John Freeze Has A Passion For Individual Learning

After being appointed to the Randolph Community College Board of Trustees in July 2007, John M. Freeze said he was pleased to learn the extent of the outreach that RCC has into the community. “I didn’t realize the College has as big an impact as it does throughout the county,” said Freeze, president and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Hosiery in Randleman.

Freeze was appointed to the RCC Board of Trustees by the Randolph County Board of Education for a four-year term that runs through June 30, 2011. A native of Randleman, Freeze obtained his early education at McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., a military prep school, and he earned a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The CEO is the third generation to run his family’s hosiery business, and he says his goals as an RCC Trustee are employer-related and center around the individual. “My passion is for the individual’s growth,” says Freeze. “I have seen so many people who, if they had the right education, could have achieved so much more in life. I want to make sure that individuals achieve the most they are capable of.”

Freeze says he sees a void in our education system, with so much effort at the university level. “Our future relies on community college education,” he noted. “We have 225 employees and there is a real need to upgrade the value of education for these employees and everyone.”

Freeze has a long history of community service. He served on the Board of the Randolph County Partnership for Children from 2000-2006 and was chair in 2005. He has been involved in Success by 6 in Randleman and Randolph County, the Randolph County United Way Board, the Randolph County Economic Development Board, the High Point Open Door Shelter, and the Children’s Home Society in Greensboro

Professionally, he served on the High Point Board of the Bank of America, where he worked before joining his family business. He has also been active in the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers.

Freeze has lived in Raleigh and High Point, but moved back to Randleman two years ago with his wife, Ellen. They have two children, ages 28 and 31, who both live in Raleigh. He is a member of the Wesleyan Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point and the First United Methodist Church in Randleman. His hobbies include golf, tennis, and hiking.