Carl Wilson Brings Client Perspective, North Carolina Experience to Freese and Nichols
After 30 years helping lead one of North Carolina’s largest water utilities, Carl Wilson, PE, knows the decisions utility leaders face because he has made them himself.
As Freese and Nichols’ new North Carolina Operations and Growth Leader, Carl brings that client perspective to a role focused on serving communities, developing leaders and supporting the firm’s growth in the state and across the Southeast.
Carl spent his career at Charlotte Water, advancing from engineering assistant to deputy director with responsibilities across engineering, operations, capital delivery and organizational leadership. Most recently, he helped oversee the utility’s more than $300 million annual Capital Investment Plan.
Utility leaders must balance technical considerations with budgets, community priorities, political realities, staffing and the responsibility to provide reliable service while planning for the future. With decades of personal experience, Carl understands how those factors shape decisions.
“Things aren’t always as straight-forward as solving an engineering equation,” Carl said. “There are sometimes other issues to consider such as political ramifications and budgetary constraints.”
His perspective will help Freese and Nichols serve utilities across the region as they manage growth, affordability, aging infrastructure, access to water and competition for talented people.
“Having been on that other side really helps us from a strategic position to better serve our clients,” said Bryan Jann, Freese and Nichols Assistant Division Manager. “Carl can help us understand what our clients are thinking and what we need to be thinking about to serve them better.”
Carl believes good relationships start by listening, recognizing what’s working and building from there.
“It’s more about trying to help them understand what their blind spots are,” Carl said. “You talk about the good things they’re doing, and then you start asking, ‘Have you thought about this? How do you keep up with what you already have? How can you get ahead of that?’ That’s where we can come in and help.”
Investing in North Carolina and the Southeast
Carl’s hire reflects Freese and Nichols’ continued investment in North Carolina and the Southeast as the firm continues to grow alongside the communities and clients it serves.
His career with Charlotte Water, master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and longstanding relationships across the utility community give Carl a deep understanding of the state and its infrastructure needs. He also serves on the North Carolina 811 Board of Directors and previously served as a trustee for North Carolina One Water.
Investing in People
As a longtime mentor, Carl will play an important role in coaching emerging leaders at Freese and Nichols.
“I’ve been fortunate to help mentor people throughout my career, and I take that responsibility very seriously,” Carl said. “It’s something I think we need to do more of throughout our profession.”
That commitment has defined Carl’s approach to leadership. When asked what he was most proud of throughout his career, he did not name a project or capital program. He talked about the people he had helped develop into better engineers and leaders.
For Carl, investing in people is integral to investing in the region. His leadership will help Freese and Nichols develop the next generation of professionals who understand the challenges facing North Carolina and Southeast U.S. communities and are prepared to help clients address them.