Feature Story

Nearly 200 employees and as many service vehicles were in Crowley recently for the annual recertification of J&J Exterminating technicians. The group posed for this photo on historic Miller Field.

Crowley company now largest in Louisiana

BY STEVE BANDY
MANAGING EDITOR
   Pest-control technicians from throughout Louisiana converged on The Rice Capital recently, but it wasn’t because of an outbreak of any kind.
The annual recertification of pest control professionals for J&J Exterminating was held in Crowley with Bobby and Robert John, owners, hosting the nearly 200 employees in their home town.
Founded in 1960 by Robert “Bobby” John Sr. and his brother, Harry P. John, J&J Exterminating has become a giant among Louisiana pest control companies — both geographically and in terms of quality service.
The business opened in Crowley in a small building near the corner of North Avenue F and Second Street (U.S. 90) and, thanks to good family ties and a door-to-door campaign, established a service base.
As the business grew, Bobby’s son, Robert, began to work evenings and weekends while attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana and working on his subsequent degree in business administration.
Shortly after 1984, Harry John passed away, leaving the father-son team to take the company forward.
That was nearly 20 years ago and the combination of Bobby’s selling and communication skills and Robert’s business savvy have have proven a successful and profitable business venture. J&J Exterminating has grown by leaps and bounds, its recent acquisition of Couigeh Southern Environmental in New Orleans making it the largest pest control company in Louisiana.
The company has expanded from one to nine offices, from 12 to 170 employees and from six to 170 service vehicles.
For J&J, being a leader has meant excelling at all the basic doctrine of a top organization — one of the most important factors being a strong, committed work force.
“I read an awful lot, and have been impressed with people who are successful,” said Bobby. “I have yet to find any of these organizations that succeeded that had a different attitude than ours. The key is hiring good people, treating them well and letting them know they have a future.
“Employees are tired of being taken for granted, mistreated and not appreciated,” he continued. “We owe much of the success of this company to the individuals with experience and talent who joined us from companies where they had no opportunity to develop. We take care of them and they go tout and take care of our customers.”
Robert said that while J&J’s pay scale is an important part of keeping good employees, the real challenge is in providing growth opportunities for its growing team of technicians and sales personnel.
“We are to the point where we can afford to have some people in middle-management roles,” Robert sale. “Within a branch office, we have managers for the different areas of business, such as general pest control or termite control.”
A successful aspect of the maintenance of a company’s branch offices has been adding incentives for the managers.
“All of our offices are set up as separate corporations, where each manager has a small percentage of that local office — not only a percentage of profit, but a percentage of ownership,” Robert explained. “ Having a vested interest gives them something to work toward, and really makes them get up and go.”
Image
From the trucks on the streets to their office locations and appearance, J&J has made it a mission to put its best image forward for employees and customers.
“We strive to create a good image, as far as the cleanliness of our equipment and fleet, but that also goes for the appearance of our physical plays,” Bobby said. “It’s a big part of our success.”
The image of cleanliness and quality also extends into the company’s advertising campaign, which has won a number of awards from the National Pest Control Association.
In addition to the advertising awards, J&J has been named to the Pest Control Technology’s edition of the Leadership Awards and Bobby John has been named on more than one occasion to the state Louisiana Pest Control Commission.
High-Tech Service
With operations in 25 Louisiana parishes, J&J Exterminating has expanded not only in service area, but also in the types of pest control available to customers. The company uses the highest technology to fight Formosan termites, a relatively new breed of termite that is threatening homes, businesses and trees in Louisiana.
“Formosan termites have become a major pest control concern,” says Bobby John. “A colony of Formosan termites can consume 1,000 pounds of wood in a year. A native termite colony usually consumes about seven pounds.”
This efficient breed of termite has flourished in the United States. commissioner of Agriculture Bob Odom has created a task force to fight Formosan termites in Louisiana, and the U.S. Congress has appropriated $5 million for Operation Fullstop, a full-scale war against the pests.
Several Formosan colonies have been discovered in Acadiana.
J&J Exterminating uses the Sentricon Baiting System, developed by Dow AgroSciences, to combat Formosan termites. The Sentricon system takes the offensive against the termites, baiting them before they can wreak havoc on a building or tree.
J&J’s professionals are certified in he use of this technologically advanced system and have become experts in the treatment and eradication of termites.
“Sentricon not only offers a safe method for handling a devastating problem, but it also offers an environmentally friendly solution,” robert John says. “It’s the only scientifically proven system to eradicate Formosan termites. Every site with a Sentricon system is monitored by the local pest control operator and by Dow through a computerized database system.”
Dow recognized J&J at its annual convention in Dallas for having the highest Sentricon sales in the Southeast for markets its size. John has expanded the company’s sales team in all markets.
“We make it our business to understand the communities we serve,” John said. “We’ve enlarged our sales team to better represent each community.”
Both the sales team and the professionals in the field undergo constant training to keep up with the latest pest control technology.
In addition to protecting homes and businesses from termites and other pests. J&J Exterminating makes sure to give to the community in other ways.
“The communities we serve have helped up get to where we are,” John said. “We’re ready to give something back to them.”
J&J supports everything from recreation baseball programs to Christmas in April. John and others in the company are actively involved with the St. Jude’s Dream Home each year. The company recently set up Sentricon systems at the Shadows-on-the-Teche in New Iberia and at the Alexandria Zoo to help preserve Louisiana’s landmarks.
Staying involved with the local communities is an important part of J&J’s business. While the company grows, having a local presence remains a top priority.
“Because we’re locally owned, our customers know that, if they have a problem, we’re right here and they can call us anytime,” John said. “We don’t have to answer to a management team thousands of miles away. We live in the communities we serve.”

Crowley Post Signal • 602 North Parkerson Avenue • Crowley, LA
Ph: 337-783-3450 • Fax: 337-788-0949