Pest in Class: Expert Voices in Pest Management

FieldRoutes
  • 5.0 (69)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Pest In Class podcast from FieldRoutes is your destination for hearing insight, inspiration, and stories from fellow pest control industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Pest In Class host Amanda Salvatore will interview a new leader each episode as FieldRoutes celebrates the success of its customers while delivering software solutions to help them along their growth journey.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Opportunity Engine: How to Transform Strengths Into Spinoff Businesse

    What if the systems inside your business could become the spark for entirely new companies? In this episode, Chase Hazelwood, Owner of Go-Forth Home Services and Leah Hazelwood, CEO at Go Forth Marketing, share how they transformed the internal strengths of a home services business into a growing ecosystem of ventures spanning marketing, HR, wellness, and even high-volume printing. They break down the mindset shift that helped them see opportunity where most leaders see limitations, why systems are the real foundation for scale, and how culture becomes a competitive advantage when you design workplaces people don’t want to leave. Join us as we discuss:  [6:19] The potential sparks for spinoff businesses and their benefits [13:40] Advice for owners who are thinking about expanding services outside their niche [22:46] Sustainable systems and navigating shared success and failure Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    36 min

  2. FEB 3

    The Reputation Gap: Fixing the Customer Alignment Disconnect

    Director of Technical Operations Zachariah Boardman returns to share HomeShield Pest Control's strategy for achieving total customer alignment across their teams. Zach shares how he identified a crucial gap between sales, service, and support efforts after reviewing his company’s online feedback. He introduces his "Three S's" framework to bridge this divide, emphasizing that selling should feel like an extension of support and education, not a transaction. Zach dives into best practices for follow-through (not just follow-up), the importance of active listening and mirroring the customer's communication style, and how intentional micro-trainings can sharpen staff skills, ultimately improving retention and reputation. Join us as we discuss:  [3:37] The customer service and sales gap in dealing with online reviews [12:19] The critical difference between customer “follow up” and “follow through” [17:46] Best practices for handling a public negative customer review Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    27 min

  3. JAN 27

    Baking Experience Into SOPs: Setting Your Business Foundation

    J.D. Jaramillo, owner of and general manager at Friendly Pest Solutions in Tampa, FL, joins the podcast to share his journey from starting small to scaling to over 2,200 customers. J.D. explains the critical importance of creating a solid business foundation by developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for everything from treatment processes to sales proposals. He advises new owners on how to translate knowledge into documented procedures and emphasizes involving team members in the process. J.D. also discusses how FieldRoutes technology brought structure, automation, and critical transparency to his operations, highlighting the essential role of technology in supporting a growing team and maintaining high-quality customer service. Join us as we discuss:  [5:28] Why an early focus on SOPs and training is essential to early growth [11:10] The importance of Google reviews and an excellent online presence [16:48] How FieldRoutes’ Route Summary Report boosts tech engagement Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: FieldRoutes Register for Ignite 2026 You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    22 min

  4. JAN 20

    The Technician Performance Trifecta: Recognition, Rewards, and Retention

    Taylor Olson, CEO and co-founder of Applause, shares how his personal and professional journey into the service industry led him to create a powerful technician performance management tool — Applause. Taylor explains how they help pest control businesses drive customer satisfaction and employee engagement through automated recognition and instant rewards. He also discusses core features like automated Google reviews, NPS scoring, and how tipping directly impacts customer retention and technician motivation. Discover how their new Scorecards feature integrates data from FieldRoutes and telematics to give managers and technicians real-time transparency, leading to measurable gains in retention and significant cost savings by reducing issues like accidents and reservices. Join us as we discuss:  [2:53] Important lessons learned from early door-to-door sales experience [10:53] Boosting performance management and customer engagement through an intuitive mobile app [19:02] Giving owner-operators direct control over their techs’ goals and rewards Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 FieldRoutes Applause You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    31 min

  5. JAN 13

    Why Owners Need Other Owners: The Real Benefit of Networking

    What if your next big business breakthrough isn’t in a spreadsheet but in a conversation? In this episode, Thomas Harris, CEO at Uinta Pest Solutions, joins us to talk about how networking and conferences changed everything for his business. He shares how connecting with other owners helped him grow from a one-person operation to a thriving company built on relationships and referrals. Thomas breaks down his simple three-part strategy for every event, explains how he’s turned local meetups and Facebook groups into consistent lead sources, and talks about why getting out of your routine is just as important as refining it. Join us as we discuss:  [5:51] How networking supports both business growth and mental health [13:17] How networking had directly shaped Thomas’s business growth [19:48] Where to find your local business community Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 Baton  You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    24 min

  6. JAN 6

    Put Your Numbers in Timeout: Building a Call Center People Want to Be Part Of

    What does it take to build a call center where people actually want to show up? In this episode, Steve Short, VP of Sales and Marketing at Fox Pest Control, shares how his team creates a culture rooted in motivation, mentorship, and accountability. Rather than focusing on numbers alone, Steve explains why Fox’s call center thrives on leadership development and shared values. He dives into the company’s philosophy of calling managers mentors, the power of leading from the front, and how growth-minded hiring creates stronger teams. From putting “numbers in timeout” to teaching new reps that every call matters, Steve reveals the mindset that turns a grind into a mission. Join us as we discuss:  [4:45] What a healthy call center really looks like [18:48] How to turn around a call center with bad vibes [28:32] Why authenticity beats a perfect script every time Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    28 min

  7. 09/16/2025

    Pest Control and Parenthood: How the Goins Built Grace Into Their Business

    When you’re building a business and a family at the same time, every system you put in place matters. Noelle and Rian Goins, owners of Get Goins Pest Control in Los Angeles, return to Pest in Class with their newest team member: baby Grace. In this heartfelt conversation, the Goins share how they “baby-proofed” their business: from paying down debt and moving into their first home, to charging for inspections and adjusting their pricing to keep pace with inflation. They talk candidly about the challenges of postpartum, the surprises of slower summers, and how they redefined success around being present as a family. Join us as we discuss:  [10:39] Why Get Goins started charging for inspections [15:17] The most important system: revisiting pricing with confidence [25:57] Advice for entrepreneurs expecting their first child Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 PestWorld You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    35 min

  8. 09/09/2025

    Protect Your People and Profits: Seven Big Payroll Mistakes to Avoid

    Your trucks might run on gas, but your business runs on people, and payroll mistakes can grind everything to a halt. This episode, we’re joined by Inova leaders Mary Leveridge, Executive VP, and Kathey Palmer, Chief Growth Officer. They unpack the seven most common payroll and HR traps that field service companies face. From worker misclassification and time-tracking pitfalls to prevailing wage compliance and the risks of manual payroll entry, they show how to avoid costly mistakes and build a business that is stronger, more resilient, and more profitable. Join us as we discuss:  [8:04] Employee vs. contractor: misclassification explained [23:06] Why onboarding defines employee retention [31:49] Manual data entry: small errors, big consequences Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Register for Ignite 2026 ServiceTitan You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Pest in Class in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    41 min
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About

The Pest In Class podcast from FieldRoutes is your destination for hearing insight, inspiration, and stories from fellow pest control industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Pest In Class host Amanda Salvatore will interview a new leader each episode as FieldRoutes celebrates the success of its customers while delivering software solutions to help them along their growth journey.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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