Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryce Wood.
Hi Bryce, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in California. When i was 9 yrs old, My family moved to a cattle ranch where my younger brother and I learned how to work. We moved sprinkler pipe, fixed fence, and became masters of “redneck engineering”.
We later moved to Wellsville, and I went to High school at Mountain Crest, graduating in 2000.
I served a Mission for the LDS Church in Michigan, and loved every minute of it. When I got home, I formed a band, and have been performing actively to date.
Shortly after my Mission, I went through some very difficult times. My reaction was unhealthy and I developed a drinking problem.
In 2005 I hated my job. I had developed substance problems, and was looking for a change.
In the help wanted part of the news paper, I saw an ad looking for pest control technicians. I applied, and found the owner of the company, Cal, to be a very kind and friendly fellow. He offered me the job, and I accepted.
For the next seven years I developed skills. I learned elements of construction, business management, customer care, and maintenance. If i was to become Ebeneezer Scrooge, Cal was my Mr. Fezziwig. He became a friend and mentor.
Through this time, my alcoholism was beginning to get the best of me, and I ended up in the hospital. Only through loving support from family and friends, I was able quite drinking and get my life in order.
In 2013, now married to my wife Natalie, and starting a family, I took a job at a different company, where I worked for 4 years. I was then approached by a sporting goods store to manage their gun department. For two years I worked retail, when one evening, Cal came into the store. I was frustrated with the hours and store drama, and I asked Cal if he would be interested in selling me the company. He agreed to meet, and offered very generous terms.
We assumed ownership in 2019. Natalie handles the back office work, and I deal with the boots on the ground. Since taking over the company, we have doubled sales, grown our base and visibility in the community.
I love running this business in our community. We have developed so many meaningful friendships as our customers trust us to be in their homes. We have worked with wonderful employees, treasure the relationships we make. It’s an amazing experience running a company with your wife. She brings so much to the table, and sees things that I don’t. There are challenges, but on the whole, it’s been a tremendous blessing for our family.
I hope I can pass on some of the same grace that Cal gave to me. Using this company as a way to help others become better versions of themselves.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been anything but smooth! I had no idea how difficult it can be to staff a seasonal business. Finding employees year to year can be a challenge.
We are also at the mercy of the elements. We rely heavily on snow removal in the winter, and when we have a light snow year, things get pretty tight.
We also work hard to overcome some of the stereotypes about the pest control industry. We want to build trust and educate our customers.
We’ve been impressed with Cache Valley Extermination, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a pest control company. Our slogan is “Killing the things that bug you the most”. We handle everything from spiders, wasps, and creepy stuff to termites and other wood destroying pests, and we also do rodents, roaches, and bedbugs.
We also fertilize lawns, do weed control, and fruit tree spraying.
We are not a sales company, we don’t knock doors. Our focus is knowing pests and how to control them. We educate our customers so they feel empowered to handle the problem they’re facing. We never sell based on fear or the unknown.
We also take pride in being good environmental stewards. We aren’t afraid to turn down work if it will do more harm environmentally than good, or we encourage cultural and behavioral changes to solve pest problems instead of going right to the application of chemicals.
What’s next?
We hope to continue a positive growth trajectory. Our son has expressed interest in running the company one day, and I would love to have it in a place where that could be a great opportunity for him.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cachevalleyextermination.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cachevalley_extermination/
- Facebook: @cachevalleyextermination
