stephen nieto altum group

40 Under 40: Stephen Nieto

The 38-year-old worked at his father’s Coachella Valley-based design business and eventually became an urban planner, helping create Palm Desert’s new Acrisure Arena.

Staff Report 40 Under 40, Current PSL

stephen nieto altum group
PHOTOGRAPH BY TAWNI BANNISTER
Stephen Nieto, 38

Director of Urban Design & Land Development, Altum Group

Nieto’s hands touched architectural blueprints long before they turned the wheel of a car. He grew up working at his father’s Coachella Valley-based design business and eventually became an urban planner, helping create Palm Desert’s new Acrisure Arena and serving on the La Quinta Planning Commission. “[Being] a person who helps envision the future of communities is very important,” Nieto says. “The projects we do now have a ripple effect for many generations to come.”

• VIDEO: Stephen chat about the design projects that have meant the most to him so far in his career.