Friede & Associates is pleased to announce that Carole Schaeffer has joined the Friede Team as Vice President of Business Development. Schaeffer will be responsible for overseeing business development and executing on our expanding presence in the Madison, Wisconsin market.

A 15-year-industry veteran, Schaeffer has distinguished herself as a passionate advocate for the real estate and construction industry in the Greater Madison area. She began her career working as an Executive Budget and Policy Analyst and a Legislative Aide. In 2005, Schaeffer was named Executive Director of Smart Growth Greater Madison where she lobbied for the real estate development industry on issues such as tax incremental finance, planning, and zoning. She moved on to become the Vice President of Business Development for the Madison market for one of the largest general contractors in the Midwest. Schaeffer also operated Schaeffer Consulting, a municipal consulting practice, that worked with “the process,”— assisting clients to help them successfully navigate their policies and bring their projects to fruition. She has worked on projects including office, entertainment, community, student-oriented housing, and mixed use while in these roles. 

“We are thrilled to have Carole on our team,” says Scott Truehl, Executive Vice President and Partner at Friede & Associates. “Her background includes so much more than business development. With her extensive regulatory and policy experience, we expect our Madison area projects will move through the regulatory process more smoothly.”

Schaeffer is an active member of the Madison community, serving as a member of many local organizations. She has been a long-time member serving on the Boards of Directors for Downtown Madison Inc., the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, Salvation Army, and NAIOP, a commercial real estate development association. In 2018, she co-founded the Madison Downtowners, a group focused on supporting downtown Madison through social and educational opportunities.

“I am thrilled to join the team at Friede & Associates,” says Schaeffer. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to expand the portfolio of projects here in the Madison region.” 

Schaeffer enjoys writing and is a guest blogger for InBusiness magazine, a publication that has recognized her as one of the 40 under 40 and Top 5 Women in Economic Development. Schaeffer was also the inaugural recipient of the 25 Most Influential Madison Area People. When not event planning or volunteering, Carole enjoys playing the piano, all things musical, reading voraciously, and getting out on the water. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University – Mequon with a concentration in history and political science, and a Masters of Public Administration from the LaFollette Institute of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. She has recently completed her certificates from NAIOP in Construction Management for Owners and Developers, and the Essentials of Real Estate Development.