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