BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – Bug Out, a subsidiary of Environmental Pest Service, has acquired Brooksville, Fla.-based Bray’s Pest Control and A-1 Termite & Pest Control – subsidiaries of S & W Cole. The acquisition expands Bug Out’s presence into the Nature Coast of Florida, adds $2.7 million in annual pest, termite and lawn service revenues and improves the company’s ability to provide much-needed services to homeowners in the greater Brooksville area. This marks EPS’s 94th acquisition since 2010.
For more than 37 years, Bray’s Pest Control and A-1 Termite & Pest Control have been offering residential and commercial pest control services to the residents of Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Lake and Pasco counties in Florida. The company’s 40 employees, including sales representatives, service technicians and administrative staff have joined the Bug Out team. Jerry E. Cole, owner of both Bray’s Pest Control and A-1 Termite & Pest control, has been active in the pest control industry for more than sixty years. He began his career in 1960 as a route builder for Orkin Pest Control, where his cancellation rate was less than one percent. He left Orkin in 1966 as their technical director for central Florida to join Arab Pest Control. During his 16-year tenure with Arab, Cole oversaw nineteen branches, including the branch that serviced the White House. Cole was eventually named vice president of Arab Pest Control, a position he held until leaving the company when he and his wife purchased Bray’s Pest Control in 1982. Perhaps Jerry’s greatest legacy is his dedication to help growing the industry. In fact, he’s helped thirty-two former employees start their own pest control companies. “I’m excited about the partnership with Bug Out and EPS,” said Cole. “I have gotten to know the team at EPS over the past decade and knew they were the right partner for me and my family. They are committed to providing best-in-class customer service, so I’m confident our employees and customers will benefit greatly from this partnership. I know they are the best company to continue serving our customers’ needs while also taking great care of our employees.” “Jerry Cole has built two great companies and we are excited for our partnership,” said Michael Rolman, senior vice president of sales and operations for Environmental Pest Service. “This partnership will allow us to continue to expand Bug Out’s footprint and build density in the markets that we already serve throughout west central Florida.”
Originally posted on pctonline.com