"I have always been passionate about cars and the challenges that came with selling them. As I learned the intricacies of Volvos, Mercedes, Audis, BMWs, and Saabs, I expanded my inventory to include different makes and models. By the time I graduated from high school, I was selling as many as five cars a week, and Freeman Motor Company was beginning to take shape.

In 1993, I started college with the intention of following my father into the teaching profession. However, my mind often wandered to my next car purchase or my last sale. I earned my Associate's Degree in Childhood Development and began studying at Western Oregon University to pursue a teaching degree. By my third semester, I realized I was wasting my time; my love for cars and natural sales ability consumed me.

In 1998, I leased my first space for six cars at an old gas station on Portland Road in Salem, Oregon. I started by appointment only, without an office, and wrote deals on the trunks of cars. By the sixth month, business had picked up, prompting me to lease more space and continue growing. By the time of my one-year anniversary, I had leased the majority of the former gas station and finally had an official office. We had evolved into what genuinely resembled a European automobile dealership." Eric Freeman