People, Values and Pride

At Josh Fleenor’s Pest Pros Pest Solutions, success isn’t built on hidden tricks or industry secrets; it’s rooted in something far more visible. A team that cares, a culture grounded in strong values and a deep sense of pride in serving their community have set the company apart, proving that sometimes the simplest formula is the most powerful.

Pest Pros Pest Solutions was founded in Sacramento, Calif., in 2018 by Josh Fleenor and Zack Burrows, two longtime friends. They had worked together before and recognized each other as high performers, but until setting out on their own, it seemed to both that something was holding them back.

“At times, I found myself frustrated with the way the business we worked for was operating,” Fleenor, president and co-owner, said. “It wasn’t wrong; it just didn’t always align with the way I felt things should be done. Sometimes it seemed like an us-versus-them situation, and I can’t operate that way; when you’re all on one team, everyone should be playing for the same win.”

For Fleenor, this feeling came to a head shortly after his three-month-old daughter was admitted to the hospital for open-heart surgery. “It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with,” he said. “After spending two days in the hospital, I finally got to hold her … and suddenly my work phone started vibrating and my first instinct was to set her down. I immediately thought, ‘Whoa, something has to change. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it for her — I’m going to build a legacy for my family and give our people the opportunity to do the same.’ That was the moment I called Zack and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

WHERE THEY ARE NOW. That spark kindled, and Pest Pros quickly grew. Today, they have created opportunities for 61 team members across four locations, and the wins just keep coming. Fleenor attributes this momentum to two things: (1) being genuine about who they are and what they do, and (2) providing an unmatched experience.

“In the beginning, I spent a ton of time online connecting with property managers,” he recalled. “We made a lot of posts about who we are as a team and what we’re trying to do with our business. I found that people latch onto that when it’s real.”

The proof is in their results: From 2024 to 2025, Pest Pros saw revenue increase by nearly 60 percent. In 2025, the company generated more than $9 million in yearly revenue, which put the firm right on the cusp of the PCT Top 100, one of Fleenor’s goals. Fleenor said this growth is achieved mostly through word of mouth. “We’re going to come through for our clients, we’re going to wow them with our service and keep doing that over and over again,” he said.

HOW THEY GOT HERE. When asked how they manage to surpass client expectations so consistently, Fleenor’s answer is simple: The culture they’ve built around their core values shapes every move they make. Those core values include the following:

Whatever it Takes. Making promises is one thing; upholding them is another. To the Pest Pros team, doing whatever it takes means drowning out the noise and striving for excellence in everything they do, in both their personal and professional lives. “Things were a little rough in the beginning,” Fleenor admitted. “We were a small team and we didn’t have big capital behind us, but through pure determination, we grew wildly that first year.”

Love People. For an industry as personal as pest control, it should come as no surprise that people factor heavily into Pest Pros’ recipe for success. Whether interacting with team members, clients or the community, the team acts with respect, compassion and integrity. The result? “We’ve never struggled to hire great people. If you’re hiring A-players, they’re usually hanging around other A-players who often also make great team members.”

Commitment to Personal Growth. Fleenor is quick to note, however, that loving people doesn’t mean sweeping the hard conversations under the rug. Quite the opposite, in fact. “Any team moving like we’re moving, there’s going to be friction. You have to be able to address it constructively, because that’s where you work problems out and grow from the experience,” he said. “I want us all to grow from within, so I’m constantly pouring into myself to inspire the same from the rest of the team.”

Genuine Connection. In today’s fast-paced landscape, the job is always changing. Service professionals are assigned new routes and clients, and it’s imperative everyone involved feels well-informed and taken care of. “If our clients loved the last service professionals that came out, we want them to feel the same way with the next one,” he said.

Giving Back. Last year, Pest Pros partnered with United Way to make Christmas merrier for families in the Greater Sacramento area. They hosted a toy drive that enabled them to donate 1,200 toys (worth more than $40,000) to children in need. They have no intention of slowing down. “I’ve seen our success as a catalyst for giving back at a higher level,” Fleenor said. “The more we grow, the more influence and purpose we can bring to our community.”

Intentionality. Fleenor succinctly explained the final piece of Pest Pros’ outlook, tying everything together: “It’s one thing to have all these values, but if you’re not acting with intention when carrying them out, if you’re not driving awareness in both your team and yourself every step of your day, then you fail.”

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. It’s no wonder then, that, when asked about the future of Pest Pros, Fleenor’s first thought is footprint and not financial. Setting a monetary goal is easy, he said, but the real challenge lies in maintaining that strong, consistent culture of support, giving and intentionality no matter what obstacles are thrown their way. They are intent on growing the business while keeping its heart the same.

Fleenor has a not-so-secret weapon for that, too: “When things get tough, I think back on that moment in the hospital with my daughter and push forward,” he said. “Doing right by those we love is what it’s all about.”

The author is PCT contributing writer.