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Newsmakers: Emily Thomas
1 May, 2007 By: Mike Seuffert Pest Management ProfessionalOne Big Family
Age and gender are incidentals to Emily Thomas, 32-year-old chief operating officer of Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators, the country's fastest-growing privately held pest management company. The ever-energetic Thomas is all about recognizing, accepting and fully leveraging associates' similarities and differences to create one big, happy family. Thomas' record speaks for itself: More and more companies continue to join Arrow's family fold, and their employees and customers stay and grow together.
FAMILY TIES
To many, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, James S. (Starkey) Thomas Sr., and her father, James S. (Joe) Thomas Jr., might have seemed like it was pre-ordained. But that certainly wasn't the case for Thomas.
While attending Vanderbilt University, she studied economics and anthropology, and considered careers in everything except pest management. Eventually, Thomas joined the family business in response to a challenge from her dad and ended up falling in love with it.
 Arrow Exterminators' Emily Thomas has followed in the footsteps of her father, James (Joe) Thomas Jr., rather nicely. |
"I wake up excited about coming to work," Thomas says. "If you don't like your job, if it's not fun, then what's the point of doing it?"
Cognizant of the fact that she would be seen and judged as "the boss's kid," Thomas decided early on that she needed to work harder and longer than anyone else. She started by doing a little bit of everything the company had to offer, including service, sales and administrative work.
"In hindsight, that's where I learned the most, by going out and doing the work and gaining the experience I'd need to best understand the pest management industry and our business," Thomas says. "It was pretty tough at first. I was still very young and not as mature. It was humbling for me until I learned to see shades of gray, that not everything is black and white.
 Emily Thomas On |
"I ended up gaining the respect of the people I was working with daily," she adds. "It was an important first step. I can't imagine taking an idea to people who don't respect you and asking them to support it — you might as well bang your head against the wall."
Thomas's father named her COO when she was 28, quite young for a company that will reach $90 million in revenue this fiscal year.
"I'll never forget my father saying, 'This is a role you're not going to be perfect for right off the bat.' And he was right," Thomas says. "It was scary. Part of me felt like I was too young and too inexperienced. But I knew my work ethic, skill set and enthusiasm for the job would serve me and our company well.
"I recognized my youthfulness could cause some employees concern, but I felt it would also be an asset," Thomas adds. "I was able to ask the 'dumb questions' and offer seemingly ridiculous ideas because I often had a completely different perspective."
PRIDE IN HER CHOSEN PROFESSION
Thomas is extremely passionate about the industry and Arrow's growing family of associates and customers.
"We have an opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of people. How many people get to do that every day?" Thomas asks.
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