Jacob Freeland Graduates from the Program His Father Helped Grow

This December, CFCC student Jacob Freeland will graduate from the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program, a program his father helped grow.

When Jacob talks about his dad, he doesn’t start with titles or accomplishments. He goes straight to being twelve years old, riding along to side jobs and learning by being right there with him.

“We worked. That’s what we did together,” Jacob said. “Side jobs. It was always something different. I was lucky.”

His father, Patrick Freeland, led CFCC’s Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program for years, guiding hundreds of students into the field. He was known as a gifted instructor and a mentor who cared deeply about the students who came through his shop.

His sudden passing in 2021 left a lasting impact on the CFCC community, the workforce he helped shape, and his family. Jacob felt a pull he couldn’t ignore.

“Once my dad passed away, it felt like I needed to finish it.”

He enrolled in the same program his father poured himself into. And almost immediately, he began to see just how far his dad’s influence extended.

“I kept meeting people who had been in his classes,” he said. “John Deere. Caterpillar. One time, I went to Fort Fisher on the ferry, and the main engineer had gone through Dad’s program.”

It didn’t stop there. “My mom still gets invited to weddings from guys who went through his program. Because of the impact Dad made.”

“He wasn’t just an instructor. He taught us to respect others. He cared about the students. And even in his death, four years later, he still helps people through the lessons he taught.”

Finding His Place at Salem Leasing

Jacob connected with Salem Leasing at CFCC’s apprenticeship fair. He didn’t know much about the company, only that it seemed like a solid opportunity. He started with them as an apprentice not long after, and it’s been the right match.

“I’ve learned a lot in the four months I’ve been there,” he said. “I still have a lot to learn, and it’s the perfect place to do it. If they give me the chance to keep going and work toward becoming a master tech, I’ll take it.”

The team at Salem sees that potential. Over the years, many of Patrick Freeland’s former students have worked there, and the company is known for supporting young technicians who want to grow.

Rick Hartman, Salem’s Service Manager, has been with the company for 41 years. “The company’s been good to me,” Hartman said.

“My grandchildren ask when I’ll retire, but if I can stay in the business and push people, like Jacob, up the ladder, that’s why I go to work. It’s the satisfaction.”

Richard Hulings, another Service Manager, shares that same mindset.

“We won’t interfere with school,” he said. “That’s number one. We’re number two.”

“When you can look at something at the end of the day and say, ‘I fixed that,’ that builds confidence. A positive attitude matters in everything. And when you graduate, you’re already a step ahead.”

Taking the Next Step

As Jacob steps into his new career, he carries the part of his dad that never stopped teaching him how to move forward.

“The 18 years that I had with my dad will be with me until I die.”