Fred attended Penn State University from 1974-1978, playing as a defensive lineman on the football team. He graduated with a degree in Political Science, and then went on to play one season in the NFL before suffering a career-ending injury. After a hiatus, Fred eventually went on to attain a law degree from Villanova in 1985 and then spent nearly 20 years working as an in-house counsel for private companies, specializing in discrimination lawsuits. In 2003, he joined ScarySmart as an adviser for anti-discrimination policies and workplace accessibility and inclusion. He became the Director of HR in 2009. Outside of work he occasionally reunites with his old high school garage band Izzy and the Furs, for which he plays drums.