As a community we are all rooting for the small businesses that invest in our town. We see the sweat equity they put into their products and services - and they become a part of our daily lives. Sometimes we get to know business owners personally, learning about their journey - the sacrifices they’ve made - and we root for them even harder. Such is the case with Jay Annepu, owner of Mosquito Joe of Edison-Westfield. I have heard his story and haven’t stopped rooting for him since. I want you to hear it too.
Jagadish “Jay” Annepu grew up in a small middle-class town in India called Visakhapatnam. As a young boy he and his friends immersed themselves in American culture. But while his friends were reading books like “The Hardy Boys” and “Nancy Drew”, Jay was reading investment books like Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. He fell in love with the notion of entrepreneurship and dreamed of owning his own business one day.
Like many young Indian students, Jay came to the US when it was time for his graduate studies. His conservative upbringing dictated he follow a career in IT or healthcare. He chose the latter and set out for The University of Indianapolis in Indiana to get his Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. This, however, was not the “study abroad” experience you might think about. Jay arrived at the airport in 2003 and did not know a single soul. He had no car, no housing and no friends. With sheer determination and a positive outlook he took a taxi to the University and asked if he could stay there. Jay explains this as naivety. He had no clue. The university gave him the names of a few grad students in his program and he set off, on foot, luggage in tow, to request their kindness.After a few gracious couches, Jay found university housing he could share with other students. All of the three bedrooms were spoken for - so he slept on the floor in the living room. Next to the bathroom. For months. He laughs about it now - especially when he recalls that the only food he ate for over three months was from the Burger King acrsooss the street. It was nearby and cheap. Eventually he found work - a strategic move on his part to stay nourished. The school cafeteria. Here, he worked twelve hour shifts washing dishes earning about $7/hour - but getting highly discounted food every day. Food that was NOT a Whopper. Growing up in a traditional Indian household meant he had never washed a dish or cleaned before. His mom would forbid it. But his work ethic was committed and he soon graduated to sweep and mop the foors, then the pizza station and ultimately the deep fryer.
Upon getting licensed in physical therapy Jay was courted by a recruiter who helped him tremendously. “He took me to Buffalo Wild Wings” says Jay. “It was the nicest place I had eaten in America. I thought it was fancy!”. The recruiter got Jay a placement but supported him in so many other ways too. From getting his Green Card sponsored to helping him get a bank loan to buy a car for commuting. But the job security was the greatest gift. Jay worked tirelessly as a PT but never gave up on his dream of getting into business. In 2007 he bought his first investment property that he renovated himself to rent out for recurring income. He did it again in 2009. And in 2010 he went back to school to get his Masters in RE Development. He also tried his hand at e-commerce but found he did not have the right skillset to make it successful. “I believe so much in business so this is what I should be doing” he says. “This is how destiny is already made”. And that is when he decided that franchise ownership was the route for his business journey. The learning curve was shorter and the business was supported.
But why pest control?
“At my home in India, we did everything outside. We would play, eat, enjoy company - all year long,” says Jay. “But here, the weather prevents us from enjoying the outdoors year-round”. Jay’s background in healthcare - and his childhood - have informed his perspective on the health benefits of fresh air and being out in nature. But then you layer in mosquitos and ticks - and other pests that can bring disease, and you find yourself back indoors! “I want to create outdoor memories for families.” The idea that my business and service could bring kids outside to play more and parents enjoying the hammock or an evening margarita makes my heart happy. Jay wants these things for others but continues to sacrifice before being able to enjoy them himself. He and his wife both work two jobs to support their family and dream of being a business owner. Jay’s parents have moved in to help watch their three children, the youngest being only 9 months old. He wants all grand parents to be able to have their kids over, playing in the backyard, running around with the dogs. But even with all the sacrifice, Jay says he is “in bliss.” Seeing his baby boy in his father’s arms, eating meals with his family and parents and having his name on the books as a business owner are part of his American dream.
He wants to see it not just for himself but fr the whole community.
This is what inspires me to do this business.
“I believe in free markets to create economic opportunity for others. He is proud to offer employment to his technicians and administrative team. Most notably - Dialla Hamzeh. Originally hired to answer calls, Dialla’s role has grown to marketing, HR, sales, customer service and scheduling. She loves talking to customers and helping them find the right solution for them. You can see the pride she carries when she talks about customers that have stayed with them season after season - or returned to them after having a bad experience with other providers. I believe in the American dream. You play by the rules, you work hard and there is no limit to your success. This gives me the strength to sustain even when times are so hard. This is nothing compared to what others go through he says. Story is not about me - it is about America. Generations that worked so hard before me - now pave the way for my baby son and two daughters.
Mosquito control treatments – Regular barrier sprays designed to reduce mosquito populations so you can use your yard comfortably.
- Tick and flea control – Treatments targeting ticks and fleas in outdoor areas.
- General outdoor pest control – Broader exterior pest services (e.g., ants, stinging insects like wasps/bees).
- Customized treatment plans based on your property and pest issues
- Eco-friendly/green options available for customers concerned about chemicals
- Expert-backed methods (supported by trained technicians and entomology knowledge)
- No long term contracts
- Free estimates for services
- Satisfaction guarantee (Mosquito Joe “Done Right” promise)
- Focus on helping customers “reclaim outdoor spaces” from pests
Mosquito Joe’s mission is to provide peace of mind to its customers — both residential and commercial. The company distinguishes itself among its industry peers with standard and eco-friendly solutions that are customized to each situation with heavy focus on customer service.
What you deal with from pests can vary among mosquitos, gnats, no-see-ums, ticks, fleas, and wasps, hornets, and bees—and there’s a specific treatment for each. Gnats and no-see-ums manifest underground and stay low, and mosquitos are drawn to dampness and shady areas. The signs differ too: no-see-ums and midges bite on lower legs and all over children and show up usually in clusters and swell.
That upfront discussion of symptoms is essential. “Because education,” said Annepu, “is one of our most important goals—
With pest control, safe remediation methods are as much of a customer concern as the many
types of bugs and rodents that need to be eliminated.
“We always work from the outside to prevent critters from getting or being carried in,” Annepu explained. Even for flea problems, The company proactively empties containers of standing water that attract mosquitos and treat ponds and large water areas with granules. For rodents and home pests, they spray the foundation and around windows and doors, creating a barrier that repels and prevents rodents and pests from getting in.
Make Outside Fun Again