Their Quest to Cut Pests
By Marilyn Thomas
Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray, a local, award-winning pest control company, was launched by the Powell family in 2015 because they were personally sold on the franchise’s product and approach, which are effective, eco-friendly, and customer-oriented. The business still thrives today, and its goal is to continue to provide satisfactory services to the greater Lexington community and beyond.
Originally from Virginia, Trey and Cindy Powell moved to Columbia in 2003 to develop a franchise for preparing income tax, but by 2015, they were looking for a different type of business to invest in. When a friend who was affiliated with Mosquito Joe encouraged them to consider their company, “I kind of laughed at her and said, ‘I don’t think I can get excited about pest control, but if you can kill some bugs, come on over, because I’ve got a million of them,’” Trey recalls.
About a week later, a technician from Mosquito Joe in Columbia arrived at the Powell’s lakefront property to treat their house and yard for insects. They were so successful at eliminating several types of annoying pests, Trey told four of his neighbors about their services, and they,
too, scheduled treatments that same week. Because of their effectiveness, Trey paused to reflect upon his assumptions about the company, and it wasn’t long before he contacted his associate to say: “Tell me about this franchise. Why have I never heard of this? People need to know
about this—this is amazing!” She responded to his inquiry by explaining that treating outside insects was the latest innovation in pest control, and in about a month, Trey and Cindy had decided to launch a Mosquito Joe in the Lake Murray area. Shortly after, the
Powell family moved to Lexington where their fledgling company was founded. “We got started, the community embraced us,” Trey says, “and we just started growing like wildfire.”
Although they began with just one administrative person and a technician to treat the properties, today, they have a staff of 25 with 4 in the sales and customer service department and 19 technicians in the field. They also own a fleet of 16 vehicles, some of which are used by a second branch that they now own and operate in Augusta, Georgia.
In the beginning, Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray was licensed to only treat mosquitoes, but over time, their technology evolved.
“We’re really excited at this point to continue expanding our business into offering these other services,” Trey says. “The services that we offer are mosquito, flea and tick, fire ant elimination, [and] home pest defense, which is general pest control to keep roaches and ants out of your house or business. We do termites… and we do rodent control, which is designed to keep mice and rats out of your house.” Cindy adds that they also treat a lot of lake houses, docks, and boats for spider infestations.
According to Trey, Mosquito Joe strives to be a company that is “as easy to do business with as possible.” One of the ways they achieve this is by not requiring contracts with clients, and services are based on their customers’ needs, the climate, and the life cycle of insects. For example, mosquito control is typically done every three weeks between late February and mid-November, while fire ants are treated annually. Other exterminator services are offered yearround on a bi-monthly or quarterly basis.
“We believe that we want to earn your business the right way, every single time. We have a done-right guarantee on all services. If they’re not happy, or they’re having any kind of breakthrough, we do it again for free,” Trey explains. “I believe that every business is in business to help people,
and I don’t see us as any different than that.”
Trey says that communication is the key to strong customer relations, and it begins with scheduling the appointment. “We are never going to show up unannounced,” he says. The technicians text and email before arriving, and the client can reply to and communicate with the technician if they need to provide special instructions before the visit. “It just gives them peace of mind that the technician who’s there cares and will do everything that they can to resolve their problems,” he continues. After the job is finished, and before leaving the property, the technician will send another follow-up message to explain what work was done.
“At the end of the day,” explains Trey, “we’re leaving a product that you can’t see, you can’t smell, you can’t taste, and the only way you know it’s working is that you don’t have bugs.” Furthermore, when customers tell him they are happy to be buying outdoor furniture for the first time in years, Trey knows that Mosquito Joe’s problem-solving skills have been helpful and successful.
In 2024, U.S. News and World Report selected Mosquito Joe as the most eco-
friendly pest control company in the country. When requested, the company even offers a “100-percent eco-friendly” option, but they always endeavor to use the most effective and environmentally safe products available to eliminate pests, while avoiding “collateral damage” to beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
Locally, the company was named “Small Business of the Year” in 2017 by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, an organization in which the Powells are actively involved. Also, the Lake Murray branch of Mosquito Joe, which services the areas of Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, West Columbia, and beyond, was selected by the umbrella company as the “National Franchisee of the Year,” out of hundreds of branches throughout the United States.
“Mosquito Joe is big, but at the end of the day, this is still a family-owned business run by a family that lives here in Lexington,” says Trey. “Because we’re a local, family-owned business, we’re going to take care of their needs. Give us the opportunity to earn your business the right way.”
Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray
803-223-7916
