Pest-Control Expert Often Goes Incognito to Make Homes Pest-Free

Unlike the pests he tracks, Mike Lowry doesn't usually go under cover of darkness although he often does go incognito.

Lowry, Amy's Pest Services owner, doesn't advertise his business on the side of his truck. His clients know he means business, but they don't necessarily want their neighbors to know about it.

That doesn't bother Lowry one bit. He's used to being incognito – it comes with the (pest-control) territory, and is something he's been doing for almost 30 years.

Lowry's foray into pest-control began after high school in Lorraine, Ohio, a small town struggling with a 36 percent unemployment rate. So he moved to Texas.

You've probably heard the phrase: “Everything's bigger in Texas." Well, even the bugs are, and there was work aplenty in Texas for those willing to enter the pest-control business.

Lowry spent seven years working for a company that provided intensive training in innovative techniques. However, Lowry missed the change of seasons. Seeking a change, he and his former wife moved to Barrington in 1989, along with their young daughter, Ana.

Two years of working for a large company in Rhode Island convinced Lowry that he wanted to start his own business. He knew he could provide the personal service and convenience of a local company, while still providing the very best and most innovative pest-control treatments in the industry.

In the spring of 1991, his second daughter, Krista, was born and so, too, was his brand new business, Amy's Pest Service. For two more years, Lowry worked pest-control during the day, and delivered pizzas at night, so that he could pay for his truck and equipment, while continuing to build his business. That hard work and dedication paid off, and over the last 20 years, Lowry has established himself as the go-to guy for pest control in the East Bay and surrounding areas.

Lowry enjoys his work, and the service he provides to people.

“Let's face it,” said Lowry. “Pest control is a necessity, not a romantic job. I enjoy doing this because I like helping people solve problems.”

Even though most of the problems solved by Lowry are “little” (ants, anyone?), nobody likes a pest, and sometimes if left untreated, those little problems can turn into big ones. Lowry said his customers appreciate that he can take care of those little problems in a way that's generally safe for pets, kids, and the environment, and the majority of his business comes from word-of-mouth referrals.

Lowry's extended family still lives in Ohio, and the town of Lorraine is doing much better than it was in the early '80s. But Lowry has no plans to go back there. Ana now works in the film industry in Los Angeles, and Krista is studying interior design, but Lowry is quite content to stay in Barrington. He said the town has always had a special appeal for him.

“I like the community. I like the people," he said. "Aesthetically, it's a beautiful town, and it was a wonderful environment to raise my daughters in. I'm comfortable here."

And if Lowry can make life a little less- comfortable for the pests, and more comfortable for home owners, that's just fine with him.