Start-Up Journeys: Introducing the Terrific 10 for 2026

Meet the Terrific 10 of 2026

Out with the old, in with the new: Three years ago, I completed 16 years of “Start-Up Diaries,” writing about my experiences in running Schopen Pest Solutions and transitioned to “Start-Up Stories,” which followed the adventures of 17 companies that I coached through the growing pains of business.

This year, like a cockroach going through its fourth-instar stage, this column is morphing again. Through “Start-Up Journeys,” I will work with 10 pest management professionals (PMPs), helping them with key topics that resonate with most small- to medium-sized companies.

Key takeaways

• A new mission: “Start-Up Journeys” shifts the focus to 10 specific PMPs, tackling the most common hurdles for small-to-medium businesses.
• Core growth Areas: The series will cover everything from referral programs and company manuals to upselling and building a company hierarchy.
• Diverse perspectives: The “Terrific 10” represent a wide range of experience, from brand-new start-ups to 30-year-old family legacies looking for their next level of growth.

The roadmap for growth

Some business topics can be as difficult to understand as watching a foreign-language halftime show without a translator. Others are straightforward in theory but arduous to start. My goal is to make these concepts easy and fun for our 10 owners.

Over the coming months, we will dive deep into:

• Referral programs and unique marketing ideas
• Free (or almost free) marketing for start-ups
• Company manuals and HR concerns
• Employee training and leadership development
• Doubling revenue through follow-up services and upselling
• Establishing recurring clients and core values

Introducing the “Terrific 10”

I can’t wait to jump into these businesses and pass the lessons we learn along to you. Here are the entrepreneurs joining us on this journey:

The Texas contingent

• Joey O’Neill (Alli Pest Control, Woodlands): Started in July 2023, Joey currently leads a team of two.
• Joey Baker (Critter Gitters, Crockett): Along with his wife, Nellie, Joey runs a five-person operation founded in 2006 and is ready to scale.

Legacy and family businesses

• Andrew Reynolds, MS (Apple’s Environmental, Lebanon, Tenn.): A second-generation PMP at a 30-year-old family business with six employees.
• Jeremy Goins (Pesky Critters, Troy, Mo.): A bass-fishing champion and second-generation PMP whose team of eight cracked the $1 million barrier this year.
• John Driscoll (Magnum Pest Control, Groveland, N.Y.): Founded in 2019, John works with his wife and daughter; he’s looking to build on 20 percent growth.

The growth seekers

• Jonathan Sargent (Sargent Pest Solutions, Mauldin, S.C.): A Clemson alumnus with nine employees, Jonathan has seen steady growth since 2005 but wants to reach the “next level.”
• Melisa Arnold, ACE (Horizon Pest Solutions, New Cambria, Kan.): A LinkedIn power-user who started in 2020 and is ready to take her one-employee business further.
• Chad Highley, ACE (Environmental Pest Control, Lawton, Okla.): Since purchasing a 21-year-old business in 2019, Chad has maintained a 15 percent annual growth rate with his eight employees.

Rapid scalers

• Joshua Boone (Boone Wildlife and Pest Solutions, Paw Paw, Mich.): Launched in early 2024, Joshua already reached $800,000 in revenue and is focused on upselling and culture.
• John Stopka (Liberty Pest Control, Paducah, Ky.): Co-founded in 2024, this company has already surpassed $1 million. John is now focusing on repeatable systems and leadership.

I am energized to learn from these entrepreneurs and share their breakthroughs with you throughout 2026!