My academic journey led me to the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. I earned a BA in Management in 2001. During my time there, I served as a Research Assistant in the Urban and Medical Entomology laboratories. Upon graduation, I joined my family’s pest control company. Over the years, I watched my father transform Peachtree Pest Control from a modest operation into a regional organization. I learned the success of business is the result of a strong organizational structure and proper business acumen. Steve Arnold was a good example of both. I drew inspiration from my father’s example and embarked on my own path as a successful entrepreneur.

In 2011 I acquired the family business. Over the course of two decades, much of our organizational growth materialized through strategic mergers and acquisitions. This period equipped me with invaluable experience in assimilating companies and brands, marketing strategy, managing risk and financial resources, and, most importantly, fostering cohesive teams and culture. I also learned a vital lesson on the importance of office location—a factor that impacts a business’s long-term success. This lesson would prove helpful in shaping my future endeavors.