Multiply You Podcast

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. 

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!

Skyler White is the Owner and Sales Manager at Zunex Pest Control, which services the greater Puget Sound, Washington, area. Additionally, he runs Toro Marketing and Sips Soda Bar.

Skyler’s been in the pest control space for eight years and is skilled in leadership development, sales team leadership, and helping people reach their full potential. He has a passion and excitement for the industry, and he uses his work ethic, positive attitude, and leadership traits to connect with others.

Would you rather live a life of success or fulfillment?

That’s the question Skyler White and the Zunex Pest Control team ask in every interview. Why? They’re looking for passionate, joyful employees who love their lives and careers. Zunex’s mission is to “leave people better than you found them,” and with a team of positive employees who light up a room, the business does precisely that. They’re helping employees grow, which, in turn, makes the world a brighter place. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Skyler White, Owner and Sales Manager at Zunex Pest Control, to talk about developing an eager team and providing an environment of growth. Skyler also shares the lessons he’s learned while running Zunex, why he decided to open a soda shop, and why the fear of failure shouldn’t stop you from achieving your goals.

Jon Ipema is the President of The Green Advantage, a pest control company based out of Crown Point, Indiana. Since its founding in 1994, The Green Advantage has developed from a small lawn maintenance company to a successful pest control company. Its team has a mission to treat every customer like a partner and is dedicated to elevating service year after year.

Each year, we face countless challenges that can be difficult to navigate. But no matter what’s going on in our personal or professional lives, there’s one thing that can help us pull through: a positive attitude. 

As Jon Ipema points out, positivity is contagious. When you make the choice to remain optimistic, you’ll pass that along to your employees who, in turn, pass it along to customers, who eventually spread that joy to other potential customers. It creates a circle of positive energy while mitigating employee turnover, increasing workplace happiness, and helping your business prosper.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark chats with Jon Ipema, President of The Green Advantage, about the power of positivity. Jon also explains how he transitioned from lawn care to pest control, advice for delivering exceptional customer service, and his thoughts on the future of the pest control industry.

Brad Ward is the Owner of Eagle Pest Solutions, which services the Palm Coast, Florida, area. With a combined 40 years of experience in the pest control industry, Brad and his business partner, Lee, developed Eagle Pest Solutions just days before the pandemic erupted. Since then, they’ve been able to grow the company and perfect the once-a-year pest control model. 

When Brad Ward and his partner, Lee Parsells, opened Eagle Pest Solutions in early January 2020, they had no idea the challenges that were on the horizon. With the rise of COVID, Brad and Lee had to quickly adjust and figure out a plan to keep the company afloat. Building a business from the ground up is hard enough — so how did they do it on top of a pandemic?

The answer is networking. Brad says that connecting with other pest control leaders and local business owners helped Eagle Pest Solutions survive its first year. Through referral programs, education initiatives, and the ability to glean insight from others who have been in similar situations, networking groups assisted Brad and his team in business growth and set them on a trajectory for success.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Brad Ward, Owner of Eagle Pest Solutions, to talk about the power of networking and how he overcame the pandemic’s challenges. Brad talks about the specific networking groups he’s a part of, how he got into the industry, the once-a-year pest control model, and the journey to grow Eagle Pest Solutions.

Cody Barbour is the Chief Operations Officer at Baton, a peer-to-peer referral marketplace for home services companies. In this role, Cody wears many hats and manages business development, sales processes, strategic partnerships, and other areas. He’s also a member of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), serving on its Leadership Networking Council and Business Innovations Committee. 

How do you measure success in your company? Is it how many clients you service? Great reviews on your website? Yearly business revenue?

For Cody Barbour and the team at Baton, success is measured through company culture. They want employees to feel valued and excited about coming to work. Since you spend a lot of time, money, and resources hiring and training employees, you want to retain the people who are making an impact in your business. The most effective way to do this is to ensure you have a positive workplace culture.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Cody Barbour, the COO of Baton, to talk about putting your people first to deliver outstanding customer service. Cody also discusses how his business facilitates referrals, tips for taking care of your employees, and his thoughts on reaching success in your personal and professional life.

Rory Perry is the Managing Partner of Garvey Perry Inc., a hiring and recruitment firm that specializes in service, food and beverage, and interior design industries. Rory takes pride in matching the right professional with the right opportunity and fostering win-win situations. Before starting Garvey Perry Inc., she spent nearly 20 years in senior leadership positions within the medical field, helping companies exceed growth, hire top talent, and deliver on customer service objectives.

Talent acquisition is a monumental challenge across industries. Companies are wondering about the best ways to attract and hire top talent, and prospective candidates seek companies that fit their needs and values. How can your company hire the right way, from the job description to the offer letter?

Today’s guest, Rory Perry, is a talent recruitment and hiring expert. She’s helped plenty of businesses in the services industry strengthen their hiring process and find suitable candidates to fill open roles. She says that some of the most important aspects of recruitment are defined procedures and having an open mind to grow your business.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark chats with Rory Perry, Managing Partner of Garvey Perry Inc., about tips for recruiting and hiring top talent. Rory shares what the hiring market is like right now, how her company guides service businesses step-by-step through hiring strategies, and what the best firms are doing to attract top talent. 

Carl Braun is the Owner and CEO of Quality Pest Control in Omaha, Nebraska. He’s been with the company for over 12 years, helping it grow into one of the premier pest control providers in the area. Carl is also on the board of directors for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and QualityPro and previously served as the President of the Nebraska State Pest Control Association.

After retiring from the healthcare industry, Carl Braun felt restless. He knew he needed to get out in the world and take on a new endeavor. So he decided to take ownership of a pest control company. How did he transition from healthcare to pest control, and what has he learned about growing a business?

When Carl began developing Quality Pest Control, he wanted to be more than just the face of a company; he wanted to be part of the interwoven soul of the business. Since the start of his pest control career, Carl has managed to keep 70% of the original clients and grow to reach new markets, maintaining the human-to-human connection that sets the company apart from the rest. However, he’s also worked through some common challenges of business ownership and continues to seek areas for improvement.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Carl Braun, the Owner and CEO of Quality Pest Control, to talk about his journey in the pest control industry and tips for growing a business. Carl discusses the learning curves he encountered in business ownership, strategies for effective delegation and work-life balance, and why a strong support system is vital to succeeding in business.

Joseph (Joe) Balestrino is a marketing expert with over two decades of experience. He’s the Solutions Marketing Specialist at Digital Containment and the Head of Digital Marketing at 4PointDigital Inc. In the last few years, Joe has dialed in on the pest space, helping businesses run smoothly, efficiently, and effectively.

Additionally, Joe is an SEO and PPC consultant for nonprofits, including CityDance Inc. and Every Mother Counts. He is the author of various marketing guides and hosts Digital Containment’s Pest Control Marketing Podcast.

When it comes to marketing, it can be tempting to stick to what you know or what feels comfortable. For example, you may see massive success on Facebook right now, so you decide to funnel your entire marketing budget into the channel. But what if the platform changes? You risk losing the entire marketing plan you’ve worked tirelessly to build. 

This is why today’s guest, Joe Balestrino, advises businesses to diversify their marketing efforts. Don’t go all-in on one strategy that works right now — because nothing lasts forever. Instead, create a robust plan that utilizes different marketing tactics and builds a foundation to scale. It may cost a bit more upfront, but it will be well worth it once you start generating leads and reaching new customers. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Joe Balestrino, Solutions Marketing Specialist at Digital Containment and Head of Digital Marketing at 4PointDigital Inc., to discuss the best marketing practices for home service businesses. Joe talks about where you should begin your marketing journey, why testing and community engagement are essential, and tips to dial in on your advertisements and optimize your marketing budget.

Luke Hall is the Founder and President of Certified Pest Control. Based in Southwest Florida, Certified Pest Control provides its clients with the best customer experience by putting their needs first. Luke founded the company in 2014, pulling from his vast experience in the extermination industry. Outside of his professional career, Luke enjoys fishing, the outdoors, traveling, and being a supportive husband and father. 

When Luke Hall first started his pest control company, he wore many hats. Like most business owners in their early years, he was afraid to ask for help and lacked the funds to hire extra hands. However, Luke quickly learned you must carve out a budget for critical team members — like an accountant or bookkeeper — to keep your business afloat. 

Although Luke learned these lessons the hard way, you don’t have to. In today’s episode, Luke shares his wisdom and advice for those looking to start a business or needing guidance to grow. Some of the most paramount recommendations Luke shares is that all business owners should be vulnerable and courageous, invest in themselves as a leader, and never be afraid to ask for help.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark talks with Luke Hall, Founder and President of Certified Pest Control, about the difficult lessons he learned early on in the business. Luke discusses balancing client needs with business needs, why every young business needs a bookkeeper, and how he’s working toward his goals in 2023. He also shares his top three business books and advice for young entrepreneurs!

Tim and Shannon Galvez are Franchise Owners of Mosquito Shield in Southeast Houston. The husband-and-wife duo owns and operates four territories of Mosquito Shield, which they purchased in 2021. Tim and Shannon both have a background in construction, with Tim working as an HVAC technician for the past 13 years and Shannon working as a Project and Financial Manager for the past seven years. Because of their experience both in managerial roles and in the field, Tim and Shannon are well-suited to view issues from multiple viewpoints and come up with the best solutions. 

Whatever kind of business you run, you’re likely to encounter challenges along the way. For Tim and Shannon Galvez, this included the pandemic, a drought, and having to handle many systems on their own. How did they work through the difficulties?

Tim and Shannon say it’s crucial to trust your instincts and tune in to your local community’s needs. When Tim and Shannon decided to trade one franchise service location for another, people thought they were making a mistake. However, this dynamic duo knew this location needed their services, so they followed their instincts. Today, their franchise is thriving — especially because of this new service location!

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Tim and Shannon Galvez, Franchise Owners of Mosquito Shield in Southeast Houston. They walk through the benefits of owning a franchise, how their previous experience helped them succeed in this space, and their tips for other business owners. Stay tuned!