Garland Freeauf has relentlessly pursued success, fueled by a deeply ingrained work ethic and an innate entrepreneurial spirit. His story is an inspirational one revealing both the virtues and occasional pitfalls of having a bootstrapping mentality that refuses to quit.
You could say that Freeauf has always lived around UVA, as his roots in Charlottesville run deep. Born and raised in the shadow of the University, he grew up amidst the echoes of academia, with his mother a professor at UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and his sister working in the University hospital.
From a young age, Freeauf was willing to work—and work hard beginning at age 11. He reminisces about summers at Henley’s Orchard in Crozet, VA, a testament to his early exposure to the labor market: “My parents just went one day and asked if I could work there—without pay,” he laughs. “I was selling peaches out of their shed for pretty much every summer up until high school.”
That early immersion into business laid the groundwork for Freeauf’s foray into entrepreneurship, which began with his employment by a local landscaping company. After some time, he had an epiphany that he could take what he learned and try to launch his own concern. Still a high schooler, he founded a landscaping company in Charlottesville.
What started with a simple purchase of a client list from a graduating student rapidly grew under Freeauf’s leadership. “I knew how hard I’d work,” he said, reflecting on his decision to venture out on his own. Combining his knack for identifying opportunities with a relentless work ethic, Freeauf transformed his small enterprise into a flourishing business. By the time he embarked on his academic journey at UVA, his venture was servicing nearly a hundred clients each week, necessitating additional staff to meet demand. This success, built on entrepreneurial hustle and a keen understanding of the local market, allowed Freeauf to sell the business, even before pursuing formal Commerce studies at McIntire.
Once he entered UVA, Freeauf found McIntire’s Management concentration, with a Real Estate Track and a Social Entrepreneurship Minor, fitting complements to his strong and growing interest in commercial ventures. As such, his decision to apply to McIntire was significantly influenced by his previous work: “My end goal was to be an entrepreneur again, but I didn’t feel like I had the skills to run a big business. I didn’t understand finance at a broader level or how that world works. McIntire would give me the opportunity to see how companies that are—not four people—but 400 or 4,000 people work. That was the draw.”
Outside academics, Freeauf also took the helm as President of the Virginia Rifle and Pistol Team at UVA, demonstrating his leadership prowess across a diversity of settings where he managed 50 competitive shooters. Freeauf’s interest in his community also found expression through roles in various student organizations. Notably, as an executive committee member of Ducks Unlimited, he played a crucial role in raising around $80,000 annually for wetlands conservation. As an avid hunter, his passion for habitat conservation is evident: “You want good duck hunting, so you’ve got to have good places for the ducks to live,” he asserts.
That wasn’t all. Balancing his intense academic life at McIntire with roles like Clinic Co-Lead for international nonprofit Remote Area Medical, Freeauf thrived on action and involvement. Starting out as Treasurer, he decided to get more involved in both fundraising and setting up the medical clinics with a student group of about 500 active members. The remote clinics he was a part of provided “no-questions-asked care” for hundreds of patients at each clinic, presenting challenges that melded his business acumen with heartfelt service.
Yet, Freeauf’s struggle with “sitting still” became an unexpected challenge during his study-abroad semester at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Used to a bustling schedule in Charlottesville, where he enjoys a large group of friends and many commitments, the abrupt shift to a location on the other side of the world, far away from all of his connections in and around UVA, fostered unexpected personal growth: “I felt like it was the calmest and most relaxed I’d ever been. So it was a good and bad learning experience.” The period served as a lesson in both patience and adaptability.
Once back on Grounds, Freeauf cherished insights from McIntire Professors Brian Healy and George Overstreet, whose courses on real estate proved transformative. “Professor Healy’s been a great mentor and a straight shooter and honest guy,” Freeauf notes, attesting to the profound influence these educators had on his career trajectory by bringing in guest speakers, particularly in commercial real estate development. Such courses and mentorship recalibrated his perspective, drawing him deeper into the nuances of real estate development.
As graduation looms, Freeauf is eager to embark on the next phase of his journey, with travel plans that echo his formative experience abroad. Returning to Sydney, as well as New Zealand, he’ll seek out a brief interlude to decompress with a symbolic pause before beginning his career with Fickling & Company in Macon, GA.
Ultimately, Freeauf’s journey is a local and global one marked by a ceaseless drive and a spirit that refuses to settle. His time at the Comm School is one of many bets on himself that turned out well: A young entrepreneur took what he could from McIntire’s innovative education to give himself an even more expansive future of career possibilities.
