Episode 265

Mar 12

2 min read

3/12/26

Topic: 100 Years In: How Sprague Pest Grows & Wins in Commercial Services

Guest: AJ Treleven, Executive Vice President, Sprague Pest Solutions

Click here to listen.

Click here to watch.

In this episode we discuss:

Our sponsors Coalmarch by Workwave, PestSure, Voice for Pest & Forshaw
PMP Industry Insiders Peer Groups
AJ's background and how how the company was founded in 1926 by William Benjamin Sprague in Tacoma, Wash., and was later purchased by AJ’s great-grandfather during the Great Depression
How AJ's grandpa Bob introduced radio dispatching after WWII, and how his uncle Larry and father, Alfie, expanded the company from a local business to a regional player, setting the stage for national expansion by the third and fourth generations
The importance of the Copesan partnership in accessing new markets and learning from industry peers, fostering a strong commercial focus from a young age
How Sprague operates in 10 western states with over 350 employees and generates between $50 million-$60 million in annual revenue
The philosophy of being a steward of a seat rather than an owner, focusing on developing the next generation and making decisions based on long-term health
The decision around 2010 to drop residential services — which only accounted for 2 percent of revenue — to focus entirely on commercial
The importance of family businesses in the pest control industry during times of consolidation
The company's focus on intentionally preparing the fifth generation for future leadership

Notable: "When you think of your role as stewardship and service versus ownership and power and identity, it really frees up a lot of room for ideation, creativity, vulnerability and thinking." —AJ Treleven, Executive Vice President, Sprague Pest Solutions