National Exterminating

In 1975, Randy and Carol Abbitt launched a small pest control business out of their Newport News home. Today, National Exterminating is nationally recognized as a Top 100 company in the pest control industry and has gone from zero customers to over 50,000 customers. A second generation, Travis Abbitt and Jessica Godfrey, is guiding the business and working hard to carry on a legacy built on respect, teamwork, integrity, and family.  

“My parents always worked as a team with Randy out in the field and Carol working in the inner office,” says Travis. “There is a funny story about their business phone, which was shaped like a bug,” he continues. “In the beginning, the phone didn’t ring much, but when it did, they would jump over things while running to answer it. What a difference from today, when we receive hundreds of calls daily. We still have that bug phone in Jessica’s office as a reminder of how far we’ve come.” 

“My dad brought the vision, my mom gave the company structure,” Jessica says. “They complemented each other in strengths. Travis and I share the same dynamic – his strength is in the field, while mine is in the inner office.”  

National Exterminating offers a variety of services including structural repairs, rodent control, bed bug treatments, and yard sprays for mosquitoes.

Both Travis and Jessica have many memories of working at the company in their early years. Jessica helped her mom in the office, while Travis had the strenuous job of helping with moisture control projects. “My dad would pick me up after school and drop me at a house with a pile of sand about 6 feet tall by 12 feet wide,” he says. “A buddy and I would shovel all that sand under the house. I earned the nickname ‘beach boy’ because I played in the sand so much!” 

Today, National Exterminating has over 60 employees, many whom have been with the company for decades. Services have expanded to include structural repairs, rodent control, bed bug treatments, and yard sprays for mosquito, flea, and tick control. Many of their 50,000- plus customers have been with National Exterminating for 30 years or more.  

“One major reason my dad started the company was to provide a place where people could work, have good benefits, and be treated right,” Travis says. “It’s important that after employees put in the years working for the company, the company can guarantee that they can retire comfortably.”  

“To this day, my dad is always thinking of how to help customers and grow the business,” Jessica says. “He is very proud of the fact National Exterminating has been recognized since 2003 as one of the top pest control companies in the nation. In fact, his license plate reads Top100.” 

National Exterminating had a long history with Harbor Bank and Gordon Gentry, as a charter stockholder before Harbor Bank merged with TowneBank. Bert Bateman, executive vice president and commercial banker, serves as their banker. “We really love the relationship we have with TowneBank and have enjoyed doing business with Towne over the years,” Jessica says.  

Travis and Jessica are committed to carrying on their parents’ legacy that was built on passion, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to people. They didn’t just grow a business: they nurtured a workplace where employees and customers were treated like family. 

For more information, visit NationalExterminating.com

National Exterminating is celebrating 50 years and family has always been at the heart of the business. Pictured are Randy Abbitt, Travis Abbitt, Carol Abbitt, and Jessica Abbitt Godfrey (l. to r.).