about all the things I saw and buttoned it up by suggesting that Alta needed a Chief Operating Officer and that I could be that for them. Alta gave me that opportunity.”
Frieson, working closely with Alta CEO Brett Hondorp, shifted the landscape of Alta forever, setting up a more effective organizational structure and running the day-to-day operations of the company more profitably. When asked about his past experiences compared to Alta, Frieson shared that he was pleasantly surprised at the culture.
“I’m in an environment that allowed me to step in and really contribute,” said Frieson. “I have found a place where I enjoy the people I work with. Plus, we’re not traditional engineers, you know? We’re trying to save the planet. That’s a good thing.”
Aside from serving communities through Alta, Frieson also serves as a mentor to Alta staff. He regards the opportunities to “pay it forward” as some of the proudest moments of his career. And yet, even with all the obstacles Frieson faced in his career — racial bias, both overt and passive — he still looks ahead and offers a strong word to young Black professionals who are carving their way in a relentless environment.
“When you perform, it shouldn’t necessarily be to seek validation from others. It’s about doing the best job you know you can do,” Frieson said. “You may still lose in the competition, but did you try? Did you do your best?”
Frieson cautions against the pursuit of perfection, emphasizing that true success lies in knowing you put forth your utmost effort. Drawing inspiration from Colonel Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew a jet at the age of 100, Frieson encourages perseverance through challenges, criticism, and ignorance.
“There will be people who will challenge you. They’ll look at you like you have three eyes,” he said. “Perceive what you want to achieve; learn your craft; perform to the best of your ability, and persevere, even when there are obstacles in your way.”
