Todd Frederick Of FreMarq Innovations: 5 Things We Must Do To Inspire The Next Generation About Sustainability And The Environment
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Plant something and watch it grow. We planted trees when our son was five years old. Now he’s 29 years old, and those trees are 20 feet tall.
As a part of my series about what we must do to inspire the next generation about sustainability and the environment, I had the pleasure of interviewing Todd Frederick.
Todd Frederick is the Owner and President of FreMarq Innovations. FreMarq Innovations, based in Merrill, Wisconsin, is an innovative architectural framing company founded in 2016 to develop energy-efficient curtain walls and windows with performance that was previously deemed “impossible.” Not only did Todd engineer and patent their technology, but also made it available to all architects and building owners at an affordable price — and he did it in less than six years. Todd has nearly 40 years of experience in the industry and has engineered some very complicated projects. He has passed this experience on to his staff of in-house engineers and project managers, making sure they understand the importance of quality and customer service. FreMarq Innovations exists to bring about the change in design and construction of high-performance buildings with zero negative consequences — reducing carbon emissions through the use of FreMarq’s Zero•Net™ fenestration solutions. https://fremarqinnovations.com/
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was born and raised in the small central Wisconsin town of Merrill. My father was a truck driver, and my mother worked in retail. From an early age, my father instilled a strong work ethic and taught me how to use my hands and mind to make repairs. Whether it was an engine, transmission, roof, or bird feeder, we would work together to make things new again. Very seldom did we ever buy anything new.
Was there an “aha moment” or a specific trigger that made you decide you wanted to become a scientist or environmental leader? Can you share that story with us?
Living in a rural area, you are always close to nature, and I have always enjoyed being outside, fishing, hiking, and even working on a farm. But over the past ten years, I have closely watched environmental events such as wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other severe storms. I have realized that the effects of climate change are real and impact people’s lives worldwide. If I had an “aha moment,” it was when my granddaughter was born, and I knew I had to do something to make the world a better and safer place for her and generations to come.
Is there a lesson you can take out of your own story that can exemplify what can inspire a young person to become an environmental leader?
Do not wait to make a difference. Every day matters. Every change we make, no matter the size, will impact climate change. Use paper instead of plastic, plant a tree, plant a garden, and drive a little less; all of these will make a difference.
Can you tell our readers about the initiatives you or your company are taking to address climate change or sustainability? Can you give an example for each?
We provide lunch for our employees every day. We have eliminated plastic cups and utensils and provided all our employees with plastic-free cups and mugs that we wash every night. We have raised a garden for the past several years that produces vegetables for our lunches, and we are making plans to install solar panels on the roof of our factory that will provide up to 70% of our energy needs.
Can you share three lifestyle tweaks the general public can make to be more sustainable or help address the climate change challenge?
Small changes can make an enormous impact over time. When possible, walk instead of driving. Bring your own cloth bags to the store. Choose paper instead of plastic. Bring lunch to work instead of getting take-out.
Plant a garden. This can be a window box for herbs or a large garden with a variety of vegetables.
Watch what we purchase. I always ask myself, “Do I really need this?” If I do, I also look for a locally made version of that item.
The youth-led climate strikes of September 2019 showed an impressive degree of activism and initiative by young people on behalf of climate change. This was great, and plenty still needs to be done. In your opinion, what are five things parents should do to inspire the next generation to become more engaged in sustainability and the environmental movement? Please give a story or an example for each.
Recycle at home and explain to your children why it’s important.
Be creative and repurpose items rather than throw them away.
Take care of the things you have so they will last. We have over 200,000 miles on a vehicle that is ten years old, and we plan to keep it for another 100,000 miles.
Plant something and watch it grow. We planted trees when our son was five years old. Now he’s 29 years old, and those trees are 20 feet tall.
Have fun doing all of these things. We did these as a family and created memories. It was not work being sustainable; it was fun.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Sustainability and developing innovative solutions to our climate problem are more and more desirable to employees, which will translate into retaining and attracting more employees. With the labor market as tight as it is, this can save money on recruitment and training fees.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person you are grateful to who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
The one person I am grateful for is my wife of 33 years, Renea. She has inspired me and pushed me to not only be creative in what I do but to become a better person. It might sound cliché, but she has been there through all the good times and bad. She has been my rock; without her knowledge and support, FreMarq would not be here today. We have worked side by side for 26 years. Our successes could not have been accomplished without her.
You are a person of great influence and doing some amazing things for the world! If you could inspire a movement that would bring the greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be?
You never know what your idea can trigger. I believe we at FreMarq have already developed what can provide the greatest amount of good. We provide the greatest energy-efficient window systems for commercial and monumental buildings. Our products can reduce the carbon emissions of a building by as much as 40% while reducing energy consumption by the same amount. We have developed this over the past five years, and it is readily available today! With buildings accounting for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, this technology can impact climate change literally overnight.
Do you have a favorite life lesson quote? Can you tell us how it is relevant to you in your own life?
“Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today.” I have learned that life is too short to procrastinate. We must make an impact on the climate now, not tomorrow.
What is the best way for people to follow you on social media?
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremarq-innovations/.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreMarqInnovations/.
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/fremarq.
You can also visit our website: https://fremarqinnovations.com/.
This was so inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Todd Frederick Of FreMarq Innovations: 5 Things We Must Do To Inspire The Next Generation About… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.