By Brian Park
The city of San Juan Capistrano has recognized Fluidmaster, Inc. as its Business Leader of the Year, former councilwoman Laura Freese as Community Service Leader of the Year and San Juan Hills High School Principal Tom Ressler as Educator of the Year.
Mayor John Taylor presented the three winners with their awards during the City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, October 1.
“Tonight is one of the highlights of my job as mayor,” Taylor said. “I selected these recipients because they are considered leaders in their particular categories and have made a difference in the lives of others in San Juan Capistrano.”
Fluidmaster is a leading toilet manufacturing company based in San Juan Capistrano, with more than 1,200 employees worldwide. The company has been recognized as one of the county’s best places to work by the Orange County Business Journal and the Orange County Register. Taylor highlighted the company’s work in the community, including their support for the Chamber of Commerce, Relay for Life, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, as well as allowing the Fiesta Association to use their parking lot during the Swallow’s Day Parade.
Freese served on the city council from 2008 to 2012, as well as the former Housing Advisory Committee and several other outside agencies. Freese was recognized for her current role as chairwoman of the Economic Preservation Committee, which was formed last year to help downtown businesses mitigate the effects of the Ortega Highway/Interstate 5 interchange project.
Freese, however, gave credit to the business owners and other leaders who make up the committee.
“This award should really go to them,” Freese said. “Every one of these business owners is not just working for their own good. They’re working for the good of San Juan Capistrano.”
Ressler became principal at San Juan Hills High School in 2008, after spending 22 years as a teacher and assistant principal at Capistrano Valley High School.
“He left his mark on the fabric of San Juan Capistrano and its youth. He is an innovative and passionate educator,” Taylor said.
In May, San Juan Hills was placed among the top 500 high schools in the country in Newsweek’s annual top-2,000 list—behind only Tesoro High School in the Capistrano Unified School District.
“Education is a major part of a good, successful community, and I’m very proud to say San Juan Hills is now, I think, one of the great education options in this great city,” Ressler said.
