About this episode
Maria Sorrentino started as a tech while studying social work and went on to build Pest Pros in Kalamazoo—plus Hive Nine and the “Lead People Manage Stuff” workshops. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into how she hires, pays, and develops people, why peer groups changed her trajectory, and the faith-driven mission that keeps her scaling without losing the heart of the business. It’s a field-tested blueprint for owners who believe culture and accountability win long term.
You’ll hear:
The “part-time is a lie” origin story and why pest control is a marketable, problem-solving trade.How she worked every role—tech to termite inspector to operator—and why being a people-first leader beats being a “bug nerd.”Comp & culture: the “altruism base” (paid non-billable hours), commission hygiene, and building a team that actually likes accountability.The Top-100 epiphany that expanded her vision—and how a 100-mile service radius actually works.Peer pressure, the good kind: inside “The Eagle’s Nest” where owners open P&Ls and leave with bruises (and breakthroughs).Why Hive Nine & “Lead People Manage Stuff” were built for leadership benches—not just owners.
Show links:
From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps
00:00 – Cold open: “Pest control is a real marketable skill… it’s problem-solving.”
00:34 – Intros + how Maria connected with the Twins (Pest Cemetery days).
02:00 – Getting in: social work student ? office ? certified ? field (and why “part-time” is a myth).
03:16 – Working every role: tech, termite inspections, then operator.
03:56 – “People person” vs. “bug nerds” at home—owning her lane.
04:31 – Starting Pest Pros (2018) with a home-inspector partner.
19:29 – The “altruism base”: paid non-billable hours that keep teams balanced.
20:22 – Paul Bello: from officiating her daughter’s wedding to training her techs.
22:08 – Vision unlock: seeing Top-100 peers and realizing what’s possible.
23:16 – Service map: running a 100-mile radius out of Kalamazoo.
25:46 – Boundaries, family, and why the business became a shared “fun thing.”
26:21 – Coaching bias: why
