Well, hello! My family and I have had quite the journey over the last couple of years – I am originally from Washington state (born and raised!). In 2022, we decided to move to central Texas. We landed in Austin and stayed there for a year, as we explored the rest of the state of Texas and took some time to decide where we wanted to plant some roots. We first fell in love with the Montgomery area as the lush green landscape reminded us of WA, and we loved that we’re much closer to the coast. My husband and I have been married almost 10 years! I am a mom to three incredible girls, a dopey Great Dane pup and a purrrrfect Calico cat.

What made you want to work at Mosquito Joe of NW Houston & S Brazos?

Honestly, I never imagined I would work at a pest control company. My past work experience is mainly in a medical office! However, I met with Kate and Paul, and really enjoyed them both. I knew I would be happy working with them, even if it wasn’t a medical office!

What’s one word to describe your short time at Mosquito Joe?

Learning!

Fun fact about you?

I have double-jointed thumbs – also, I hate (fear) bugs! Isn’t that ironic?

Do you have any hobbies?

I do! I love to paint, it’s something my kids and I do a lot together. I am teaching myself how to play piano because I love to sing! I really enjoy writing and reading as well.

What are some of the most common misconceptions you had about mosquitoes before joining Mosquito Joe?

I had no idea how rapidly they produce; such a small amount of water can lead to a very large mosquito problem. I also thought ALL mosquitoes bite – but it’s just the females!

What is a typical day at Mosquito Joe like?

After I’ve had a few sips of coffee, I check emails, respond to texts, answer phones, build quotes, schedule services, route technicians, and create fun/educational social media content!

What’s your best piece of advice for someone wanting to control mosquitoes in their yard?

Eliminate any sources of standing water! Flowerpots, kids’ toys, tires, bird baths, wheelbarrows – anything that can hold water. Those pesky things will lay hundreds to thousands of eggs in your yard, and you won’t know about it until it feels like it’s too late. Luckily, you know you can call Mosquito Joe at 979-859-5998!

Employee Spotlight: Kate Gould

Kate Gould is the other owner of Mosquito Joe of South Brazos Valley. She started the business with her husband, Paul, in 2015. Originally from the UK, Kate moved to Texas in the late 90’s and settled first in The Woodlands, then Magnolia and Montgomery. She has 4 children, now all adults. All four of them have worked at Mosquito Joe at one point; Abby (now in Malaysia with a Ph.D. in Forensic Entomology) and Molly (in her final semester at TAMUCC) both worked in the office over summer breaks while in high school and college, Harrison is a part-time technician when we need the extra muscle power and Tanner, who has been a technician for 3 years.
 
 

What made you want to work at Mosquito Joe of NW Houston & S Brazos?

I last worked at a brokerage firm and, when it came time for partnership, things fell through. I didn’t want to work for someone else and Paul encouraged me to look at franchising. With the help of a franchise coach and a lot of research, we landed on Mosquito Joe.

What’s one word to describe your time at Mosquito Joe?

One word is tough, maybe immersive is the best word for it? I am grateful for every single customer we have and making sure we do the right thing for them is paramount. My time has been exciting, exhilarating, scary, and everything in between.

Do you have a favorite customer story?

I think the customer who had West Nile sticks with me the most. She had been so ill for so long and had been so afraid of going outside since that time. It was lovely to be able to give her the confidence to use her yard again and see how much it lifted her mood. There have been many customers that I have loved meeting and a lot of stories, but she really stuck with me.

Fun fact about you?

I grew up in Belgium in a tiny little village. The headmaster of the school was also the gym teacher and the bus driver, which was a VW van. I had 5 people in my grade, so it was very, very small.

Do you have any hobbies?

Crocheting is something I love and do it most evenings. I have a hard time sitting still and it keeps my hands busy (and my family members covered in blankets and hats).

What are some of the most common misconceptions customers have about mosquitoes?

Most people think mosquitoes die when we have a rare freeze, or when it gets cooler here. I would like to point to Alaska as that state has the worst mosquito problem in the US. In Texas mosquitoes never go away. They do calm down a bit when it’s cooler, but cooler here never lasts long, sometimes not even a whole day.

What is a typical day at Mosquito Joe like?

The fun part of owning your own business is that every day is different. I’m always speaking with customers and my technicians, but beyond that, there is marketing and forecasting ordering and accounting, routing, and more. I love the diversity of my days and keeping everything in order and running smoothly.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone wanting to control mosquitoes in their yard?

Appreciate the power of water when it comes to mosquitoes: one teaspoon will breed 300 mosquitoes in 2-3 days. Half of those 300 mosquitoes (the females) will do the same over the next few days, giving you 45,000 mosquitoes. Those females will produce 6.7 million mosquitoes a few days later. Remove the water and you remove a hospitable habitat for egg laying.

When in doubt give Mosquito Joe of S Brazos Valley a call at 979-859-5998 to get a free quote for our pest control services.

Tanner is both a pest control technician, a licensed applicator, and a misting system technician for Mosquito Joe of NW Houston and S Brazos Valley. He has been working with us since early 2020. Prior to that, Tanner attended Newman University on a golf scholarship and graduated Magnolia High.

What made you want to work at Mosquito Joe of NW Houston & S Brazos?

It’s the family business, so that’s a big part of it. But beyond that, the opportunity to get outside and be somewhat independent was something I loved the idea of. I really enjoy meeting new people. The best part, though, is helping the customers and making a difference to them and their families in their yards.

What’s one word to describe your time at Mosquito Joe?

Hard work!

Do you have a favorite customer story?

I once went to treat a customer and when I walked in the back 5 little puppies ran up to me. I spent quite a bit of time playing with them. Playing with the dogs is a highlight of my day, and I always make sure to have plenty of treats on me.

Fun fact about you?

I’m ambidextrous and play most sports with either hand.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love golf and play any chance I get. I have a +2.7 handicap and have been playing since I was 3 years old.

What are some of the most common misconceptions customers have about mosquitoes?

That mosquito hawks, mosquitoes, biting midges, and gnats are all the same. Just because it bites (and mosquito hawks don’t) doesn’t mean it’s a mosquito.

What is a typical day at Mosquito Joe like?

A lot of sweat, walking, and dealing with crazies on the road. But mostly searching and slaying every mosquito I see. Unless of course, I am working on misting systems with Paul.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone wanting to control mosquitoes in their yard?

Get rid of as much shade and water in the yard as possible. Removing breeding grounds is the first, and most important step of mosquito control. Don’t just look for the big amounts of water, look for the little stuff as well.

Give Us a Call to Make Outside Fun Again!

Tanner and the rest of the Mosquito Joe of NW Houston and S Brazos Valley team are ready to help you take your yard back with our outdoor pest control services. Give us a call at 979-859-5998 to get started!

Paul Gould

Paul is one of the owners of Mosquito Joe of NW Houston and S Brazos Valley and has been our Mosquito Misting System technician since 2015. Prior to that, Paul serviced Montgomery, Harris, and Waller Counties, both as a firefighter and as a paramedic. He retired fully from Emergency Services 3 years ago to make Mosquito Joe his top work priority.

What Made You Want to Open Mosquito Joe of NW Houston & S Brazos?

Well, Kate (my wife) and I were discussing what she could do after a partnership, that she was doing due diligence for, fell through. We thought about opening a business because both of us wanted to work for ourselves. We hired a franchise coach and after much investigation decided on opening a Mosquito Joe franchise. Neither of us regrets it.

What’s One Word to Describe Your Time at Mosquito Joe?

I think I can describe it in a few words, but not one. Difficult, satisfying, empowering, and fun.

Do You Have a Favorite Customer Story?

There are so many. I am a bit of a sports fan and have been lucky enough to have a famous MLB Baseball player and a famous NFL Football coach as customers. I also love it when a customer calls to sign up and says, “I’m sure this won’t work.” Then we get to prove them wrong.

What Is One Fun Fact About You?

When I was a young man, I dreamed of being an actor and a photographer.

Do You Have Any Hobbies?

Beekeeping, fishing, and doing what Kate wants me to do.

What Are Some of the Most Common Misconceptions About Misting Systems?

I think the biggest misconception is that a Mosquito Misting System is always the best way to get rid of mosquitoes. The truth is it depends on the property and the mosquito pressure on that property. Technology these days gives us many options to control mosquitoes. We can customize these options to give the customer the level of control they want at the price they want to spend.

What Is a Typical Day at Mosquito Joe Like?

For me, there is no typical day. I’m the Jack of all trades for our company. I may treat customers’ yards with our Barrier Treatments one day then fill and repair Mosquito Misting Systems the next. I may have a day helping in the office or in the shop ordering supplies and repairing mist blowers. Throw the occasional trip to the bank and the recycling center in the mix. I’m not the best at anything, except maybe anything having to do with Misting Systems, but I’m pretty good at most things. We are lucky to have the best technicians and office staff in the industry that are the best at what they do.

What’s Your Best Piece of Advice for Someone Wanting to Control Mosquitoes in Their Yard?

Well, other than calling Mosquito Joe. I would recommend being very diligent in keeping standing water to a minimum in your yard. Keep buckets, kid toys, plant saucers, wheelbarrows, tarps, and the like clear of standing water. That won’t keep you mosquito-free, but it should greatly reduce the numbers on your property.

Give Mosquito Joe of S Brazos Valley a call today to learn more about our mosquito control and other outdoor pest control services!