Pete Schopen | Pest Management Professional

Before my oldest son was born, my wife and I had an epic argument on what we should name him....

I grew up on a farm in Western Nebraska, way up in the high plains of the Sand Hills, just...

In July, I spoke at the Northern Illinois Home Inspectors Association’s annual conference. It was great. About 40 attendees listened...

Because we serve the Chicagoland area, my company is fortunate to have many millionaire (and two billionaire) clients. You’d think...

Indulge my poetic side for a moment, won’t you? Ahem: Ode to the Yellow jacket September, for most, is the...

When I pulled up to Mrs. Brown’s home that long-ago summer, I noticed she had two adorable preschool-age kids, one...

Many moons ago, when I was a waiter at an exclusive country club in the Chicago suburbs, I worked with...

When I was 19, I spent the summer as an outdoor technician for my dad’s company. I did all of...

Have you noticed that hardly anyone volunteers anymore? It used to be that you’d have waiting lists to get into...

Years ago in Chicago, I inspected for termites at a brick bungalow with a cellar and an attached crawlspace. The...

Recently, within the span of a few days, three of my pest management brethren (in California, Wisconsin and Michigan, respectively)...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been working. When I was 14 years old, I’d mow the grass...

I love to play Scrabble. Growing up on a farm in Nebraska, our winter days were long and weekends even...

A few years ago, I visited my chiropractor because my back was killing me. I explained to him I hurt it...

My brother Drake, owner of Mid Central Pest Control in East Dundee, Ill., recently asked me to help train our...