Anti-Pesto’s Jerauld an Accomplished Distance Runner

TAMPA, Fla. – How did a professional with a 30-year career in HR and management end up at Anti-Pesto Bug Killers, Largo, Fla.?

In early 2022, Ray Jerauld was in the process of relocating to the Tampa area to help take care of his father and he was exploring career opportunities.

“I was skimming job postings,” Jerauld recalled. “I liked the description, but I really liked the company name. It grabbed my attention. I told my now-wife (Mitzy), ‘I’ve got to meet this guy – he’s got a great sense of humor.’”

© credit | Ray Jerauld

Jerauld sent in his resume and soon met with Anti-Pesto President Howard Bright. The two shared similar business and life philosophies, and Bright was impressed with Jerauld’s HR background. He officially joined Anti-Pesto in February 2022 and has been instrumental in the company’s growth the past two years. (Bright said in 2023 Anti-Pesto had its two best months in the company’s 35-year history).

“I was brought in to help generate high quality candidates in a tight labor market – to strengthen the screening process,” Jerauld said. “Rather than just throw bodies at the problem, we wanted to bring on board people that fit our core values. And the core values are what attracted me to the company.”

Some of the changes Jerauld has instituted include doing personality profiling tests, reference checks and bringing drug screening in-house.

One of Jerauld’s hobbies that his helped him stay focused and disciplined is long-distance running. During the last 13 years, Jerauld has completed nine marathons, a 54-mile race, a 46-mile, a 50-kilometer race and just last month he completed a 100-kilometer trail race in a tropical storm. In October, Jerauld ran the Chicago Marathon on behalf of Anti-Pesto to raise money for the American Cancer Society. “I was flying,” Jerauld said. “I was doing superb up until mile 18 when I tore my groin. So, I finished in 3 hours and 59 minutes.” 

Career highlights for Jerauld include a personal best 3-hour and 17-minute finish of the New York City Marathon, and completing the 2018 Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 31 minutes, a race held during a nor'easter.

How did Jerauld become a runner? He traded the highs of cigarettes and alcohol for the “runner’s high.” “About 14 years ago, I quit smoking and drinking and I put on a ton of weight,” he said. At the time, Jerauld was working as a facilities manager at the Manatee School for the Arts and at the urging of a teacher he gave running a shot. “That same teacher said, ‘Well, why don't you try to get up to a 5k, which is 3.1 miles. And if you still don't like it, find another activity.’ Once I got up to 3.1 miles man, I ran my first race and I was literally addicted to it.”

Jerauld has also embraced the runner community and has sought ways to give back to the sport. He helped start a running program at a local charter school (middle school and high school) and he recently coached two other women who finished their very first marathons in October. “I had finished my race and was able to wait for them at the finish line and thar really gave it purpose,” Jerauld said. “It meant more to me than my own race.”

A future goal for Jerauld is to complete the London, Tokyo and Berlin Marathons, which would mean he would have run all six World Marathons (Chicago, Boston and New York being the other three).