Professionally, I have always tried to focus on improvement, automation, and, more importantly, being willing to do the work others prefer not to. 

 

EARLY YEARS

Starting at age six, I approached a neighbor to see if I could wash his lawnmower after he finished mowing his lawn. After that, I graduated to mowing lawns, cleaning windows, and purchasing an aerator. During the winter, I started hanging Christmas lights — anything to make a buck. I worked within various organizations where I learned, over time, the importance of structure, discipline, and consistency in the work output.

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Implementing the skills I learned in my youth, I started my first job out of high school selling pest control door-to-door in the Dallas, TX area; this is where I met my mentor and developed a love for the industry. Those years were extremely formative. I grew personally with my skills by selling, recruiting, speaking, training others, and applying the lessons from my youth in finding solutions to problems. 

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During the off-season, I would always work other jobs, learn new skills, and work with and manage teams in leadership roles. I was always learning and growing.

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JOB GROWTH

After meeting my wife and starting my family, I left the pest control industry and the door-to-door aspect of my life for a 'real job.' I needed to find a stable job where I could provide a 'normal life.' But poor timing exists. I entered the construction industry and worked in a cabinetry shop at the beginning of the 2007 housing crisis. It didn't go as planned. I moved back to Texas to sell 'Gourmet Flavored Butter' at Sams Clubs and Costcos. It was a startup company of another mentor of mine (which he now sold for more than $50 million).

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While in Texas, I reconnected with a former roommate from my first summer selling. He convinced me to meet with a former manager—and now the owner—of a pest control company called "RETURN."

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I accepted the meeting and the new job selling door-to-door for the last five weeks of that summer. While meeting the owner at the end of the sales season, he asked me what my plans were for my career. Unbeknownst to him, no one had ever proposed the question to me in that way. He said, "Ben, you have personally sold to over 2,000 homeowners, you have managed sales teams, and you know the needs of the sales teams to be successful. Have you ever thought about working towards becoming a Branch Manager?" I had not, but now I was. There was an opportunity to receive a salary, dinner with my wife and son, and security in an industry with an owner I knew and trusted. I took the job.

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Four weeks later, that company sold. Fortunately, I still had a job and relocated to Washington, D.C. The first year we had the best branch in the new company. I then focused—and still focus—on two things, growth and retention.  

 

In a short amount of time I got promoted to a branch manager and moved to Baltimore. I managed the most successful branch in the company that year. I relocated again to open a new office in my new home state, Georgia. The Atlanta branch was in the top 5 of the company, which no one expected. Then the unthinkable happened—we sold again.

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The operations team was shocked. We were told that would never happen! To compete with the changes in the door-to-door industry, we needed additional capital, so we were sold.

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I was upset, and I resigned. I founded "Xcel Pest Management" which implemented the skills I learned and set the company up for success. I gave a 60-day notice, and as it was coming to an end, I received a call from the owner asking me to reconsider. He gave me an offer, which made me doubt my decision. I was nervous. I had a good job that I enjoyed, good co-workers, and good at my craft. I wasn't sure how I would do as an owner, so I relented and returned to my position as a regional operations manager.

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FIRST BUSINESS VENTURE

That decision is my biggest professional regret. I was unhappy, unfocused, and not driven how I was previously. At the end of the first year, while speaking with my wife's cousin's husband—now partner—about baseball training for my son, I was asked if I would ever consider starting my own pest control company. He and his brother were running a successful satellite company, and a mutual friend had a connection to an investor who was interested in investing. I walked him through my experiences and how I was interested in starting my own business. I was still apprehensive, but having an investor gave me confidence.

 

A few days later, I booked a flight to Las Vegas. I met the investor and gave him a pitch on how the investment and returns would be. In February, we had a deal. Since then, lots of learning and growth have occurred, and each company has its own story, purpose, and mission we're working to fulfill.

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Below are the dates of each venture I'm currently involved with, and this list will continue to grow purposefully in support of each other. Check out the websites for more information.

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Spring of 2017, we founded Anthem Pest in Atlanta, adding Dallas and Houston in 2019 and Greenville in 2021
Fall of 2019, I co-founded Rocktomic Labs
Fall of 2019, I co-founded Supplement Pass
Fall of 2021, I co-founded RewardSpot
Spring of 2022, I founded No Soliciting