June 2021

Page 36

Gò0dNews Business Spotlight

V

Volunteer Rid A Pest olunteer Rid A Pest LLC is a locally owned termite

“I enjoy this business because it involves solving our

and pest control company, that was founded by Billy

customer’s problems and protecting their homes from damage.

and Carolyn Gardner on April 1, 1970.

We go into a situation with an upset homeowner with a pest/

The company has grown from a “1 man with a spray can”

termite/rodent problem and when we leave, we have handled

operation, to a regional company with 24 employees and a 10

the problem and made their day better. I get a lot of satisfaction

– county service area.

from that,” Gardner stated. Billy

is vital to our local community,” stated

operated the

Gardner. “Each year we have thousands

company for

of young people graduating from high

33 years until

school and college that need good-paying

Billy’s death

jobs here locally. We want to do our part

in 2003. At that

to help fill that need. We plan to hire 3

time, their son,

more technicians in 2021.”

Erik Gardner assumed the day-to-day operation of the business. As the business grew, more services were added, such as home insulation services through their Energy Miser

Erik Gardner

“But more than that, I feel job creation

and Carolyn

Paul Gardner

Gardner’s eldest son, Paul Gardner, joined the company in 2016. Gardner’s second son, Derek Nichols, is returning from his service in the United States Air Force soon and will also join the company. Gardner stated,

division, mosquito control through their

“I have enjoyed

Mosquito-Guard division, Handyman

working with Paul

services through their Handyman Hotline

and watching him

division, crawl space moisture control

learn the business.

through their Moisture-Guard division

He is very devoted

and crawl space encapsulations through

to his customers and

their Encapsulation Kings division. They

helping solve their

are about to launch their newest division,

problems. I look

Extreme Green Lawn and Turf. This division will treat lawns

forward to Derek’s

for insects and apply weed control and fertilizer for an extreme

arrival back home and helping him get his career started.”

green lawn. Over the years, Volunteer Rid A Pest has expanded by

Gardner also has a 14-year-old son, Tyler. “I’m not sure what path Tyler will take, but I think it will be hard not to want

purchasing the assets of competitors. In 2006, they purchased

to work along-side his older brothers, when that opportunity

Moore Exterminating from Arnold Moore and doubled their

arises,” Gardner said.

business with a strong reach into Polk County. In 2013, they

“I have had several large companies make offers to buy our

purchased E/R Exterminating from Darrel Eachus and got

business, but I never considered any of them. I enjoy what I do

a strong footprint in Chattanooga. In 2018, they purchased

too much,” said Gardner. “Now that my boys are involved this

Chattanooga Pest Control from David Jones and strengthened

will be a third-generation business and I hope they do a bigger

their position in the Hamilton County Market.

and better job than I ever dreamed of.”

“While we are based in Cleveland and this is our home,

“This business is all about helping solve problems for

the next logical step is to make a strong move into Hamilton

other people. What a

County. Many of the local companies in Chattanooga have

great way to make a

sold out to national brands and we are one of the only local

living! I plan to do it

companies left,” said Gardner.

for as long as I can,”

36 // June 2021

stated Gardner.

TERMITE & PEST CONTROL

423.698.7205


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