EP# 170 - Todd Farley on Transitioning Careers and Thriving in Pest Control

Ever wondered what it's like to transition from managing a New York grocery store to becoming a pest control expert in Florida? Todd Farley's journey is nothing short of intriguing, and on this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, he shares every twist and turn. From a chance career change influenced by a family friend to navigating the challenges of launching a pest control business just before COVID-19 hit, Todd's story is one of resilience and adaptability. Gain valuable insights as he dispels common pest control myths, emphasizing realistic expectations and the importance of persistence.

Todd also provides a behind-the-scenes look at A.P.E Pest Control's essential services, covering everything from general household pest issues to the more specialized rodent and wildlife removal. He underscores the importance of sealing homes to keep unwanted critters at bay, a crucial service in Florida's unique environment. Listen to Todd's candid reflections on overcoming obstacles, staying optimistic, and how his team managed to thrive despite the pandemic. This conversation is both inspiring and practical, offering expert advice on maintaining a pest-free home.

A.P.E. Pest Control
Todd Farley
9143 Caloosa Road
Fort Myers, FL 33967
(239) 339-3769
apepestcontrol@gmail.com
WEBSITE

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, cabo, jim Schaller.

Speaker 2: 0:11

Welcome Good Neighbors to episode number 170 of the Good Neighbor Podcast Estero. Today we have Good Neighbor Todd Farley from A. P. E. Pest Control Todd, welcome. Hey, thank you for having us Absolutely Always good to get to know people here in the community and what they do. And without further ado, I guess let's jump right in. And why don't you share a little bit about what you do over at ?

Speaker 3: 0:36

Yes, so I'm owner-operator of a local pest control company here. We opened our doors in 2019. And we cover every area from Port Charlotte down to Marco Island and we handle a lot of GHP your general household pest issues, rodent removal, wildlife removal and specialize in the seal up of a home to keep the unwanted critters out.

Speaker 2: 1:03

Absolutely Very important down here in Florida. Yeah, 24-7. Yes, yes. So let's back up your story a little bit here. How did you get involved in this industry?

Speaker 3: 1:14

Honestly, it was a fluke. Back in 96, I was a manager of a grocery store in a small town where I grew up, in New York, and they were going to be filing bankruptcy, so there was a lot of whispers that the store may be shutting down. So I said, well, she's, you know, I better go look for another career because I may walk in, I'd have a job. And uh, a family friend of ours, who we were in a fire department together, was, uh, working for a small family, uh, pest control company. And he says hey, man, I know you're looking for another career. How about you come on and be an exterminator? And I went man, you're out of your mind.

Speaker 3: 1:54

Because I had that same stereotype. You know, exterminators were just a bunch of, like, you know, non-educated, you know whatever you know. And I, I took advantage of it. I was still living at home with my parents and uh, I said, you know whatever you know. And I took advantage of it. I was still living at home with my parents and I said you know what, why not? Let's just make a career change? And so what? 30 years today, I'm still doing it, still doing it.

Speaker 2: 2:15

Must be doing something right. Yeah, so we've all had some type of I want to say challenge or obstacle along our journey that we can maybe look back at now and say you know what, I'm in a better place now, but you know, I did go through this. Is there something that happened along your journey?

Speaker 3: 2:32

honestly, uh, yeah, uh. When we opened our doors in 2019, shortly thereafter covid hit and I was scared to death because the whole world just shut down. And I'm like, oh boy, here we go. I just, you know, I put my my savings into opening up this business and now we're stuck at home making no money, and it was nerve-wracking, um, and it was quiet for a couple of weeks, but then people started get a little bit more comfortable with having people come out and take care of their home, because obviously now they're home all the time, so seeing all the things that they don't want to see, and so I was kind of thankful for that, and we just pulled up our bootstraps and said you know, let's just make the best of it and we'll get through it. And here we are, so we're still flourishing.

Speaker 2: 3:17

There you go, persevere right through and push right through. Absolutely Are Absolutely.

Speaker 3: 3:28

Are there any maybe myths or misconceptions surrounding what you do that we could clear up for our listeners?

Speaker 3: 3:37

I guess the biggest misconception that people get when they're dealing with pest control is they think that we're magicians.

Speaker 3: 3:41

A lot of times, once you treat a home, they expect to see nothing. And you know, I give every one of our clients just realistic expectations because there's so many of them out there that just kind of, you know, pull the wool over their eyes and say, oh, you won't see it, you won't see anything clean, um, and it's not normal. I mean, you can see an insect here and there that may, you know, get in because we use a lot of non-repellent products, um, which allows that the insect to cross that barrier, get that material on them. But it takes sometimes 24 or 48 hours for it to succumb to that material and you know so you may see one or two in-house. So I always let all of our clients know that you know it gets worse before it gets better. It's not unusual to see one here and there, but you won't have the abundance, for the reason why you call this in the first place, and I probably like the biggest misconception that a lot of people hear over the years Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 4:34

So do you notice anything trending in the industry?

Speaker 3: 4:39

Is there anything new? Not really. I mean, it's always a learning this industry. You're always learning something new. There's always some new technology, there's new products. I tend to stick with what I know works. I'm always worried about trying new products because, you know, I have a great reputation of solving the issues and if I take product that they claim works the best and it doesn't, you know, succeed by expectations, then I feel like I lost, you know. But I don't mind trying some on some getting pick homes, just to get an idea what's out there, because there's definitely everything's evolving with how it works and the speed of it.

Speaker 2: 5:16

So yep Technology and changing everything Not always for the better, but sometimes but, so you mentioned you were from New York. What brought you down to Southwest Florida?

Speaker 3: 5:30

Well, originally it was the company that I started working for 30 years ago.

Speaker 3: 5:35

Um, we, we started in new york and then from there I went to, uh, carson city, nevada, for a short period of time, back to new york, and then the owner was saying well, we're going to open up a branch here in florida and I said all right, well, I I hate winter, so let me go down, take a look and see what's going on, and I love it down here, and uh, so I came down here and it a lot of the things just didn't go the way they were portrayed and that's why I ended up leaving and starting my own there we go, and the rest is history that's it.

Speaker 2: 6:08

So I know being a business owner can be very demanding and you probably don't have a lot of free time, but what do you enjoy doing when you get a moment?

Speaker 3: 6:17

A lot of things. You know I do work a lot, but when I do have some free time, spending time with my family here my wife is one of seven kids, so when we get together on the weekends it's like a family reunion. There's plenty of us hanging around, we all eat dinner and have a good time. Uh, I do love spending time on the water, so anytime I get a chance to go to the beach or on a boat, uh, we do that. And uh, I recently purchased a classic car that I'm in the process of starting to work on to restore, just because that's kind of like my hobby that I've had since I was a kid.

Speaker 2: 6:49

Very, nice, nice. What kind of car.

Speaker 3: 6:51

It's a 1954 Coupe.

Speaker 2: 6:54

Wow, very nice, very nice. That'll be nice to be driving around here soon, right?

Speaker 3: 6:59

Yeah, well, we'll see. It's a slow process with, given the time that I have, but I'm hoping to get it done within the next couple of years.

Speaker 2: 7:07

There you go, there we go. So is there one thing you wish our listeners knew about, ape, that maybe they're not aware of?

Speaker 3: 7:16

um, I mean not really. It's more along the lines as I've always I've always liked to shop local. Uh, there's a lot of competition out there and you know I'm not saying that we're the best out there. I mean, you know I am kind of partial to us because it's me, but I've got a lot of years in this industry and you know, just letting people know that I'm actually out there in a field doing work and it's not just some greenhorn person that we hire. So when they do get hired, they go through my training process, which is pretty intense. And I don't lose If I take on a project. I'm not satisfied until they're satisfied and I'll do whatever I've got to do. Sometimes I lose my hat over a job, but it is what it is, it's part of the business. I want to make sure that, at the end of the day, what we were set out to do took place.

Speaker 2: 8:10

Absolutely and providing that extra customer service which is so rare nowadays. Yeah especially down here? Absolutely so. How would our listeners go about contacting you if they had any questions?

Speaker 3: 8:26

we have our website, which is apepestcontrol. com, or they could reach us at our office line, which is 239 339 3769, or we have Facebook. We have Instagram, the social media stuff, so they can always find us on there as well and DM us that way. Seven, six, nine, or we have Facebook Uh, we have Instagram, you know the social media stuff, so they could always find us on there as well, and, uh, and.

Speaker 2: 8:46

DMS. That way, very good, todd any last words for our listeners.

Speaker 3: 8:51

No, I just appreciate the opportunity to uh, you know, get the name out there and uh and see what happens.

Speaker 2: 8:58

Absolutely, Todd. Thank you for being such a good neighbor. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and I hope to see you out in the community soon.

Speaker 3: 9:05

All right, I appreciate it, jim. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 9:07

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast E Astero. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPEsterocom. That's GNPEsterocom, or call 239-296-2621.