When people ask me what it means to lead a family business, my first thought is always this: leadership isn’t about titles, corner offices, or being the loudest voice in the room. True leadership is about service. It’s about putting the needs of your team, your customers, and your community first—and understanding that your role is to support, guide, and empower others.
At Knox Pest Control, this philosophy of servant leadership didn’t start with me. It’s been passed down through four generations, beginning with my great-grandfather, Forrest Knox. In the 1920s, Forrest walked the streets of Atlanta carrying a leather satchel filled with roach powder and mice bait. He wasn’t just selling pest control services—he was building relationships, showing families that they could trust him to protect their homes. That commitment to service became the foundation for everything our family would do in the decades that followed.
Learning from the Past
My grandfather, Jim Knox, joined the business as a teenager in the 1940s. He worked on termite jobs and even sat the night watch on fumigation sites. Those early experiences taught him that no task was too small if it meant taking care of customers and supporting the team. My father, John Knox, continued that legacy, bringing us back into the family business in 1995. From a single office, we began to grow—not just in size, but in the values that guided us.
Growing up in that environment, I learned that leadership isn’t about what you accomplish alone. It’s about how you build a culture where people feel valued, where your team knows that their work matters, and where customers see that your business genuinely cares about them.
Education and the Philosophy of Service
My education further shaped my understanding of leadership. I earned my BBA from Georgia Southern University and later completed an MBA at Baylor University, but it was my time at Regent University studying public policy that really resonated with me. Regent’s mission, “Christian Leadership to Change the World,” helped me understand that leadership isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a way of life. Leading with integrity, humility, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact became the lens through which I approach both business and community work.
Growing a Business with Purpose
Under this philosophy, Knox Pest Control has grown from a single office to 18 locations across the Southeast. We now employ over 225 team members and serve more than 90,000 customers. But growth has never been our primary goal. Our goal has always been to serve—our customers, our employees, and our communities. That focus on service has allowed us to expand sustainably while maintaining the culture and values that have defined us for generations.
For me, servant leadership isn’t just about being kind or generous—it’s about creating an environment where others can succeed. It’s about listening to your team, empowering them to make decisions, and showing appreciation for the work they do every day. It’s about recognizing that your success is directly tied to the people around you.
Serving the Community
Leadership extends beyond the walls of our offices. Community involvement has always been a core part of our family philosophy. I serve on boards with the Boys & Girls Club and the Rotary Club, and I’m proud to give back to Regent University, helping to raise up the next generation of ethical, purpose-driven leaders. The principles that guided my great-grandfather in his satchel-filled walks through Atlanta now guide how I approach business and life today: leadership is service, and service doesn’t stop at the front door.
Why Servant Leadership Matters
In today’s world, it’s easy to focus on numbers, growth, and efficiency. But at the end of the day, businesses aren’t built on spreadsheets—they’re built on relationships. Servant leadership reminds us to put people first, to invest in our teams, and to consider the impact we have on our communities. It’s not always the fastest path, but it’s the most meaningful—and the most sustainable.
As I reflect on our family’s journey, I’m proud of the legacy we continue to build. Knox Pest Control isn’t just a business; it’s a story of service, integrity, and leadership passed down through generations. For me, every day is an opportunity to honor that legacy by serving others—our employees, our customers, and our community—and by reminding myself that true leadership is never about being served. It’s about serving.