Mosquito Hunters

Ten and a half years ago, Geoff and Trish Sherlock met at a cookout hosted by mutual church friends. &ldquo;Geoff drove me crazy, and he thought I was great,&rdquo; jokingly recounted Trish. That type of playful humor is a staple in their relationship. The two fell in love, married and raised two children together, Zach and Kiley.

On October 22, 2018, just a day before their eighth wedding anniversary, the Sherlocks gave themselves a life-changing gift: they became co-owners of a Mosquito Hunters franchise.

The couple&rsquo;s professional backgrounds set them up for success as first-time franchisees. Geoff Sherlock learned about structure and accountability during his six years of service with the United States Marine Corps. He then attended Indiana Wesleyan University on his G.I. Bill, earning a degree in Business Management before transitioning to military recruitment in Idaho where he honed his networking chops. 

Trish Sherlock attended the University of Louisville in the city where she was born and raised. She then gained valuable experience in media sales in the digital and television space, also working in hospitality and community building. Most recently, Trish bolstered her marketing expertise by serving as a Regional Sales Director. 

The couple came upon the Mosquito Hunters brand a few months ago. Geoff was ready for a career change, so they started looking into what it would take to go into business for themselves. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/tips-for-networking-in-the-local-community-2319" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Through Business Network International&nbsp;(BNI)</a>, Geoff met <a href="https://frannet.com/franchise-consultant/amanda-berry/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-geoff-and-trish-sherlock-merged-their-marine-corps-and-sales-experiences-into-a-career-with-mosquito-hunters-2709615" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Amanda Berry</a>, a consultant with FranNet. She invited the couple to meet with her to explore whether franchise ownership was right for them.

It was during that consultation that Berry mentioned Mosquito Hunters for the first time. The brand&rsquo;s <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-teams-up-with-lawn-doctor-for-exceptional-franchise-opportunity-2707762" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">partnership with Lawn Doctor</a> meant the Sherlocks would receive the support, outstanding quality of service and brand credibility of a long-established franchise. &ldquo;We were impressed with the fact that with a franchise, you get some of the things that a business built from scratch doesn&rsquo;t have, like brand recognition and reputation,&rdquo; said Trish. Another important detail: Mosquito Hunters specifically looks to award franchisee licenses to qualified couples&mdash;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-provides-franchise-discount-to-military-couple-to-begin-next-chapter-of-civilian-lives-2708221" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">and veterans. </a>

For Trish, it was Mosquito Hunters&rsquo; marketing strategy that really stood out, as the brand impressively mandates a minimum investment in marketing efforts annually. &ldquo;When we found out the investment that was required toward marketing, I knew we were in a really good position with this company,&rdquo; said Trish. &ldquo;I tell people we went from &lsquo;not yet&rsquo; to &lsquo;When can we sign up?&rsquo; after hearing about Mosquito Hunters.&rdquo;

The Sherlocks spoke next with Eric Martin, Vice President of Franchise Development, and the rest was history. &ldquo;Once we talked to Eric, he basically had us at &lsquo;hello,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Trish. &ldquo;The brand clearly fit our goals and needs.&rdquo; They officially signed on as Mosquito Hunter franchisees.

&ldquo;When I think of Geoff and Trish, &lsquo;hardworking,&rsquo; &lsquo;driven&rsquo; and &lsquo;passionate&rsquo; are words that come to mind,&rdquo; said Eric Martin, Mosquito Hunters&rsquo; Vice President of Franchise Development. &ldquo;Trish has spent her career in hospitality sales and management, so she knows the importance of customer relationships as much as anyone in our system. Geoff was in a consultative sales role most recently, but served our country in the U.S. Marines prior. This business savvy coupled with his servant&rsquo;s heart will help him build customer loyalty and retention. We are so excited to see this dynamic duo take off.&rdquo;

The Sherlocks have long been active in making the Louisville community a great place for all to live. Now, they are looking forward to helping families stay happy and healthy through mosquito season&mdash;no matter what species those family members are. 

&ldquo;Most people don&rsquo;t realize that the only way for a dog to get heartworm disease is through a mosquito bite. We are able to offer protection for people&rsquo;s pets as well,&rdquo; said Trish, adding that the Sherlocks have three dogs they consider family members. The Sherlocks plan to partner with the Kentucky Humane Society and American Heartworm Society for adoption and other events. Mosquito Hunters of East Louisville will also be actively involved in Toys For Tots, a cause run by the U.S. Marine Corps and close to the Sherlocks&rsquo; hearts.

The Sherlocks first got hooked on giving back to the community after starting their own nonprofit, &ldquo;What the Troops Need.&rdquo; The organization sent care packages to deployed Marines and service members. With Geoff as President and Trish as Vice President, the two also got plenty of practice managing their own business together. &ldquo;Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other,&rdquo; said Trish.

The couple believes in being proactive as opposed to reactive&mdash;especially when it comes to mosquitoes. Utilizing their backgrounds in networking, sales and marketing, they are already running promotions, attending local expos and planning for warm weather Kentucky Derby and graduation parties. Geoff has hit the ground running, already having attended 15 BNI events just this month to spread the word. 

&ldquo;The success is contingent on what we do. There&rsquo;s a lot to be said for that,&rdquo; said Trish. &ldquo;When working for another company, your success is theirs, but with this, our success is ours. It gives you more drive.&rdquo;

Trish added that the flexibility of franchising has helped the Sherlocks accomplish more than ever before. &ldquo;You can get a lot of work done, and we can pick our daughter up from school, do laundry, go to sports events, get groceries. It&rsquo;s that flexibility to truly live your life,&rdquo; she said. 

When asked how they would define success for their business, the Sherlocks said that, while success should be measured by more than just profits, they are working hard to position themselves to have a profitable and enjoyable opening season this year. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re most excited to drive that big Mosquito Hunters truck and start spraying some yards,&rdquo; said Geoff.

Maintaining a sense of humor is never bad for business, either. In regard to their goals for their first season, the couple agreed: &ldquo;Getting through this first year, we&rsquo;d like to be in the positive&mdash;and stay married through it all.&rdquo;

<div>&nbsp;</div>

How Geoff and Trish Sherlock Merged Their Marine Corps and Sales Experiences Into a Career with Mosquito Hunters

1851 Franchise

The married co-franchisees will bring outdoor safety and comfort to residents all over Louisville, Kentucky, this mosquito season and beyond.


This brand page has been paid for by MOSQUITO HUNTERS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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Following a decades-long corporate career in global sourcing and green energy,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-lopez-48a785377/">Gina Lopez</a> began considering a pivot. She wanted financial freedom, but having risen to the leadership level, any corporate career move would likely require relocation, and she was determined to stay in Greenville, South Carolina. So, she turned to franchising.“What really triggered us to look at business ownership was that we wanted to have more control over our destiny from a financial perspective,” she said. “I had learned quite a bit about scaling businesses, making and keeping them profitable, even in tumultuous times, so I felt like I had the skills I needed to do it on a smaller business scale.”After connecting with&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a>, the parent company of&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/">Pest Hunters-Mosquito&nbsp;</a><a href="https://humbugholidaylighting.com/">Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting</a>, Lopez completed a thorough due diligence process before deciding to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a> to her community.“We spent several months having conversations, going through due diligence — all those things,” she said. “I really liked that Happinest had a growth objective. They intended to continue to expand their brands and service offerings, so I felt like it was a good place to land.”“At&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a>, we combine decades of franchise expertise with a commitment to continuous innovation,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmartinfranchisedevelopment/">Eric Martin</a>, senior vice president of franchise development. “By leveraging technology, automation and data-driven systems, we’re helping franchisees operate more efficiently, improve customer experiences and scale smarter — while still maintaining the personal, community-focused service that defines our brands.”Since launching, Lopez has leaned into this growth objective as a part of the larger Happinest system and within her own business, embracing new technologies, staffing strategically and taking advantage of opportunities for additional visibility where possible.<h2>Leveraging AI and Automation</h2>As she has grown, Lopez has taken a strategic look at where technology can step in, as well as where it absolutely shouldn’t. By staying on the cutting edge of technology, Lopez learned early on that there were tools available to help her clear the all-too-common hurdle of working&nbsp;in the business rather than&nbsp;on it.By considering where technology can augment the business and team’s performance, rather than replacing the people themselves, Lopez has established a cost-efficient operating model for today and set the stage for long-term scalability within the business.“I’ve leaned into automation quite a bit,” she said. “It’s a pretty good substitute for adding people for about 80% of cases. And it’s kind of a natural evolution for a business like this to integrate some of these things because it’s really how people are used to behaving now… They’re no longer making phone calls; they’re sending inquiries online. They’re used to chatbots.”As the technology develops, Lopez is also keeping a close eye on the data it yields, using it to make smart decisions for the business.For example, she built an AI agent that can generate 90-day cash flow forecasts and acquisition plans. She performs detailed return-on-investment analysis on additional fleet vehicles at specific revenue points to ensure her expansion is backed by real data.“Business is a combination of taking your own knowledge and leveraging AI, and some of that is just a gut check,” she said. “For me, the AI analysis is typically confirmation of what I was thinking anyway, but with real numbers and a tangible business plan that I can look at and say, ‘Okay, am I executing to this?’”While the tools and technology have been key to her success, Lopez’s commitment to the human element remains an important part of her strategy.<h2>Prioritizing Connections, Locally and Nationally</h2>Having created a strong baseline with the Hunters-Humbug system and her own technology integration, Lopez has been able to focus even more closely on the interpersonal aspects of the business. From networking locally to contributing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bhg.com/home-checkup-after-winter-11931911">Better Homes &amp; Gardens article</a>, Lopez keeps her focus on the visibility and relationships that will drive the business.“Leaning into networking and becoming an active member of the community has been so valuable for me,” she said. “Having worked in corporate America, my network was global, but this is a different network now. I’m really leaning into different business networking groups and fellow business owners to find opportunities to increase my sphere of opportunity. As the owner, you’re the face of the business, and you have to build a reputation through relationships.”As she looks toward the future, Lopez is leveraging the three-pillar revenue model that includes mosquito control, pest control and holiday lighting. With a blend of AI-driven efficiency and a real commitment to her Greenville community, Lopez is building her business and securing her family’s future.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters.">https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters.</a>&nbsp;

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<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise&amp;utm_medium=referral%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Elite%20Window%20Cleaning%202-minute%20drill">Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting</a>, the 140-unit pest management and holiday lighting franchise, continues to grow both in footprint and infrastructure, now with the addition of industry veteran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtka">Court Aiken</a> as its new brand president. With 24 years of experience in the franchise industry, including time spent with Cold Stone Creamery, Dunkin’, Clockwork Home Services/Direct Energy, Neighborly and Threshold Brands, Aiken has experience in operations, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, customer service, finance, and brand leadership. Now, in his new role with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a>, Aiken will work alongside both franchise owners in the system and members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a> leadership team to propel the future success of the Hunters-Humbug brand.While Aiken sees clear business potential in the Hunters-Humbug model, much of what drove him to join the team was less tangible. In addition to a scalable business, Aiken sees clear value in the leadership team's approach. This alignment was a key contributor to his choice to join and will continue to inform how he steers the network as everyone throughout it pursues healthy, impactful growth.“I very quickly identified the love and dedication that everyone at Happinest shares for their brands, and it’s not just siloed into the brands that a single person might work for,” Aiken said. “It truly is a cross-functional team where everyone helps each other. The passion is palpable. One of the things that struck me very early on was that the development team at Happinest maintains their relationships with the people they’re bringing into these brands long after the ink is dry on the franchise agreement. The strength and power of these relationships is truly unique, and I’m excited to be a part of an amazing team that focuses on this aspect of the business.”<h2>Aiken’s Vision for Hunters-Humbug’s Long-Term Growth</h2>Aiken joins the Hunters-Humbug team at a unique inflection point. After&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-three-in-one-franchise-model-2729107">officially rolling out its three-in-one model</a> last spring, Hunters-Humbug has significantly expanded the revenue potential for its franchisees and opened the door to even stronger long-term growth.“I truly believe in and endorse the idea of us not just being a mosquito control or abatement company but moving into the pest control space,” Aiken said. “The mosquito control space has become crowded both with other franchises and mom-and-pop operations — even lawn care companies have jumped in with both feet. Branching out to pest control allows us to differentiate ourselves, and adding holiday lighting only compounds the impact even further.”With this in mind, Aiken is embracing a franchisee-first leadership approach, prioritizing the support, resources and additional innovations that will propel growth. While Hunters-Humbug was built on a foundation of mosquito control, the addition of pest control was a big step, and the brand has now positioned franchisees to enter the lighting world with both holiday lighting services and the potential to provide permanent lighting solutions.“My vision is for Hunters-Humbug to be the leader in this space,” he said. “And it’s not just one space. I really look at our market as two spaces. We’re a pest control franchise, and we’re also a lighting franchise. And the team and I are incredibly well-positioned to take us to the next level in both industries.”<h2>Driving the Next Generation of Hunters-Humbug With Collaborative, Hands-on Leadership</h2>Reflecting on his career to this point, Aiken says one of the best pieces of advice he has received is to “listen first, talk later.”“When I was younger and trying to establish myself, I always wanted to be the smartest person in the room and make sure people knew it, but I’ve learned that I learn much more from the people around me than I could ever hope to know on my own,” he said. “This has taught me to be methodical… to make sure I’ve truly processed what people are saying before giving a deliberate and measured response."As Aiken steps into his new role, he carries this lesson with him, making a concerted effort to prioritize a collaborative approach and work alongside the Hunters-Humbug owners who have “boots on the ground” each day. By hearing what they have to say and not just falling back on default rules, Aiken will support and empower owners in the ways they actually need, driving success at both the unit-level and system-wide.“I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit behind the computer and tell people to do things because I think they’re the right things,” he said. “The beauty of Hunters-Humbug is that I’ve joined a team that shares that vision. When we’re making decisions for the Hunters-Humbug brand and for the franchisees, we’re asking for feedback. We’re looking to franchisees to give us their opinions.”&nbsp;“And as much as I love the franchisees, I love the technicians even more because they’re often the ones actually doing the work; they’re the ones who have to live with the decisions that we make,” he continued. “Getting out and spending time in the field with the owners and their techs is incredibly important to me. I’m a very hands-on leader.”With Aiken at the helm, Hunters-Humbug is poised to enter its next phase, balancing aggressive market expansion with a deep, personal understanding of the franchisee experience. Combining his decades of corporate expertise with the practical lessons he learned as a franchise owner himself, Aiken is charging toward the future with a high-powered, multi-service model that remains rooted in the success of the people behind it.&nbsp;To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters">https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters</a>.&nbsp;

Photo of Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting president Court Aiken

Aiken, who brings over two decades of franchise experience and a deep passion for franchisee relationships and support, will lead the brand’s next major growth phase.

How Geoff and Trish Sherlock Merged Their Marine Corps and Sales Experiences Into a Career with Mosquito Hunters

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