Volunteer Rid A Pest

Volunteer Rid A Pest LLC is a locally owned termite and pest control company, that was founded by Billy and Carolyn Gardner on April 1, 1970.

The company has grown from a “1 man with a spray can” operation, to a regional company with 24 employees and a 10 – county service area.

Billy and Carolyn operated the company for 33 years until Billy’s death in 2003. At that time, their son, 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 division, mosquito control through their Mosquito-Guard division, Handyman services through their Handyman Hotline division, crawl space moisture control through their Moisture-Guard division and crawl space encapsulations through their Encapsulation Kings division. They are about to launch their newest division, Extreme Green Lawn and Turf. This division will treat lawns for insects and apply weed control and fertilizer for an extreme green lawn.

Over the years, Volunteer Rid A Pest has expanded by purchasing the assets of competitors. In 2006, they purchased Moore Exterminating from Arnold Moore and doubled their business with a strong reach into Polk County. In 2013, they purchased E/R Exterminating from Darrel Eachus and got a strong footprint in Chattanooga. In 2018, they purchased Chattanooga Pest Control from David Jones and strengthened their position in the Hamilton County Market.

“While we are based in Cleveland and this is our home, the next logical step is to make a strong move into Hamilton County. Many of the local companies in Chattanooga have sold out to national brands and we are one of the only local companies left,” said Gardner.

“I enjoy this business because it involves solving our customer’s problems and protecting their homes from damage. We go into a situation with an upset homeowner with a pest/ termite/rodent problem and when we leave, we have handled the problem and made their day better. I get a lot of satisfaction from that,” Gardner stated.

“But more than that, I feel job creation is vital to our local community,” stated Gardner. “Each year we have thousands of young people graduating from high school and college that need good-paying jobs here locally. We want to do our part to help fill that need. We plan to hire 3 more technicians in 2021.”

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, “I have enjoyed working with Paul and watching him learn the business. He is very devoted to his customers and helping solve their problems. I look forward to Derek’s arrival back home and helping him get his career started.”

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 to work along-side his older brothers, when that opportunity arises,” Gardner said.

“I have had several large companies make offers to buy our business, but I never considered any of them. I enjoy what I do too much,” said Gardner. “Now that my boys are involved this will be a third-generation business and I hope they do a bigger and better job than I ever dreamed of.”

“This business is all about helping solve problems for other people. What a great way to make a living! I plan to do it for as long as I can,” stated Gardner.

TERMITE & PEST CONTROL 423.698.7205