Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators, the 8th largest pest management company in the U.S, has been owned and operated by the Thomas family for over 40 years. The company was founded in 1964 by James S. (Starkey) Thomas Sr. and his wife Imogene (Jean).
With Atlanta’s housing boom, the tenacious couple immediately set their sights on providing termite protection services to the new construction market. They also built the business on the belief that if they treated their employees with respect and as extended family this would transcend to their customers. With this philosophy Arrow began its rise to become the largest independent termite and pest control company in Georgia.
Starkey and Jean’s oldest son James (Joe) Thomas Jr. joined the company in 1972 after graduating from the University of Tennessee and worked diligently with his parents to create a first-class organization. In 1978, at the age of 67, Starkey Thomas passed away, leaving the reins in the able hands of Joe, who assumed the leadership of Arrow as CEO. Joe, along with his brother Barry, has led the company for the past 30 years.
The 1980 and 1990's were a time of rapid growth for Arrow both internally and through the acquisition of other pest control companies in Georgia, Tennessee and Floriday . During these early acquisition years, Arrow’s belief was to create a seamless transition into the Arrow family for company owners, employees and their customers. This philosophy has carried on for the past 25 years, with a total of 88 acquisitions to date.
Joe Thomas and Emily ThomasThe Arrow legacy is now in its third generation. Emily Thomas (eldest daughter of Joe) followed in the family footsteps, joining the company in 1998 after graduating from Vanderbilt University. She worked tirelessly learning many aspects of the business first hand. In 2002 Emily was named COO and in 2008 was named President and COO.
Today, Arrow's vision of becoming one of the largest privately held pest control company in the nation is clearly within reach. The company continues to expand both organically and through acquisitions with revenues exceeding $100,000,000. Arrow continues to be run by the Thomas family and remains dedicated to fulfilling the dreams that Starkey and Jean Thomas had when they began the journey 45 years ago.