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Lee Thompson has joined Smarter Launch, a Mesa, Ariz.-based provider of proposal software for pest control companies. As an account executive, Thompson will work directly with pest control owners and operators to show how Smarter Launch can strengthen their sales process and increase the long-term value of their businesses.
Thompson brings more than 20 years of executive leadership across Fortune 50 companies and private equity. He entered the pest control industry with Terminix, where a move closer to family turned into a long-term career. He went on to co-found and grow his own pest control company, then joined Certus as director of sales before being named VP of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). In 2025, Thompson founded Trivie Business Brokers, where he works with home services owners on valuation, growth and exit strategies. Outside of work, Thompson lives in Auburn, Ala., with his wife, Jasmin, and their two children, Evie and Tripp.
Across hundreds of M&A deals and evaluations, Thompson says he has seen two issues repeatedly erode business value: weak accounting and poor sales tracking. Buyers want to see clear revenue and a documented sales process, and owners who can’t produce either face a harder, longer road when it matters most.
“I met the founders of Smarter Launch because I was frustrated the product didn’t exist yet,” he said in the news release. “When I met Darren (Hunsaker, company founder), the team was building it, and I saw the vision immediately. I’ve been on the Smarter Launch train from the beginning. I meet with owners and operators constantly, and 97 percent of them aren’t looking to sell. They’re looking to improve their business and grow sales. This is a tool every company needs in their arsenal.”
In his first year, Thompson will focus on helping owners recognize how much value sits in a process most companies overlook.
“I don’t think people value the proposal process enough,” he said in the news release. “It’s an essential tool to help owners take their business, and their sales, to the next level.”
About Smarter Launch
Smarter Launch is a proposal software platform built specifically for the pest control industry. Designed by industry professionals, the platform helps companies create clear, professional service proposals that homeowners can easily understand. With features like visual diagrams, customizable branding, automated follow-ups and interactive proposal tools, Smarter Launch focuses on helping pest control businesses communicate value, close more sales and streamline their sales process.
