Multiply You Podcast

Vijay Pai is the General Manager of Pest Control Products at Suterra, a global leader in agricultural biocontrol. Suterra provides sustainable alternatives to traditional pesticides without leaving harmful residues in food, soil, or groundwater. Before joining the Suterra team, Vijay was the Director of Operations at Diet ID, a consultant in the food tech and digital health spaces, and a Senior Associate at SC Johnson. He received his bachelor’s in entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master’s in entomology from the University of Florida.

Whether in a field of citrus fruits or inside a home, nobody wants to have a pest problem. More importantly, nobody wants toxic pesticides contaminating their food, soil, and the greater environment. Is there a way to mitigate pest problems while keeping the environment safe?

Meet Suterra. Providing sustainable alternatives to traditional pesticides, Suterra is able to control insects in the agriculture space (and more recently residential and commercial spaces) through products like “puffer” technologies and “BioAmp” sprays. Suterra’s products release pheromones that disrupt the mating cycle and suppress pest populations — without harming the environment.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark talks with Vijay Pai, General Manager of Pest Control Products at Suterra, about their innovations in the pest control space. Vijay shares how the company has expanded into residential markets, how specific pest control products work, and future developments that are in the works at Suterra.

Lenny Gray has been in the pest control space for over two decades, first working in sales before becoming the Founder and CEO of Rove Pest Control. Lenny is also the CEO of D2D Millionaire and Author of the Door-to-Door Millionaire series. He has been featured in media outlets such as the Anthropodcast, PCT Magazine, CBC News, and Pet Life Radio.

Whether you want to grow your business for an acquisition or simply to keep your company on an upward trajectory, there are certain steps you should take.

According to Lenny Gray, door-to-door sales are an extraordinary part of a thriving business. They can help you discover a customer base that many others won’t reach, connect with people of different backgrounds, and develop your personal skills. However, selling door-to-door shouldn’t be the only part of a growing company. Lenny says it’s important to balance your business model. When you combine door-to-door sales with things like SEO and strong marketing campaigns, your business will become more valuable and grow in a variety of markets.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Lenny Gray, CEO of Rove Pest Control and D2D Millionaire, to talk about all things business growth and acquisition. Lenny shares how he scaled his company and sold branches, why door-to-door sales are valuable for a growing business, and how you can create a successful balanced business model.

Ben Juncker is the Owner of Craftsman’s Choice, Minnesota’s #1 siding contractor. Ben started the company in 1998, and they installed their first James Hardie job in 2000. Since then, Craftsman’s Choice has become one of the nation’s top James Hardie remodelers, winning James Hardie’s prestigious President’s Club award every year since its inception in 2015.

What does it take to make your service business one of the best in your area? Ben Juncker, Owner of Minnesota’s #1 siding contractor, is here to share his tips on growth, customer service, and employee retention. 

As your business grows, you need to make sure you have repeatable processes, a well-organized and coordinated workflow, and various resources for communicating with customers. Because of situations like the pandemic, Ben also reminds us that it’s important to be nimble and listen to the needs of your people — that way, you can serve your team and customers to the best of your ability. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Ben Juncker, the Owner of Craftsman’s Choice, to talk about tips for growing a business. Ben shares how he scaled the company and became a partner with James Hardie, how he manages talent and keeps employees happy, and why he wrote a guidebook for homeowners.

Matthew Blanchard is the Co-founder and CEO of Cedar Systems, a modern pest software for managers. Cedar System’s mission is to create the best tools to help pest control companies save time, lower costs, and efficiently run their businesses.

Matthew is a veteran, previously serving in the US Army Corps of Engineers and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and mathematics from the University of Michigan, and his master’s in business administration from Columbia Business School.

Pest control is an essential service, however, you want customers to choose your company over the competition. To do so, you must present that value to the consumer, continue to innovate, and work to improve the user experience.

According to Matthew Blanchard, embracing technology will help you deal with customer preferences, enhance the pest control experience, and create long-term customers. “At worst,” he says, “technology can make things slightly more efficient. At best, technology dramatically changes your entire strategy” and can accomplish things you didn’t even know were possible. What else does Matthew have to say about the power of technology in the pest control space?

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Matthew Blanchard, the Co-founder and CEO of Cedar Systems, to discuss how technology is impacting the pest control industry. Matthew talks about the benefits of Cedar Systems’ software, how he’s growing his company, and how pest control company owners can utilize technology to improve their day-to-day functions.

Oliver Sanchez is the Co-founder and CEO of Extrasense, a leading image recognition platform for the pest control industry. They developed software that helps users identify, track, and report on pest activity in both industrial and residential settings. 

Oliver has launched many other successful companies before Extrasense. One of these is AccelHUB, which creates programs to help international tech startups expand in the Boston area. In 2019, he launched AccelHUB Venture Partners, which invests in Latin American startups with opportunities to scale in the US.

Oftentimes, we see unfamiliar bugs crawling around the house and immediately assume the worst. Is it a venomous spider in the corners of your home? A bedbug in your mattress? A hornet looking to build its nest near your porch? A quick Google search leaves you without answers — or without the right answers. Before you know it, you’re either taking matters into your own hands or waiting an agonizing couple of days for a pest control company to take care of it. Is there a better alternative?

Oliver Sanchez has the solution. His company, Extrasense, has developed AI software to help users identify pests on the spot. Their technology can identify over 170 different species through an image or video, letting you know precisely which pest has intruded. On top of that, Extrasense helps connect you with a pest control company that can efficiently handle your situation. Extrasense is on a mission to keep innovating and updating its software to meet customers’ needs. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark talks with Oliver Sanchez, the Co-founder and CEO of Extrasense, about how his company’s technology can identify pests on the spot. Oliver also shares the inspiration behind the company, how they’re focusing on the user experience, and their plans for future developments.

Brendan Goldblatt is the Founder of Catchy Pest Control, formerly known as Concourse Pest Control. Brendan now runs the company with the help of his brother, Frank, and has proudly served New York and New Jersey for 20 years. Catchy Pest Control’s motto is “honest and reliable,” which is ingrained in every service they deliver to clients.

Brendan has been a pesticide applicator and technician for over 20 years and is fully certified with specializations in wildlife management and commercial pesticide application. Outside of work, he loves spending time with his wife, Maria, and daughter, Victoria, and he also enjoys bird watching and hiking nature trails.

Early in his career, Brendan Goldblatt worked for other retail and pest control companies. Eventually, he decided to take a risk and pursue his dream of starting a business. Although Brendan’s company is thriving now, his path to growth came with many challenges. So, what’s Brendan’s advice for starting your own business, and how did he manage to grow?

Starting your own business requires sacrifice. Brendan was working long hours and weekends without a big paycheck, often taking on difficult jobs that no one else would. Some of Brendan’s horror stories include working in a rat-infested basement and removing 27 raccoons from museum scaffolding in Manhattan. However, Brendan says it’s often the people side of the business that’s even more challenging than pest removal. That’s why he’s sharing his top tips for growing a team, servicing customers, and launching a fruitful business.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Brendan Goldblatt, Founder of Catchy Pest Control, to talk about the journey to starting a pest control company. Brendan shares why he started his own business, his checklist for getting your company going, and the many challenges that business owners face along the way. If you’re considering launching a business, you don’t want to miss a minute of this insightful episode!

Ellen Rohr is the President of Zoom Drain, a company that provides sewer and drain cleaning services. Ellen started out in the industry as a plumber’s wife before unexpectedly getting involved in her husband’s company. Since starting the Zoom Drain franchise, she has occupied a number of positions, including Manager, Vice President, and now President. 

In addition to her role at Zoom Drain, Ellen is on a mission to help people learn business basics and focus on the few things that make the biggest impact. She’s written four best-selling business books, including How Much Should I Charge? and The Bare Bones Biz Plan, and she hosts two podcasts, PHCPPros: Behind the Wall and Unclogged: A Zoom Drain Podcast. Ellen often shares her experience through seminars, podcasts, and industry trade magazines like HuffPost and PHCPPros.

Getting your finances right is a major factor in business success. However, business owners often have difficulty managing all the moving parts — especially when finances aren’t their forte. Luckily, financial literacy expert Ellen Rohr is here to share her best tips on everything from finances to franchising. 

Like many ambitious business owners, Ellen is no stranger to financial blunders. Early in her career, she joined her husband’s plumbing business and was greeted with messy bookkeeping — and no solution in sight. Instead of succumbing to the financial hardships, Ellen buckled down and learned everything she could about finances. Now, as she helps other business owners get control of their finances, she shares an important reminder: once you learn the basics, it will take you as far as you want to go in business. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark has an exciting and insightful conversation with Ellen Rohr, the President of Zoom Drain. Ellen talks about common financial mistakes in business, tips for pricing and attracting customers at a premium level, and why it’s so important to follow your vision — and not anyone else’s.

Teresa Mangano is the Recruiting and Team Development Manager at Zoom Drain, a company that provides sewer and drain cleaning services. Teresa is an experienced talent acquisition and human resources director, previously working for companies including Jamestown Painting & Decorating, Recovery Centers of America, and Renewal by Andersen. 

Since the pandemic began, companies have been dealing with the Great Resignation, job-hopping candidates, and a competitive market for hiring. So, what are the best practices to ensure you stand out from competitors and land the right employees? 

There’s one thing that all employees want: to be appreciated and valued as human beings. You must keep this in mind when crafting your messaging. Additionally, you need to be authentic, transparent, and consistent, so candidates get to know the root of your company and understand that the rewards are more than just a paycheck.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Teresa Mangano, Recruiting and Team Development Manager at Zoom Drain, to talk about strategies for hiring top-notch employees. Teresa discusses the value of deepening relationships with employees, how to craft your recruitment messaging, and tips to market and continuously improve your hiring processes.

Brad Sugars is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the #1 business coach in the world. He is known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs across the globe. Over the course of his 30-year entrepreneurial career, Brad has become the CEO of more than 11 companies and is the Owner of the multimillion-dollar franchise, ActionCOACH®. 

Brad is a strong advocate for building a business that works without you so that you can spend more time doing what really matters. He’s committed to guiding other business owners and entrepreneurs to maximize personal and professional success. For over two decades, millions of people have been listening to Brad’s advice, taking action, and discovering opportunities for wealth.

At age 13, Brad Sugars decided that he was going to be successful. At age 16, he scrounged up enough money to buy a ticket for one of Jim Rohn’s seminars. Destined to fulfill his mission for success, Brad would stop at nothing to learn the tricks of the trade and gain insight from the influential people around him. Now, he’s bringing these business strategies to you. 

According to Brad, businesses need to focus on scalability, marketability, and their mission. Additionally, every business needs great leadership to attract great employees. Your people determine the growth of your business, so it’s crucial that employees love working with you. What other tips can help you develop your business?

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Brad Sugars, author, speaker, and #1 business coach in the world. Brad talks about his motivations to become an entrepreneur, various challenges affecting business leaders today, and strategies to help your businesses grow.

Vance Morris is a Customer Service Speaker and Service and Marketing Strategist at the Deliver Service Now Institute. He conducts intensive, behind the scenes, and interactive three-day boot camps for masterminds, member events, businesses, and professional practices, where he reveals the secrets that Disney uses every day to create magical experiences for their guests and profits for their shareholders.

Vance spent ten years working for the mouse in Walt Disney World. After leaving Disney, he used his skills to rescue various companies and government agencies. He’s helped companies including Legal Seafoods, NASA, Rain Forest Cafe, Compass Group, and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

How do you stand out from your competitors, gain referrals, and maintain long-term clients without slashing your prices? It turns out that businesses (even those in the home services space) can learn a few tricks from Disney. 

Disney has a way of drawing people in, crafting a magical experience for them, and forming dedicated visitors who wish to return year after year. Disney can extract money from your wallet while still leaving you happy. How do they do it? As someone who spent a decade working for Disney, Vance Morris knows the secret — and he’s here to share it with you.  

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Vance Morris, Customer Service Speaker and Service and Marketing Strategist at Deliver Service Now Institute. Together, they discuss how to gain referrals, maintain clients for life, and create an emotional connection to your customers. Plus, Vance reveals Disney secrets and personal strategies that will help your business stand out from the crowd!