2025 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Zach Frese, C.M., ACE, ENV SP

• Hometown: Granite Bay, CA
• Alma Mater: Sacramento State University
• What’s one airport that inspires you? SAN

Zach Frese has built his career at the intersection of aviation, sustainability, and community impact. As Senior Airport Planner for the Sacramento County Department of Airports (SCDA), he plays a central role in shaping the environmental future of four airports in the system: Sacramento International, Mather, Sacramento Executive, and Franklin Field. His work ensures these facilities grow responsibly while minimizing their environmental footprint—a mission that has defined his professional path.

Frese began his career at SCDA as an Environmental Specialist, where his diligence and high-caliber results quickly earned him a reputation for leadership and innovation. Within just three years, he made the rare transition into the Airport Planner track, and three years later he was promoted again to Senior Airport Planner. This rapid rise reflects both his technical expertise and his ability to build trust across teams, agencies, and communities.

Among his key accomplishments, he was the lead contributor to the Department’s Energy Management Plan, which projected an upcoming campuswide electrical shortage and spurred investments in renewable infrastructure such as rooftop solar capable of generating up to three megawatts of clean power. He also managed the Sustainability Management Plan for Sacramento International, positioning the airport to meet critical facility energy needs with clean energy in the event of a grid disruption. Most recently, he delivered the FAA environmental assessment for the SMF/WattEV Commercial Charging Center, the largest truck charging facility in the country, ahead of schedule and within a compressed timeline to secure $30 million in grant funding.

Frese is active in ACI-NA and AAAE, chairs the California Airports Council Environmental Working Group, and is a certified Envision Sustainability Professional. Colleagues know him for his integrity, curiosity, and collaborative style, and his influence continues to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for aviation.