Story by Angela Reeves

You don’t hear of many people claiming to love killing bugs at the age of 16. But when Jimmy Blankenship started working with his Dad in high school providing pest control services and termite inspections, he loved it. Jimmy grew up in Scottsville/Allen County where his dad bought a farm there. After high school he knew he wanted to go into the business and in 1975 he and his Dad started Blankenship and Sons. “I loved seeing different people every day and solving problems, I knew I wanted to continue doing it for my career,” said Jimmy.

For 25 years he and his father built up Blankenship and Sons in KY and TN, and in 2000 Jimmy bought Guarantee Pest Control from the owner in BG. The company had been around since 1951 and had a good reputation and I wanted to be more active in the Bowling Green community,” Jimmy said. Between both companies Jimmy employees fifteen 15 technicians and four office employees. “We have a lot of fun, but we do work. The summer has long hours, but it all pays off. We have a big family environment, and we take care of each other.”

Guarantee Pest Control protects against all types of insects in residential homes and commercial spaces – most commonly including ants, spiders, crickets, roaches, bed bugs, and termites. “If it’s an insect, we kill it,” Blankenship said. Jimmy suggests a three time per year treatment plan for most people and businesses looking for pest control needs. Since insects are not very active in the winter months, the program covers spring, summer and fall. The March time frame has pest activity starting to pick up, it’s the best time to control population problems. Mid-summer would be the next needed treatment, and then again in the fall while insects are looking for a winter place to hibernate, typically indoors. “This business is an opportunity to help people - to keep them safe, to keep their home safe, food safe and family safe. It’s a great way to make a living if you don’t mind hard work,” said Jimmy.

As passionate as Jimmy is about pest control, he’s more passionate about the communities he serves. “We would like to be known as the best pest control but more so as caring community partners,” he says. The crew at Guarantee Pest Control believes the business community has the greatest opportunity to make the community better and you don’t have to be rich to be generous. “We are interested in making the community a better place and creating a culture of caring,” said India Unseld, Guarantee’s Office Manager.