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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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-jones-a4726443/">Jake Jones</a>, a former corporate salesperson, spent about 20 years in the award recognition business before exploring opportunities to become his own boss. Though he initially considered brick-and-mortar brands, Jones found his way to the home services space and eventually got connected with the team at&nbsp;<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 over 140-unit pest control and holiday lighting franchise backed by&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a>.“At the time, I knew nothing about franchises. I just knew I wanted to be my own boss, and given I’d been in the recognition industry for 20 years, I didn’t have any background on starting a business,” Jones said. “I had no education on accounting or marketing, so I needed a franchise to get me trained in both pest management and holiday lighting, as well as the how-tos of starting your own business.”Jones made sure he took the time to find the right fit before launching his business in July of 2025.<h2>Family Inspiration and Support</h2>While Jones’ corporate role was flexible in terms of his schedule and the option to work from home, he was no longer fulfilled by the work. When he was “no longer excited to get out of bed in the morning,” Jones knew it was time to look for another path.“My wife, Kelly, played a big role in this process,” he said. “Her dad was an entrepreneur, so she grew up in that lifestyle. She was very supportive through the transition from having a set salary to taking the leap of faith. She wanted to see me doing something I enjoyed.”With the encouragement of his wife and three daughters, Jones launched his&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a> business last summer, just in time to take advantage of a busy pest season and build a runway for a steady holiday lighting season, too.“The pest management got off to a quick start, then the lighting season was fast and furious for sure,” he said. “It started in October and November with sales and installations and continued through December and January with maintenance and take-downs.”<h2>Early Wins and Lessons Learned</h2>While business ownership was new to Jones, he was able to draw on his prior sales experience to serve as a foundation, of sorts, as he began to grow. The industry was new, but the practice of building relationships was not. His prior experience actually paid off nearly immediately, empowering Jones to sell services to a large country club in his area in his first week of sales.“I apply the relationship-driven approach to residential sales, too,” he said. “There is so much information available as you walk up to someone’s house. Maybe they have a Kansas City Chiefs flag, a motorcycle or animals out front. I’m always just trying to build the personal connection. I’m not trying to sell them on anything immediately. I’m introducing myself, explaining that I’m a small business owner and trying to break down some barriers to help them feel a bit more comfortable.”This approach has helped him make the most of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/hunters-humbug-franchise-success-year-round-launch-2729733">Hunters-Humbug’s three-in-one model</a>. While the recurring nature of the mosquito business helps stability, the ability to build strong relationships with clients and expand services from that point has opened the door for substantial business growth.Now, Jones is also passionate about the Pest Hunters facet of the business, noting that it allows for higher-level problem-solving and an opportunity to shine in an industry where many providers fall short.“The mosquito control is a huge part of the business, but, for me, pest management is the biggest piece of the pie,” he said. “A lot of times, people are intimidated by it, and there are a lot of pest control companies that don’t do a great job. The opportunity to complete those services at the level of quality we maintain is what really gets me excited. I just think there’s so much potential.”<h2>Jones’ Future With Hunters-Humbug: Growth Through the Franchise Model</h2>As he looks toward the future with the business, Jones is focused on scaling, and he feels confident to pursue this growth thanks to the backing of the franchise system.“One of the huge benefits of the franchise system is your peers,” Jones said. “I've got three guys who were in my training class, and I talk to them daily. We're all at the same point in our business journey having been live for about the same period of time, but there are also franchisees I can talk to that have been doing this for a long time. The amount of information they have is very valuable, and everyone’s willing to help everyone else out.”Armed with the operational playbook from Hunters-Humbug and the support from fellow franchisees, Jones is focused on expanding, hiring and training a team to focus on execution while he continues to focus on business development.“My plan for the year is, essentially, to sell and figure it out later,” he said. “I feel confident I have the tools available to figure it out, and I’m working to build a team to be out in the field so I can do more of what I enjoy, which is the growth of the company. As I look back on the first eight months of operations and how far I’ve come in such a short time, I feel this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If I could do it over again, I would — in a second.”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;&nbsp;

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After about two decades in sales performance and award recognition programs, Jake Jones turned to the pest management and holiday lighting brand as a pathway to exit the corporate world.

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In the pest control industry, there is a wide range of skill sets, and a deep divide between “a guy with a sprayer” and a technical expert who understands how and why certain treatments work and the complex regulatory demands of the industry. For&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/">Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting</a>, the three-in-one franchise backed by&nbsp;<a href="http://happinest.com">Happinest Brands</a>, having this knowledge at the leadership level and disseminating it among franchisees is foundational to its continued growth.Leading this effort is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-diaz-34a19519">Miguel Diaz</a>, who serves as director of operations and brings decades of experience to the system. Not only has Diaz spent over 20 years learning the industry firsthand, but he has shown a steady commitment to professional development and is part of an elite group of experts recognized by the Entomological Society of America.<h2>The Rare ACE Credential</h2>For large pest management organizations, having an entomological expert on staff provides additional knowledge and expertise to support pest identification and other problem-solving needs. While Diaz did not go to school for entomology, he holds the Associate Certified Entomologist designation, a credential that requires years of frontline experience and ongoing demonstration of expertise. Even rarer is the&nbsp;<a href="https://entocert.org/awards/past_winners/ace-professional-award">ACE Professional Award</a>, which Diaz received in 2018.“The ACE Professional Award is presented to those who have demonstrated excellence in the industry and made significant contributions,” he said. “I’m one of only nine in the nation. How many pest control companies are there in the U.S., and how many of them have someone with an ACE Professional Award on board? For franchisees buying into the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a> model, there is built-in support from someone who has been recognized as one of the best in the industry.”Over the course of his career, Diaz has translated his knowledge into state-approved continuing education courses, provided training sessions and remained engaged with leaders throughout the industry at large. Now, he’s able to leverage this expertise and prior teaching and training experience to elevate Hunters-Humbug owners and teams throughout the system as it continues growing.<h2>Further Professionalizing Hunters-Humbug’s Commercial Services</h2>As Hunters-Humbug continues to scale, Diaz is leveraging his knowledge to support franchisees in branching out to commercial services. In sectors like hospitality, warehousing and education, there are specific procedures and requirements necessary to meet widely accepted standards set forth by organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://aibinternational.com/">American Institute of Baking</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsf.org/">National Sanitation Foundation</a> (NSF). Diaz’s background in auditing and prior experience with these agencies bridges the gap between Hunters-Humbug and major industries in need of service.“Pest control is in the background of almost every industry,” he said. “There’s nothing you buy on the consumer side that didn’t go through an auditing process to make sure it’s safe for consumers. You can’t sell to the public without being certified.”Beyond consumer goods, even industries like education and hospitality require specific pest management practices. For example, most schools have integrated pest management coordinators.“There are certain requirements that schools have for managing pests,” Diaz said. “We always start with the safest, least‑intensive options. If those don’t work, there’s a clear step‑by‑step process to move to something stronger, and that next step may need approval.”“These are the kinds of things you need to know to service these customers,” he continued. “All of these things are documented, and there are steps in place. These are the rules we have to follow for commercial accounts, and because I know them well, I can support our franchisees in navigating their commercial contracts properly.”<h2>The Three-In-One Edge</h2>Diaz joining the team was a crucial resource as the brand evolved from just mosquito-related services to pest, mosquito and holiday lighting. Adding pest control to the lineup transformed the brand into a powerhouse multi-service platform, drastically increasing the total addressable market for franchisees and supporting steady, year-round revenue streams.As Diaz’s leadership has bolstered franchisees’ growth in the commercial space, these successful commercial relationships have also expanded across services.During the 2025 holiday season, the Humbug Holiday Lighting arm brought in more revenue and added more commercial accounts. More businesses are looking for one reliable partner to handle both pest control and lighting, and Hunters-Humbug is positioned to deliver that.With precision, reliability and expertise front and center in all interactions, Hunters-Humbug franchisees deliver a service experience that builds trust and encourages clients to both explore additional service offerings and maintain a steady, ongoing relationship with the brand.“At the end of the day, it’s the education, the knowledge and the person doing the work that’s important in these relationships,” Diaz said. “As a franchise system, Hunters-Humbug is a locally owned company, but the owners and teams have the skill and expertise of a major national brand.”<h2>Building the Playbook for 2026 and Beyond</h2>Under Diaz’s leadership, the training program for new franchisees has been further built out to include both classroom education and immersive, hands-on experiences.“We have a full day of classroom education and a full day of on-site training where our owners are walking around with a flashlight, describing and using the equipment,” he said. “This hands-on approach ensures that, as our owners go throughout their days, they aren’t just looking for bugs. They’re looking for risks, entry points and other integrated pest management opportunities, and they’re also familiar with and able to describe how their tools work to a client who wants to understand the treatment plan.”As Hunters-Humbug continues to grow, Diaz will ensure franchisees have the tools and training necessary to exceed the “fly-by-night” perception that some clients have of the pest management industry and develop a relationship-based, science-backed business.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; &nbsp;

Photo of Miguel Diaz, Pest Hunters, Mosquito Hunters, Humbug Holiday Lighting

With decades of experience and the esteemed Associate Certified Entomologist designation, Diaz brings deep knowledge to the Hunters-Humbug franchise system, empowering its next phase of growth.

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

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