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It’s no surprise the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) brought Brent Alfred in-house in 2021. The current chief construction officer has been a consulting partner, program and project manager, design manager, and assorted other titles specializing in school bonds since 2008.
Over a decade at Dikita Enterprises, Alfred worked on multimillion-dollar projects and billion-dollar bond programs. He became such an indispensable member of his community that going in-house made too much sense to pass up.
“I’m a kid from Louisiana who always dreamed of building something greater than myself,” Alfred says. “When I moved to Dallas after graduation, I didn’t have much, but I knew I wanted to earn my place in this industry. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who saw my potential and teams who trusted me to lead alongside them. From sleeping on a friend’s couch to managing billion-dollar programs, this journey has been shaped by the people who believed in me.”
Alfred landed his first role at a five-person architectural firm specializing in retail design. It’s there where he learned to execute quickly, be flexible, and roll with the punches. Yet as he adjusted, he realized the pace wasn’t quite fast enough for him.
“I knew early on that I wanted to make a greater impact, which led me to pursue opportunities with larger firms working on municipal projects,” Alfred recalls. “Taking on diverse roles, from schools to post offices to homes, gave me a strong foundation in problem-solving and collaboration. When the first major bond programs began, I saw it as a chance to combine my skills with my passion for projects that serve communities.
“In 2008, I stepped into my first role as a project manager for a bond program,” he continues. “It was a turning point, not just because of the scope of the work but because of the incredible people I learned from. The collaboration between stakeholders, the expertise of the client and the teams, and the dedication to completing these projects taught me that success in this field is never achieved alone. It’s always about the team.”
“I always knew I wanted to leave a meaningful impact, but it wasn’t until I began working on school projects that I discovered my true passion: creating spaces where students can thrive and communities can grow.”
Brent Alfred
Initially, Alfred says he saw the bond programs as a way to gain valuable experience but quickly realized their potential to transform communities. The opportunities he found to support this mission kept on coming.
“In 2020, they passed a $3.5 billion program, the largest in the history of Texas, and I was very honored that I was asked to come lead and run it,” Alfred says. “My reputation and work had earned me the offer, and it meant a lot to be asked.”
The chief construction officer says working in education wasn’t his original goal, but the move makes sense. When Alfred’s mother—a schoolteacher who dedicated her own life to the education of others—passed away in 2020, he spent a lot of time thinking about the woman who raised him. As Alfred prepared his mother’s eulogy, he realized that his mother was the first educator in her family, but not the last.
“I look back at all of the cousins and family who went into education after my mother. It feels like a little bit of divine guidance at this point in my career that I’m working in education,” Alfred says. “I always knew I wanted to leave a meaningful impact, but it wasn’t until I began working on school projects that I discovered my true passion: creating spaces where students can thrive and communities can grow. Every project is an opportunity to contribute to something larger than myself, which is deeply rewarding.”
There are the obvious signs of progress: the buildings and facilities that Alfred helps bring to life. But there are other signs that are just as important. Just a few short years after rebuilding facilities at South Oak Cliff High School, the school won back-to-back football championships in 2021 and 2022.
“Football is not a small thing here in Texas,” Alfred says. “It was one of the first times I saw how far-reaching some of these efforts can go, and not always in ways you can see immediately. That school desperately needed those facilities, and just look what they’ve done with them. That makes me proud of my community and this district.”
Moving forward, Alfred aims to replicate that success. Not every school is going to be winning a football championship, but each facility can help provide students with the chance to start their own stories, take the first steps of their own journeys, and produce similar student outcomes in core academics as well as fine arts and athletics.
Alfred understands the weight of his presence in this space and doesn’t take it lightly. As a Black man leading one of the largest school construction programs in the country—and doing so in a southern red state—he is deeply aware of the historical context, the social significance of his role, and the message it sends: that leadership is not just about experience and resilience—it’s about access and exposure.
“I know what it means for young students and the broader community to see me in this role,” he reflects. “It helps them see that these spaces aren’t out of reach or closed off to us.” Whether through mentorship, accessibility, or simply the example he sets, Alfred is committed to ensuring the next generation sees themselves in positions of power and influence. That’s why he is intentional about making himself visible and available—not just as a figurehead, but as someone who can show them, through both his presence and his work, they belong in spaces where they’ve often been overlooked and marginalized.
“Today, I’m proud to lead a phenomenal group of professionals at Dallas ISD,” Alfred shares. “Every project we complete is a collective effort. From architects and contractors to the superintendent of schools, district leaders, elected officials, and community members, each person brings something essential to the table. My role is just one piece of a much larger puzzle, and I’m constantly inspired by the talent and commitment of the people I work with.”
Alfred and his team are making an indelible mark on the educational lives of countless students. They’re making Texas a better place to be, one school at a time. While James Bond saves the world with a dry martini, gadgets, and fast cars, Alfred builds schools, turns skeptics into believers, and creates jobs. Bond’s missions last a few hours; Alfred’s shape generations.
Dikita is honored to support Brent Alfred and the DISD Bond Programs. As a key program manager for the 2015 and 2020 DISD Bond projects, we recognize that part of our responsibility is to foster the growth of future leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. We take immense pride in Mr. Alfred’s journey, which inspires others, and we are truly impressed by his leadership and professional achievements. Dikita specializes in civil design, program /construction management, and transit market research. With 45 years of experience, our mission is to “bring the community together for its greater good”.
