John Freeman ‘Mayor’ of Mt Laurel

Mt Laurel’s “man about town” is more than just a recognizable face – he’s the man who helped develop it. John O. Freeman Sr. is a vice president and general manager with Ebsco, Inc., the company that created Mt Laurel. Freeman was initially the construction manager of the Mt Laurel project and later stepped into the general manager’s role.

He’s now known through town as the closest thing the community has to an elected leader, simply because he’s always there to lend a helping hand and knows how to get things done.

Why do you think you’re sometimes called the “Mayor” of Mt Laurel?

Probably because I have the eyes and ears to know the ins and outs of Mt Laurel better than most. I try to always make the best decisions for our town and to benefit everyone.

Walk us through your day in town.

First, I make a drive-by in my Tahoe through the town area and all the residential streets looking to see if there is maintenance to be done or anything unusual to be tended to. I check construction sites to make inspections and recommendations. Next, I make it to my office to check emails and return phone calls. I meet with my office staff to solve any problems, check information on different projects. Then, I review invoices of construction, homeowners, merchants and commercial properties for payment. I meet with our sales team, prospects and project construction manager. Usually when I complete this it is 1:30 – 2 p.m. Hopefully I can grab a bite at one of our restaurants.

I then meet with the maintenance crew to see what has been accomplished today and what is yet to be done. I then review construction sites with our project manager and view the Town, streets, alleys, parks and schools. Sometimes there are EBSCO Corporate meetings, accounting, civic leadership meetings or realtor sales meetings.

What do you think makes Mt Laurel a great place to live?

We are a Traditional Neighborhood Development where we live, work and play together. Mt Laurel is a small town in a big city far removed. We have many amenities to enjoy here without having to leave home to get it.

What is something most people might not know about Mt Laurel?

How close-knit the Mt Laurel neighbors are. There is always a need, and everyone here is always willing to lend a hand. We really are a big family here, and we have about 13 families who are actually related. That says a lot about a town if you have family living nearby.

How did you help develop the community into what it is today?

When I came to Mt Laurel in 2002, there were 12 homeowners, and today we have 224 homeowners. We have built roads, brick sidewalks, the Town Center and Commercial Properties, which sets us apart from the average residential development.

Also, I helped developed recreational facilities, planning and seeing through the

building process on the schools and churches built in our community. All of this was made possible with the help of a great group of employees and EBSCO Industries, Inc.

What are some ideas you had while developing Mt Laurel that people now enjoy?

The beach area at the lake, train at the park and lake management to produce large bass.

People say when it comes to Mt Laurel, you can make anything happen. Why is that?

A strong Company EBSCO Industries Inc. as owner and the backing of J.T. Stephens, Chairman and Dixon Brooke, President and CEO. Where there is a will there is a way. It is a joy to find a way, and I have a team that I depend on to help make it happen.

Tell us about your family: Do they feel the same way?

I live in Mt Laurel with my wife, Marie, and my dog, Missy. I have a very large family – six children, 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with two more on the way. My family loves to come to Mt Laurel to enjoy it with us.

What do you think the future holds for Dunnavant Valley? What would you like to see take place in the community?

I think The Town of Mt Laurel’s future is great, and I think it will continue to grow and be one of the favorite places to live in North Shelby County.

Have you been involved with the Dunnavant Valley community workshops? What would you like to see happen with them?

Yes, I have been involved with the community workshops and hope that they will be able to follow through on some of the great suggestions that have been given at the meetings. I would also love to see us be able to get an intermediate school and even a high school some day in this area.

When you aren’t helping around town, what do you do with your free time?

I love Alabama football and enjoy watching the games, but most of all I enjoy spending time with my family and playing with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.