KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jay Gunter Besheer, president of Kansas City-based Gunter Pest & Lawn, is approaching his 50-year work anniversary with the family-owned firm.
Besheer is the grandson of Reggie Gunter, longtime owner of Gunter, and he began working for the company when he was only 13.
Gunter has been operating in Kansas City since 1950. Besheer officially started working at Gunter in 1969, but in the early 1960s he spent his childhood and teenage summers alongside his grandfather and his employees, often entertaining homeowners as the service was performed. “I spent many a Saturday afternoon riding along with my grandfather as he exterminated homes,” Besheer recalled. “We had a great routine. He would introduce himself, then introduce me, then proceed to say, ‘Jay, tell the nice lady what you want to do when you grow up.’ I would say, ‘I’m gonna be a bugman, just like my grandpa.’”
Reggie Gunter transitioned the business to Jay’s father, Norman O. Besheer, who left his career in law to join Gunter. Norman Besheer became president upon Reggie’s death in 1979, and he still works for Gunter as CEO (at age 89).
After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1977, Jay Besheer joined the company full time. “When I graduated, I dove head first into the job I had always known to be my dream job. I have always felt lucky to have known what I wanted to do with my adult life at such an early age,” he said.
Under Norman’s and Jay Besheer’s leadership, Gunter has achieved many milestones. In 2001, Gunter acquired A&L Pest Control; A&L was one of the premier pest management firms in Greater Kansas City, with more than 20,000 clients at the time of the merger. The merger of A&L and Gunter formed one of the largest pest management firms in the Midwest. Other purchases throughout the years included Cleartox Termite Control; Johnson & Johnson Pest Control; Beaman Pest Control; Allied Exterminators; Woodbury Pest Control (St. Joseph); and Power Pest Control (St. Joseph).
As of 2017, Gunter had more than 27 employees and more than 100,000 clients. The company prides itself on using the latest technology and putting customers first.
