By Cindy Adams

Freida King knows numbers. Working with them comes naturally to her. She’s done it for enCircle for 33 years, most recently as controller. But Freida has always approached her work with a higher calling. She skillfully manages the numbers, but what she truly cares about are the people.  

Freida steps away from her spreadsheets so she can meet the people that make up enCircle. She visits Group Homes and Minnick Schools. One year, she and the finance team stopped by every one of enCircle’s Group Homes throughout Virginia—in one day. She sincerely wants to know the residents, the students, the staff. She invests deeply in enCircle’s mission, and these experiences infuse her work. 

"When I’m working with someone on a budget or answering questions about coding, I know what else they are simultaneously managing," Freida said. "It feels good to help them."

According to retired enCircle CFO David Pruett, Freida’s long-time supervisor, Freida has unwavering patience and an innate ability to help people understand the financial process.  

"She’s a gift that you rarely get in finance," David said. "She has the best heart. She is always concerned about the people we work with and the people we serve. She wants to do her job well for them."

In her time with enCircle, Freida has seen the organization grow exponentially, and she has been instrumental in the financial component of this expansion.

"It’s like a big puzzle," Freida said. "I like solving problems and making sure everything fits together. But what I really enjoy is seeing enCircle meet the needs of our community."

Freida’s commitment to enCircle runs deep, but one day she started thinking about the role she could also have in her twin grandchildren’s lives, and that thought took root. She began praying about it and what followed, she said, was undeniable peace.  

"Jackson and Hazel are almost 4 years old, an impressionable age," Freida said. "I want to spend more time with them. It’s important."

Freida is set to retire from enCircle at the end of February. She says she will miss the people because many have become friends, but she is ready for the next chapter which will include photography, hiking, birdwatching, traveling, cooking, gardening, reading, and sleeping in! Best of all, she will embrace family and all the joy that brings.  

"It’s time for a new adventure," Freida said. "I’m looking forward to exploring what else God has planned for me." 

She is eager for her next calling.