Shawn Payne is the Owner of Lakewood Exterminating, a Cleveland-based pest control company that offers child and pet-friendly treatments. After focusing on horticulture in high school and college, Shawn went on to various gardening and groundskeeping jobs. He worked for the city of Cleveland, Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, and NASA Glenn Research Center.

After the birth of his first child, Shawn ventured out on his own to start Advantage Landscape Services. He quickly evolved the business into Lakewood Plant and Pest, but after recognizing an overwhelming demand for pest control, Shawn decided to rebrand into Lakewood Exterminating, focusing solely on quality pest control. 

In this episode…

How do you transition from one industry to another? What does it take to go from employee to business owner?

Shawn Payne can tell you. He started out as a horticulturist, working for organizations like Rockefeller Park Greenhouse and NASA. With a growing family, Shawn realized he needed to make a career shift. After starting his own landscaping business, he saw the demand for pest control and transitioned from plants to pests. Now, Shawn’s got a booming business that is continuously evolving. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark talks with Shawn Payne, Owner of Lakewood Exterminating, about becoming a pest control business owner after an extensive career in the horticulture space. Shawn walks through his career path, how he’s focusing more on ownership duties, and his plans for the future of Lakewood Exterminating. Shawn also shares advice for others wanting to start a service business!