Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

David Osborn: Full Circle

By James Florence, guest contributor

DANVILLE — Born the son of a pest control professional, David Osborn hadn’t planned on following in his father’s footsteps, but through a series of turns, his path eventually came full circle. “My father started his pest control business right after I was born, so I basically grew up in it,” he explains. “As I got older, I thought about becoming an accountant or a meteorologist, but I didn’t like the idea of being stuck behind a desk. When I went to college, I chose to major in Forestry. However, after meeting a few other Forestry majors who were unable to find work after graduating, I switched to plant science.”

During the course of his education, David increasingly found connections between his field of study and that of pest control, which enabled him to see his father’s profession through a new lens and later prompted his return to the family business. Today, as second-generation owner of Osborn Spray Service, David says his academic background continues to influence his approach to pest control. “I consider myself a forester because my company does a lot of work with trees. I also take a conservative approach to fumigation and avoid spraying unless there’s really a need for it.”

David says interacting with customers is his favorite part of his job. “I appreciate the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people and educate them about our industry. I figure if my customers are more informed, they’re more likely to appreciate what I’m doing.” David says he also enjoys working alongside his son, Kyle, who represents the third generation of family involvement in the business.

A native resident of Danville (where he lives with his wife, Sherry), David likes to take advantage of the diverse Bay Area landscape. “Some of my favorite pastimes are riding my Harley Davidson and backpacking in the Sierras with friends,” he says. “My wife and I also like to travel, both within the United States and to places like Mexico.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, David says he’d relocate to a new setting. “Our daughters, Kate and Kari, both live in Salt Lake City, Utah with our grandkids, so we’d probably move somewhere closer to them. I’d also ride my motorcycle and travel more.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go?

A: Australia or New Zealand. I find that whole area fascinating, and I’d love to see the Great Barrier Reef.

Q: Do you have a favorite movie?

A: I have two: “Jeremiah Johnson” and “The Hunt for the Red October.”

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?

A: An early bird.

Q: How do you like your eggs?

A: Over easy.

Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume as a child?

A: I don’t recall my favorite, but there’s one I’ll never forget: When I was in the fifth grade, my mother dressed me up in a bunch of tin cans and said I was a “cannibal.”