Frazier has a passion for making a difference in his community and beyond.
It's a passion that has earned him respect throughout the Pittsburgh region and across the country for his business and civic leadership, philanthropic efforts and more.
But it's his work with The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), an initiative he started in 2016 to promote Black executive leadership in the Pittsburgh region, that has earned him the prestigious Patricia R. Rooney Community Impact Award, given to leaders who have produced successful organizational initiatives in response to a significant contemporary problem.
"What an honor it is to be recognized by The Ireland Fund to receive the Patricia Rooney Community Service Award," said Frazier, the President and CEO of TALI. "I had the opportunity to meet Pat on numerous occasions and remember how amazing, humble, and genuine she was as a person.
"She was also someone who demonstrated community leadership each and every day. She truly embodied the Rooney spirit of giving with everything that she did.
"For me, it was her warm smile, remembering my name, her encouragement, and the example she set as a community leader are the things that I miss most about her. So, to receive an award in the name of Pat Rooney is one of the highest honors that I can imagine and one that I will be grateful for throughout my life."
TALI was born out of Frazier's passion and vision to fill a void in the area of Black executives in Pittsburgh's C-suite roles. The organization worked with Carnegie Mellon to create an executive leadership academy to educate, develop, connect, and position Black leaders for meaningful advancement in corporate and community roles.
The organization's mission is to cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities by providing organizations with a unique solution for retaining, supporting, and nurturing high-potential talent.
In an effort to uphold the mission, TALI added the Emerging Leaders Program in 2021 and expanded its focus to address the needs of Black senior level managers from across the country with the introduction of the National Executive Leadership Academy in 2023. With an emphasis on top-tier academic instruction, executive coaching, mentorship and peer collaboration across the portfolio of leadership development programs, TALI demonstrates a commitment to advancing the role and contributions of Black leaders.
While TALI has become a thriving non-profit for Frazier, it's also about giving from the heart and being a part of a community that gives back and looks out for each other.
"I believe community service is at the heart of being successful and it's what we all should be striving to do," said Frazier. "I believe that if you are blessed in life, you have a responsibility to be a blessing to others. I learned this from my parents, my faith, and leaders like Dan and Pat Rooney who demonstrated this in their daily lives.
"My personal vision is to make a positive impact in the lives of millions, starting with my family. Whether I achieve this in letter or only in spirit, it motivates me to do my best, to be my best, to support my family, to be compassionate to others, and to demonstrate leadership in a way that can inspire people to reach higher and further to achieve their goals while helping those in need, which can be anyone.
"True community service is not always comfortable or convenient. It requires some level of personal risk and selfless sacrifice. I believe that God calls all of us in our own unique ways to community service and throughout my life I will continue to strive to fulfill my full purpose in His eyes."
Prior to his time at TALI, Frazier was senior vice president of Community Affairs at Highmark Health, CEO of the Hill House Association, vice president in Strategic Planning and Finance Communications at PNC Financial Services Group; senior vice president at the Manchester Bidwell Corporation and director of Community Relations for Eat'n Park Restaurants.
Frazier earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, a master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Public Policy and Management and completed the Wharton Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served on the board of more than 30 organizations, including Dollar Bank & Dollar Mutual Bancorp's board of directors, and is currently a Life Trustee for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.
Among the honors he has won are the President's Volunteer Service Award from The White House in 2015 and he was selected as one of 2020's Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America by Savoy magazine.
"Evan is one of a kind," said Jeff Broadhurst, CEO of Eat'n Park Hospitality Group. "The scope and depth of his impact is significant. Although he is soft-spoken, his impact is loud. Everything he touches is made better through his efforts including business, nonprofits, communities and the people whose lives he has enriched through his time, care and mentorship."