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Kevin Damon launched The Eco Man Pest Solutions in 2015, after spending more than 20 years in the industry applying traditional products. The Durham, N.C.-based firm has aimed to be environmentally friendly from the start, proving that lower-impact, non-chemical and biological approaches can be profitable and sustainable.
Today, the successful Black-owned company maintains a predominantly residential customer base. Damon relies on a team of cross-trained universal technicians for everything from ants and bed bugs to mosquitoes and snakes, alongside a licensed termite control crew.
Meeting public wants
Damon, who is known around town as “Kevin the Eco Man,” stands by his motto: “It’s not about the bugs, it’s about the people.”
Damon says local public interest in sustainable living and urban agriculture, such as community gardens run by the city or other organizations, has been on the rise in recent years.
“There’s been a focus lately by community groups to educate residents on how to plant native species in their own gardens to attract beneficial insects,” he adds. “Educational efforts not only help Durham’s ecological health as far as soil, air and water go, but it’s also a nod to the area’s agricultural heritage. Our urban planners are realizing we can be a cosmopolitan city while still having a clean environment where we can live, work and raise our families.”
The added benefit, of course, is that The Eco Man Pest Solutions is offering the exact type of green solutions residents are being made aware of. The company responds to that by supporting local programs and educational outreach whenever possible.
Damon sees it as a win-win. “Because it’s being supported by local organizations and government, there’s an increasing sense of community responsibility and awareness of ecological health,” he adds. “We are playing a role in that as well.”
To that end, Damon currently is laying the groundwork to launch a nonprofit, tuition-free training institute to prepare young people for a career in the trades. Through the Eco Man Works Foundation, begun in 2024, he envisions the institute as having offerings for not only pest control, but plumbing, electrical and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC).
“The ultimate goal for the Eco Man brand is to be a facilitator of job creation for young people,” he says. “I didn’t have a lot of encouragement or support coming out of high school or someone who was a mentor or who said, ‘Hey, have you tried this?’ We don’t encourage our young people to find their place in the world early enough.”
Damon’s dream is to have Eco Man Technical Institutes in major cities nationwide. He also is working with local technical and trade schools to find ways to cover expenses for students in need.
Looking ahead
Because The Eco Man Pest Solutions basically states its approach in its name, Damon admits it’s easier to attract customers who are willing to pay for the extra time and labor green-focused treatments often require. It hasn’t always been the easiest path to take, especially in economic times where customers are looking at direct cost over value. But Damon notes it’s important to stay true to one’s convictions.
It’s also important, he says, to be open to trying new things. New products come to market every year with the promise of green pest management. They’re always worth a try, he says, but be realistic about whether they’re working for your team regarding efficacy and extra time or labor vs. revenue. Do your best to analyze your results from a pilot program objectively and, if it’s not working, “make the decision to move on.”
Looking ahead, Damon predicts a major surge in consumer demand for low-impact pest management and prevention. As a result, he says, “We’re going to see more eco-friendly companies with more market share. I believe that share will reach up to 10 percent within the next seven to
10 years, nationwide.”
