The Military Veteran Will Apply His Public Health Expertise to the Role

Mosquito Squad, a Mosquito and tick control franchise with Authority Brands, tapped Dr. Kurt Vandock as vice president of strategic growth. With this position, he will be responsible for refining the brand’s marketing strategies, increasing service offerings, and further developing the general pest control model. Other home services franchises under the Authority Brands umbrella include Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, Color World Painting, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic, America’s Swimming Pool Company, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Woofies, Monster Tree Service, and Screenmobile.  

“Mosquito Squad has always been a leader in our industry and is active in many professional associations. I had the opportunity to work directly with Mosquito Squad and watch its incredible growth for over five years before I had the privilege of joining the team. Specifically, what attracted me to Mosquito Squad was its culture,” Dr. Vandock said.  

He’s excited to bring new innovation and business models to the mosquito and tick control franchise. He also looks forward to helping franchisees grow and find new ways to help improve public health.  

Dr. Vandock believes that staying competitive in the mosquito control industry requires the right model, technology, and people, all of which Mosquito Squad is very invested in. Additionally, Authority Brands will play a big role in the brand’s success. “When a franchisor is this aligned from top to bottom, the true winners are the franchise owners and the communities they serve.”

Mosquito Squad’s leadership team is excited to have Dr. Vandock take on this role. “Kurt is an innovator and recognized industry expert after working in public health, pest management, and scientist roles for over two decades. He is also passionate about developing sustainable solutions and building successful teams. We look forward to the impact his leadership and expertise will bring to Mosquito Squad’s rapidly growing network of territories across the country,” said president Jef Flournoy.

Dr. Vandock and Public Health 

Dr. Vandock studied Cellular Biology with a focus on Entomology and Parasitology. This prepared him to work in public health with vector-borne diseases. After earning a Ph.D, he was a research professor at Houghton College and accepted a commission in the U.S. Army. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp. for over 11 years as an entomologist. While deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom, he learned the value of science beyond books. Following the deployment, he spent nearly a decade with Bayer CropScience as Senior Scientist and Product Development Manager and then as Head of Public Health.

Changing Lives Through Franchising

Vandock’s favorite part of franchising is providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to change their lives. He added that he also appreciates the community aspect and noted that business ownership can be lonely, but franchising encourages entrepreneurs to network and get support from others. His advice for entrepreneurs looking to enter franchising is to take the first step. In his view, individuals often get paralyzed by fear and miss out on opportunities. “If a franchise interests you, reach out for more information. Take that first step; then, build from there.”  

About Mosquito Squad

Founded in 2005, Mosquito Squad has grown to approximately 215 locations across North America, according to a press release. The brand specializes in eliminating mosquitoes and ticks from outdoor living spaces.