Presto Pest Control, Inc.

Jim Rossi: Getting the Bugs Out

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — In his prior career, Jim Rossi spent a lot of time dealing with software bugs, but he never imagined he’d one day be dealing with real ones for a living. “I have a background in IT with a focus on customer support,” he recounts. “I worked in a variety of facets, from small startups to large corporations. At one point I had been out of work for a while and was interested in finding a new career path—something that was more physically active than sitting at a desk. During this time, I had a routine pest control service at my home. I watched as the technician worked and thought, ‘Maybe I could do that.’ After all, the work didn’t seem too complicated or physically demanding. I figured it was worth checking into, so I got a part-time job with a local pest control company to see how I liked it. I ended up liking it quite a lot and decided to stick with it.”

A few years later, Jim took the plunge and started Presto Pest Control, Inc. “I started my business with zero customers, which is not how most service businesses start,” he explains. “I was able to succeed because I had my finger on the pulse of the market. By this point, I had worked for a couple of companies and analyzed what each one did well and didn’t do well. Most pest control companies were focused on keeping their prices as low as possible, which often meant the quality of service suffered. I decided to take the opposite approach and focus on providing quality service at a higher price point. It turns out a lot of people weren’t happy with the level of service they were used to receiving, so I was able to grow a clientele base by catering to them.”

Today, Jim says his favorite part of his job is making his customers happy. “I like meeting clients who have a problem, resolving that problem and seeing how happy they are afterward. That’s just priceless to me—it really makes my day and motivates me in my work.”

A resident of South San Jose, Jim spends his free time on a variety of pastimes. “My main hobby is playing video games,” he details. “I’ve always enjoyed competitive sports and I grew up playing football, baseball, paintball and chess. Now that I’m older, video games are a great way to compete with other players without having to worry about physical injury.” When he’s not facing off against virtual opponents, Jim enjoys spending time with his fiancée and three sons. “I have an older son and two younger boys. We like hanging out as a family and going to places like the park, the zoo, and the aquarium. My older son and I also like to go off-roading in my custom Jeep.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Jim says he’s all about creating a dynamic of mutual benefits. “I love ‘win-wins.’ The customer tells me what they need and I deliver it—the problem is solved and everyone is happy. I always follow up on my promises and I don’t delay in taking care of my customers. That’s what I live for.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?

A: The San Jose Sharks

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?

A: Fogo de Chão in San Jose.

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?

A: The future. I’ve always been interested in the next things to come. I remember when I got my first Atari system, I imagined what it might be like to play a multiplayer game in real time. Today, that’s a reality, so it makes me excited to see what other developments the future holds.

Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume when you were growing up?

A: When I was in elementary school, I was a gangster for Halloween one year. As part of my costume, I brought a replica of a 50-caliber Tommy gun to school. At the time, I couldn’t understand why the teachers were so freaked out!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Italy. I’m part Italian, so I’d like to learn more about my heritage and see what it’s like over there.