As Principal at S. Llewellyn & Associates Ltd. and Treasurer of the West End Home Builders’ Association, Steven Frankovich brings decades of engineering and development experience to the table. Over the course of his career, he has worked across consulting, land development, and infrastructure, building a reputation for technical expertise, mentorship, and thoughtful leadership within the industry.
Like many engineers, Steven’s introduction to the field began naturally through his education. “Graduating as a civil engineer leads you into a few different streams,” he explained, noting that land development and municipal work quickly became the path that drew his interest. Early roles exposed him to both consulting and development environments, and he soon discovered that the nature of the work itself was what kept him engaged.
One of the most formative experiences of Steven’s early career came shortly after graduating. In the early 1990s, he spent nearly two years in Croatia working on a major development project involving a multi-level underground parking structure and commercial space beneath a city park. At the time Croatia was newly independent and undergoing significant change, making the experience both professionally challenging and personally meaningful.
Looking back, Steven still sees that opportunity as a defining moment. At that stage in life, he said, “you don’t have family obligations or financial pressures yet, so you take off,” describing the experience as one of the best learning experiences of his career.
Living and working abroad also exposed him to different ways of doing business and collaborating with people. The experience pushed Steven outside his comfort zone and strengthened his appreciation for communication, mentorship, and learning from those around him.
Those lessons carried forward as Steven progressed through several engineering firms before helping shape the direction of S. Llewellyn & Associates. Throughout his career he paid close attention to the types of workplaces he experienced, noting both what worked well and what did not. “Over the years I worked at different consulting firms, I looked at what I liked and what I didn’t like,” he said, noting that both are equally important when shaping the kind of workplace and career you want to build. When the opportunity came to help guide the culture of the firm, those observations became a foundation for how he approached leadership.
“Being able to create the space and the work culture is extremely important,” Steven said, explaining that strong environments allow people not only to perform well but to build meaningful careers.
Today his role at S. Llewellyn & Associates is both strategic and collaborative. A typical day might involve solving problems across multiple projects, mentoring staff, supporting clients, and guiding the next generation of leadership within the company. Recently the firm began a succession process introducing a new generation of ownership, a transition Steven finds particularly rewarding. As he explained, “leadership and mentorship become more important than focusing on the individual job itself” as his career evolves.
Steven believes strongly in the importance of building a solid technical foundation early in a career, particularly in fields like engineering and development where decisions carry long-term impact.
“If you develop that foundation of knowledge, nobody can take it away from you,” he said, emphasizing that the experience professionals gain early on will stay with them regardless of where their career leads. He often encourages younger engineers to take the time to learn the technical side of their work thoroughly before rushing toward management roles.
Career paths, Steven believes, should also be intentional. Rather than simply following opportunities as they arise, professionals benefit from thinking carefully about the type of environment where they will thrive. “You have to figure out what kind of environment you fit best into,” he said. Larger organizations may offer scale and structure, while smaller firms can provide greater opportunities to shape direction and contribute directly to decision making.
Transparency has also been a consistent principle in how Steven approaches leadership. Whether working with staff, clients, or colleagues, he believes honesty and accountability are essential to building trust. “Always be as transparent as you can,” he said, noting that acknowledging mistakes and learning from them ultimately strengthens teams and organizations.
That philosophy has helped shape a collaborative culture within his organization, where questions are encouraged and mentorship plays an active role in daily work. Steven describes his leadership style as open and accessible, noting that many of the most valuable learning moments happen through conversations and shared problem solving.
Beyond his work in consulting, Steven has maintained a long-standing connection to the West End Home Builders’ Association. His involvement began through participation in Development Council discussions before he later served as co-chair and eventually joined the WE HBA board, where he is now the longest-standing member.
Over time that involvement has provided him with a broader perspective on the housing industry and the challenges facing the sector. It has also created opportunities to learn from developers, planners, builders, and other professionals across the region. As Steven put it, much of that learning comes from simply being willing to listen. “You learn a lot by listening,” he said.
For Steven, that exchange of experience is one of the most valuable aspects of industry participation. The boardroom provides a space where professionals from different backgrounds can share insights, challenge assumptions, and work collaboratively toward solutions that strengthen the broader housing sector.
He also believes that WE HBA plays an important role in professional growth. “It’s a great avenue to expose yourself to your peers in the industry, to the developers and people that are part of the same overall team,” he said. “We have builders, we have renovators, we have developers, and having everybody involved helps you learn more about the industry, not just fixated on your day-to-day. It definitely opens your eyes to what’s happening in the industry as a whole.”
Having spent many years around the WE HBA board table, Steven has seen the organization evolve significantly. He points to a growing level of focus, collaboration, and advocacy work that continues to strengthen the association’s impact. In his view, the current board is knowledgeable and energized, bringing a strong mix of experience and fresh perspective to the work ahead.
After decades in the industry, Steven continues to bring both experience and perspective to the work around him. Whether mentoring younger professionals, contributing to conversations at the WE HBA board table, or helping guide the next generation of leadership at S. Llewellyn & Associates, he remains focused on strengthening the industry he has spent his career helping build.
