Meet The Team At Preferred Pest Control

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As Co-Owner of Preferred Pest Control, Andy brings over a decade of expertise to his role, overseeing office operations and human resources. Active in shaping the industry, he joined the Iowa Pest Management Association Board of Directors in 2023, contributing to statewide leadership and innovation. Andy is a Quality Pro Certified professional and a licensed Certified Applicator in Iowa, ensuring top-tier service and standards.

At Preferred Pest, Andy appreciates the variety of different challenges the job brings and seeing the results our team provides to homeowners and businesses. He likes living and working in the Des Moines area because it is an up-and-coming city that always has new activities and fun things to do around town.

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Our team’s Co-Owner, Brian, oversees sales and service operations, continually seeking innovative ways to improve and expand the business. During his time at Preferred Pest Control, Brian has been instrumental in transitioning our bed bug infestation treatment methods from heat treatments to a more efficient and effective solution. He has served six years on the Iowa Pest Management Association Board, and has been the president of the organization for the last two years. Brian has completed BedBug University Boot Camp (a 3-day course in New Jersey), and he is Quality Pro Certified and a Certified Pesticide Applicator in the State of Iowa.

What excites Brian most about his job is giving customers a sense of relief and peace of mind by providing effective pest solutions. When he is in the field, he likes to meet new people and get to know Preferred Pest Control’s customers. In his free time, Brian has fun playing basketball, running and biking. That’s why one of his favorite things about Des Moines is the great bike trails and how they connect you to different suburbs and local restaurants.

Tamara was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and moved to West Des Moines in 2005. She is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service at Preferred Pest, ensuring each client receives personalized attention and care. At the same time, she values the close-knit, family-like atmosphere that defines the company. Outside work, she enjoys home remodeling and interior design, bringing creativity to every project. She also loves spending time with her husband, twin boys, and their playful miniature dachshund.

Justin was born and raised in Des Moines. His favorite part about working for Preferred Pest Control is that he gets to help people. In his free time, Justin enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing and kayaking. Justin isn't a big sports guy but loves cheering on whatever team his kids are playing for. 

Born and raised in central Iowa, Zach loves to golf, watch TV or movies, and cycle every now and then. While being outside in nice weather is a great perk of the job, the ability to help people every day is the most enjoyable part of working at Preferred Pest. During football season, you can catch Zach cheering on the Green Bay Packers. 

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Scott, a lifelong resident of the Des Moines metro area, currently resides in Windsor Heights. He enjoys the community and the family-friendly environment that Des Moines offers. Working at Preferred Pest allows Scott to give back to his community by improving the quality of life for his fellow community members. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, eating good food, and enjoying the outdoors.

Vance was born in Des Moines and grew up in Urbandale, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines, and Ankeny. A veteran of the Iowa National Guard, he completed one tour of duty in Iraq. As a father of 6 children, he now lives in Ankeny with his wife and kids. He loves spending time with his family at Saylorville lake and squeezing every possible afternoon of swimming and hiking out of the warm season. He loves smoking meat, grilling, and experimenting with food in general. Originally hired in 2010, he has always loved pest control and solving people’s unique pest problems.

Jim grew up as the youngest of nine children on a farm outside of Charles City, IA, and brings great family values and hard-work ethic to our team. He likes working for a local company with friendly coworkers that truly take care of their customers. Outside of the office, Jim enjoys being with his family, participating in church activities, camping, fishing and cheering on the Minnesota Vikings in the fall!

Originally from Des Moines, Jon chooses to stay in the area because it’s a wonderful place to raise kids and allows him to stay close to family and friends! At Preferred Pest, Jon admits he has learned a lot about the value of hard work and likes helping Des Moines families solve their pest problems. After hours, Jon spends his time with family and friends, plays sports, tries his hand at construction projects and watches his favorite TV shows. 

Jordan was raised in Clear Lake, Iowa, and currently resides in Des Moines. He's really fond of the "small city" aspect of Des Moines and likes that there's always plenty of activities going on in the metro area to keep him entertained. When he's not exterminating pests, Jordan prefers to spend his spare time running, playing ultimate frisbee, reading and attending his local church. 

Growing up near Indianola, the Des Moines area has always been home for Micah. He loves working for Preferred Pest because he gets to work outside and help people. Outside of work, Micah likes to play Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball and cheers on a local soccer team called the Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

Cory grew up in Pella, Iowa and has never been too far from Des Moines. He currently lives in the Des Moines area and loves participating in community activities. He is also an assistant coach for the Ankeny High School cross country team and plays in Central Iowa Ultimate leagues when not out helping local customers. Cory's favorite part of working for Preferred Pest Control is being able to help people solve their pest problems while also getting to work outside. 

Tanner is an engaged father of 2 who always puts family first. They reside in Norwalk, where they bought a home in 2024. Tanner was born and raised in Florida alongside his 4 siblings. 2 brothers and 2 sisters, with Tanner being the second oldest. His family moved to Iowa in late 2007. On his days off and after work, he spends his time with his kids, whether stuck inside on a cold day playing video games or fishing a local pond on a warm day. He is happy to be your pest control provider and looks forward to keeping everyone pest-free!

Ryan grew up in Dallas Center Iowa and currently lives in Minburn with his wife and three boys! His favorite part about working for preferred pest control is being outside and helping people. In his free time Ryan enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors hunting, fishing, and playing basketball!

Nathan lives in Huxley, Iowa with his wife and two children. Hard work and a friendly smile are essential qualities in providing an amazing customer experience, which is why Nathan enjoys being a part of the Preferred Pest Team. Most folks get nervous when the great outdoors finds its way into their homes. Nathan has the privilege to come alongside folks in their communities and provide knowledge and problem-solving solutions to set their minds at ease. In his spare time Nathan enjoys running errands with his kids, spending time with family, jogging, and attempting to increase his knowledge of gardening and home improvements!

Born and raised in Des Moines, I'm currently loving living in the Easter Lake area with my beautiful bride. I love spending time with friends and family, playing board games or watching a good movie/show. I also love custom carpentry, and enjoy a good afternoon in the garage.

Hey! I'm Nicholas, I'm a very laid-back individual that spends most of my off time doing family outings or sporting events so with that being said, GO CLONES!

Ben was born and raised in Urbandale, Iowa. He has continued to live in Central Iowa because it is a great place to raise a family, and he enjoys living close to family and friends. Ben’s favorite part about working at Preferred Pest is traveling around the metro to help people. In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing frisbee golf, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and attending his local church.

Meet Max, our extraordinary canine who's been on our team since 2021, specially trained and annually certified to exclusively detect bedbugs. His super-sniffing skills turn every inspection into an adventure of precision and care, ensuring that even the sneakiest bedbugs don't stand a chance. Max isn't just a dog; he's a dedicated detective whose playful charm and commitment to service excellence make him an indispensable member of our pest control family.

Say hello to Sky, the newest addition to our elite bedbug detection team. Trained for accuracy and driven by instinct, Sky brings fresh energy and pinpoint precision to every inspection. Her calm confidence and sharp nose make her a fast and reliable asset. With a strong work ethic and gentle personality, she’s already making her mark on the team.

Preferred Pest Control was founded by Brad Smith in 1985, and he dedicated his expertise to the business for almost 40 years before retiring in 2022. Some of his proudest entrepreneurial accomplishments incuded earning an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the BBB Torch Award for Ethics.

As an Iowa State University graduate Entomologist, Brad used his pest knowledge as a frequent resource for media interviews, expert witness testimony for court trials, identifying pests found by customers and training Preferred Pest Control technicians in updated extermination techniques. Throughout his years in the pest control industry, Smith was a member of the Polk County Bed Bug Task Force and former president of the Iowa Pest Management Association.