Anti-Pesto Service Professional Johnson Earns College Degree

LARGO, Fla. — Since joining Anti-Pesto Bugkillers in 2008, Jared Johnson has become a valued employee and an important asset in the growth of the Largo, Fla.-based company.  When not working to keep customers’ homes free of pests, Johnson has been working on a longtime personal goal — earning a college degree. That goal became a reality this month when Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and policy, graduating with magna cum laude honors from the University of South Florida.

“It gives me a lot of pride because it was something I didn’t think I would be able to do. It was a long road to get there, but to see how happy my wife and kids were was the best part,” Johnson said. 

The idea to pursue a college degree came from wife Merinda, and the encouragement came from Merinda, son Noah (age 18), daughter Corie (13), and the Anti-Pesto team led by longtime owner/operator Howard Bright.

“Merinda saw how hard I was studying for the certified pest control exam in Florida and she said, ‘You need to go to college.’ I never thought it was something I could succeed at, but she really urged me to do it,” said Johnson, who joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school, and has been working in pest control for 13 years.

Johnson actually started his college degree pursuit prior to joining Anti-Pesto, and when he interviewed for the job he was upfront with Bright. “I’ve tried to schedule my classes (both in-class courses and online courses) around my work schedule as best as possible, but there will be occasions where I will need to take an exam in the morning. [Bright] has always been willing to work with me because he knows the importance of an education, and he know how important this is to me. It’s been great to have that support from him.”

Johnson, in turn, has provided Anti-Pesto with high quality work that has benefitted the company on several levels. As a flex tech supervisor, he divides his time between the field and office, managing a crew of three service technicians and performing challenging work such as termite control, bed bug management and attic restoration. “He sets the standard for Anti-Pesto with his professionalism. He ‘walks the walk and talks the talk,’” said Bright.

Now that Johnson has earned his degree, his sights are set on becoming a board certified entomologist (BCE) and one of that credential’s requirements is a college degree.

Johnson hopes that his journey can serve as an example to other service professionals. “I think a college degree is important because it shows you have a desire to better yourself; managers and owners look for people that are driven. I’ve met a lot of guys in this industry who are really smart but, like me, don’t think they have the brains for college. With hard work and determination you will be surprised what you can accomplish.”