Holding on to What Matters
When I think about what has allowed our family business to thrive for more than a century, it always comes back to balance. In a world that is constantly changing, knowing when to hold on to tradition and when to embrace innovation is one of the biggest challenges any business faces.
At Knox Pest Control, our story began with my great-grandfather, who started the company by walking door to door in Atlanta with a satchel full of roach powder and mouse bait. He built his business the old-fashioned way: through hard work, personal service, and trust. Those values are still the foundation of everything we do today. But as time has gone on, we have also learned that to keep growing, we must evolve.
Balancing those two forces, our roots and our growth, is something I think about every single day.
The Value of Strong Roots
A business that lasts multiple generations does not survive by accident. It is built on core values that stay steady no matter how much the world changes. For us, those values are honesty, integrity, and service. My great-grandfather and grandfather believed in doing the job right, treating people fairly, and keeping their word.
Those early lessons shaped me from the time I was young. I started working summers at Knox Pest Control when I was twelve, helping with termite jobs and mowing the office lawn. I learned quickly that no task was too small and that every customer deserved respect. That same mindset has carried through four generations of leadership in our family.
Tradition is more than just a memory of the past, it is a guidepost for the future. It reminds us who we are and what kind of company we want to be.
Change Is Not the Enemy
While tradition gives us our foundation, innovation keeps us moving forward. In our industry, technology has transformed almost every part of how we do business. From digital scheduling and paperless reporting to improved pest control products and eco-friendly methods, innovation allows us to serve customers more effectively and efficiently than ever before.
When I joined the company full-time after graduating from Troy University in 1997, I saw the potential of these changes firsthand. At first, it was tempting to want to modernize everything quickly. But I realized that innovation works best when it builds on tradition, not when it replaces it.
Our goal has always been to use new tools to enhance our service, not change what makes it special. For example, we now use technology to track service history, communicate faster with customers, and provide more accurate treatment plans. But the heart of our business, the personal relationships, the trust, and the dedication to doing things right, has stayed the same.
Learning from Both Generations
Working in a family business means you get to see multiple generations bring different perspectives to the table. My father and grandfather valued hands-on experience and personal connections. My generation has learned to blend that experience with new ideas, new systems, and new ways of thinking.
Some of the best decisions we have made as a company came from combining both viewpoints. For example, while my father relied on face-to-face relationships, we have added digital marketing and online customer engagement to reach more people while maintaining that personal touch. This kind of teamwork between generations keeps the company both grounded and growing.
I believe the strongest organizations are the ones that can listen to both the wisdom of the past and the ideas of the future. When those two things work together, great things happen.
The Risk of Losing Your Identity
In a world that values speed and constant change, it can be easy for businesses to lose sight of who they are. I have seen many companies get caught up in chasing trends, only to forget the values that made them successful in the first place. That is something I have always tried to avoid.
At Knox Pest Control, we remind ourselves often that our name carries a legacy. It represents decades of hard work, honesty, and service. Every time one of our technicians puts on the uniform or drives a company truck, they are carrying that legacy with them. Innovation helps us grow, but tradition keeps us grounded.
If you forget your roots, your growth will not last. A company can only expand sustainably when its foundation is strong.
Leading Through Change
As a leader, my job is to make sure our team feels confident in both where we came from and where we are going. That means being open to new ideas while keeping our culture strong. It means encouraging people to experiment and improve, but also reminding them why our customers trust us in the first place.
Change can be uncomfortable, but it is also necessary. Whether it is updating systems, training employees on new tools, or adapting to new customer expectations, every change gives us a chance to become better. The key is to approach innovation with purpose, not just for the sake of doing something new.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
As I look toward the future, I often think about how proud my great-grandfather would be to see what his small business has become. From those early days in Atlanta to the large regional company we are today, our success has always been rooted in the same simple idea: take care of people, and the rest will follow.
Innovation will continue to shape how we serve our customers, but tradition will always guide why we do it. Finding that balance is not always easy, but it is what allows a business to stay strong for generations.
At the end of the day, growth means more than expanding locations or adding new technology. It means continuing to live out the values that started it all while adapting to the world around us. When tradition and innovation work together, that is when true success happens.