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Jack Hooks knows a thing or two about how to control insect pests. He is the fourth generation to own his family’s business, , and his full-time job is protecting homes and businesses from invasive insects.

Whether it’s bees, spiders, hornets, the dreaded bed bugs, termites or something else – he knows the right steps and the right treatment for each situation.

What he also knows is how to deal with people – thanks in large part to the skills he gained as a student at ������̳ at Mansfield. Jack graduated with a degree in business communications from the Columbus campus in 2022, but along the way, he took a variety of psychology classes at Mansfield that helped improve his knowledge of how people think and act. 

“As a student in a psychology class, you’re learning about yourself but then you’re also able to apply that knowledge to other people,” he said. “That’s pretty essential in business, being able to understand where other people are coming from and why they see things as they do.”

Customer interaction

Jack said it’s common for him and his employees to interact with 10-15 customers a day, and many more when treating an apartment complex. Each person is different, and everyone has certain insects they despise the most.

Bed bugs, bees and hornets tend to be the most disliked, and termites tend to be the most costly to eradicate. Whatever the situation, Jack tries to connect with the customer and meet their goals.

He enjoys making a difference, and ridding people’s homes of one of their biggest fears.

“There’s really nothing better than going to someone’s house and taking care of their insect issues, and then you feel like a hero,” he said. “It’s a simple thing, but it’s an immediate gratification.” 

Amy Brunell, Jack’s psychology professor at ������̳ Mansfield, said he took social psychology and interpersonal relationships with her, along with independent study and research.

“Psychology teaches us how to improve our communication, understand others – such as their perceptions, reactions, and motivation – and how to navigate challenging or difficult conversations. These are all tools that we can use in our personal and professional lives,” she said.

Jack took over the business in 2023, from his mother, Mary Carothers. She became owner in (1998), following her father, Ed Carothers, and the business was started by her grandfather, William Carothers, in 1959. Today, Jack oversees five full-time employees, who serve a 60-mile radius of Shelby, Ohio.

Personal Connection

One of the things Jack enjoyed most at ������̳ Mansfield was the close relationships he was able to form with his professors. Smaller class sizes led to more interaction and more time for follow-up after class.

He also enjoyed getting to study close to home. This allowed him to commute and spend more time with family.

“I enjoyed having Jack close to home, and because he worked with me while he was in college, he was available over weekends and during breaks,” said Mary Carothers. “We’re a close family and keeping him local allowed us to spend more family time together.”

When Jack graduated, he actually landed a job in Florida, as a sales rep, but he soon felt the calling to return to his roots. 

“I found out that an office job really wasn’t for me,” he said. “I grew up locally and was educated locally, so it made sense for me to return and help run the family business. I love supporting the communities that have supported me all of these years.”