ALUMNI: Jesse Froehlich

By Breana Lee,
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–

Davis High alumna Jesse Froehlich is the owner of the online business BlueBarrel Rainwater Catchment Systems based in Santa Rosa, Calif.

BlueBarrel is a company that helps their customers catch rain in recycled food shipment barrels. Customers can order a DIY RainKit that may contain barrels and/or tools and accessories, which are then shipped to them. They follow the instructions within the RainKit and can build the rain barrel system themselves.

Froehlich graduated from DHS in 1999 and majored in Linguistics and Spanish at Stanford. She majored in Spanish because she was part of the Spanish immersion program in Davis and wanted to continue in college. Afterwards, she went to graduate school and studied ecological design.

“Davis was a really good foundation,” said Froehlich, adding that she had a very close relationship with many of her peers because there were only 60 students in her grade in the Spanish immersion program at the time.

“We really lived it up in high school,” she said.

Tracy Stapleton was Froehlich’s World Civilizations and AP Economics teacher. She also knew him through water polo, because he coached the men’s team.

“She was really involved in a lot things on campus. She would take advantage of opportunity,” said Stapleton, noting that Froehlich was involved in many sports and community service activities. “She was a go-getter.”

Corinne Maul de Soto, a close friend since kindergarten, describes Froehlich as a very creative and intelligent person: “She really lives by her ideals, values and passions,” she said.

Before starting her business, Froehlich had trouble trying to figure out what career she was interested in. She eventually realized that starting a business and being self-employed was the right fit for her.

“I always knew I wanted to do something that would involve helping the world and doing something for the environment,” she said.

Her favorite parts of her job are working with customers and problem solving–“as long as the problems aren’t too tough.”

Froehlich used to train for triathlons, but between work and raising a 9-month-old at home, she hasn’t been able to continue her training.

“I’m looking forward to the day where I can pick up hobbies again, but for now I am a mom and a business owner. These are my two passions,” Froehlich said.  “In terms of my life and my happiness, things have been better after starting my business.”