When  Elisabet Laferriere started working with her parents Gail and  Arthur Rodrigues at their  Mosquito Squad franchise in southeastern Massachusetts, she was an hourly seasonal employee answering phones. Fifteen years later, she runs day-to-day operations alongside her husband,  Dave . And they’re beginning to introduce the next generation to the family business. “Right away, I learned that customer service is the foundation of everything. I was salesperson number one, customer service person number one,” Elisabet said. “It was on my shoulders to treat people well and earn their trust.” Neither Elisabet nor Dave had prior experience running a business. Her background was in graphic design and he was an electrician. But franchising helped them figure it out together. “We’ve had to learn every piece of running a business,” Elisabet said. “Thank God for franchising. The team behind us has been fantastic.” “I was lucky because at the beginning, I got to see from the outside: her working the business by herself in our home office,” Dave said. “It’s amazing to think what could be accomplished this way. Without franchising, it would’ve been really tough.”  Stepping Up in Times of Challenge Elisabet’s journey from seasonal employee to franchise co-owner was shaped by challenges she was forced to weather early in the partnership. Within the first few years, Arthur, who handled fieldwork and hiring, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fall. “I had to continue running the office, making sales and doing customer service while also stepping into his role,” Elisabet said. Gradually, she began dispatching technicians, mixing chemicals, prepping trucks, hiring staff, managing marketing and overseeing general operations. Working closely with her parents provided Elisabet with what would become a valuable crash course in management and financial oversight.  “I observed how my dad managed a crew. I also learned by watching what not to do,” she said. “My mom taught me a lot too. She was a banker and handled our bookkeeping and budgeting. Math isn’t my strong suit, so learning QuickBooks, budgeting and cash flow was critical. I would’ve floundered without their guidance.” A New Generation Joins the Team Dave worked as a career electrician in the Boston area. Entering the  Mosquito Squad fold in 2022, his arrival brought new energy to the business, immediately impacting the broader culture of the family’s entrepreneurial efforts. “We joked about me coming to work here. But, eventually, it became evident there was actually a place for me,” Dave said. “I’m mechanical and good with people. And I’ve been a foreman, so managing teams and culture comes naturally.” Elisabet agrees: “Dave turned the culture of our business around,” she said. “When he came in, he made technicians feel appreciated. And that’s been huge.” In 2023, the Laferrieres bought out Elisabet’s parents, taking full ownership of the business. That same year, their oldest son, Elijah, joined part time over the summer.  “It's a good experience to learn work expectations while we build good humans,” Elisabet said. “ Our oldest got a paycheck for part-time work,” Dave added. “We’re proud of that. ” Further Building a Family Legacy The Laferrieres’ franchising journey didn’t stop with Mosquito Squad. In 2024, the family added  Lawn Squad to their franchise portfolio. Leveraging their experience, the Laferrieres have grown their partnership alongside the parent company  Authority Brands , building synergies with the new  Lawn Squad addition. “ When I came in, it helped us free Elisabet up to concentrate on the office side more and for me to learn a whole other business,” Dave said. “The techs are similar. They need a little more know-how on the Lawn Squad side. But it's the same business model. It's house to house. And we're using the same software for the most part. It's just a route-based business. So, it’s been great.”   2026 will also see further growth on The Mosquito Squad side of the couple’s business, as the Laferrieres continue their adoption of the brand’s evolution as Mosquito Squad Plus, offering an even greater array of pest control services in the new year. “ We did sort of like a soft launch on a lot of those new services. But we’re full tilt in 2026. So, there's a lot more that we can do for our customers!” Elisabet said. “They've got other problems besides mosquitoes and ticks and now we can solve those.” The expansion reflects the couple’s continued commitment to both growth and service. Despite the challenges of running a family business, the Laferrieres have found a rhythm working together.  “I love working with my wife. She’s fantastic,” Dave said. “We’re a great team and can conquer any business together.”  Building a Legacy That Lasts Elisabet started as a seasonal worker alongside her parents and learned every part of the Mosquito Squad business. Today, she and Dave operate two Mosquito Squad units and three Lawn Squad locations in Massachusetts, bringing their children into the business as they grow. “It’s nice to offer opportunities to the next generation,” Dave said. “We don’t know if this is the path they’ll choose, so we ease them in.” “ We didn’t have this plan 15 years ago,” Elisabet said. “My parents started the business as a retirement plan. Dad didn’t want to grow it big. He was happy when revenue and staffing were manageable. But, as I got better at running the business, and it grew, I realized the potential for my boys. We want to pass it down.” With Elijah now entering the family business, Elisabet and Dave continue to build a franchising legacy they can bequeath, turning a story of resilience and growth into both a retirement plan and a family franchising legacy. About Mosquito Squad Plus: Mosquito Squad® Plus' mission is to be the premier outdoor pest control company in the industry by providing state-of-the-art products and services through its best-in-class technicians and sales teams while bringing awareness to the importance of pest management to help control diseases transmitted by pests. For more information, visit  www.mosquitosquad.com and  www.authoritybrands.com . About Lawn Squad Lawn Squad franchising, developed from the Weed Pro brand name and system, is part of Authority Brand’s home service portfolio. Originally founded in 2001 by Rob Palmer in Ohio as Weed Pro, Lawn Squad provides expert services including fertilization, weed control, aeration, seeding, and pest management, all supported by a strong recurring revenue model. With comprehensive training, operational support, and a focus on delivering high-quality, science-based lawn treatments, Lawn Squad empowers franchise owners to enhance local landscapes while growing scalable, community-focused businesses. For more information, visit https://lawnsquadfranchise.com/ About Authority Brands: Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 14 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Co. Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,700 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See  authoritybrands.com for more information.