2020 Growth Leaders: Generational success

Robb, left, and Chad Haney continue to grow the company their parents founded in 1983. PHOTO: LOOKOUT PEST CONTROL

Founded in 1983 by Rod and Gina Haney, Lookout Pest Control has served the North Georgia and Chattanooga, Tenn., markets for two generations. Today, their company is run by sons Robb and Chad, who have grown it into a multi-service business that also handles crawlspace encapsulation and water mitigation.

“We grew up in the business,” Robb Haney explains. “We both were drilling on houses and in crawlspaces in our summer months from the time we were 12 years old. We both went full-time the day after graduating high school.”

As the years went by, the duo started managing day-to-day operations — including general pest control and termite routes and technicians — and conducting all of the company’s customer sales. In 2005, they took over the business so their parents could retire.

“Pest control has always been our sole focus, and we both grew up knowing this is what we wanted to do with our lives and careers,” Robb says.

The company was founded on Christian values that are still the focus today.

“We always treat others how we would like to be treated, and hold to the moral standard of doing what is right every day, at all costs,” he explains.

If there were a difference to be found between the first generation and the second, Robb says, it would be, perhaps, a more aggressive vision for growth.

“Our parents were able to lay an excellent foundation for us to build upon,” he adds. “But our vision for expansion and our sales capabilities, plus our close relationships with our employees and customers, have allowed us to exceed our expectations.”

Robb notes that building a culture of trust among customers and employees has been key to surviving, and even thriving during the pandemic this year. Lookout Pest Control’s employee turnover rate has been zero.

Looking ahead, he says, “We have been averaging growth of between 12 percent and 15 percent each year in gross revenues over the past 15 years. We are trying to maintain those numbers in 2021 and beyond.”

ABOUT LOOKOUT PEST CONTROL

HEADQUARTERS: Rossville, Ga.

2019 REVENUE: $5.6 million

PROJECTED 2020 REVENUE: $6.2 million

PROJECTED INCREASE: 11%

ROBB HANEY’S BUSINESS TIPS:

1. Adhere to your core values in everything you do, and make sure your team follows that standard.
2. Pay employees well above industry standards.
3. Create an environment where employees enjoy coming to work.
4. Maintain close relationships with employees and customers.