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 Maria pushes revenue (and learned to respect margin).

31:24 – Hive Nine Consulting: events that develop teams, not just owners.

31:52 – “Lead People Manage Stuff”: the leadership workshop series.

32:45 – Community: why pest control attracts the “best-hearted” people.

33:04 – Her personal mission—and how faith guides the next bet.

42:49 – Inside “The Eagle’s Nest”: open books, hard feedback, real accountability.

52:05 – Superpower: being a connector—and a final invite to collaborate.

53:09 – Outro & CTA to Potomac and more resources.

Pest Pros, Peer Groups & People-First Growth: Maria Sorrentino’s Playbook

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