~Corey Knoeck - A degree in English, A love for Basketball and A
Future in the Heights with his new Pest Control Business!~
By
At
31 Corey Knoeck, by most standards, has already lead a pretty interesting life.
This young father of two however, is far from done yet. After years of working
for others Corey is following the American Dream and has set out to secure his
future with a pest control company of his own. “With more than 7 years of operations management in the pest control
industry behind me, I decided the time was right for Triton Termite & Pest
to be born. I submitted my resignation and set the wheels in motion”
Corey proudly shared.
Growing
up in Naperville, IL Corey claims he originally set his sights on a future
filled with basketball. “I was strongly focused on basketball throughout
high school and into college” he explained. “After playing
basketball for one year at Aurora University (suburban Chicago), I transferred
to the University of Kansas where I majored in English” he went on to
add. Life however took a dramatic
turn after Corey met his “now” wife Linda and the whirlwind romance
soon began. “Linda and I met at the University of Kansas in April of 1998
and dated for 4 months before she left for the Virgin Islands. After w3e
married in July of 1999, I moved to St. Thomas with her, where we spent the
next three years” he explained. According to Corey the marriage was meant
to be from the start as they shared a lot of interest in similar things.
“Linda grew up in Lawrence, Kansas – home of the University of
Kansas Jayhawks – and was highly involved in athletics throughout high
school. From track & field, to basketball, to cheerleading, she was busy
year-round” he stated. According to Corey, sports however were a
secondary love for Linda- “a way to pass the time” he said.
“From early childhood, her true dream was to become a marine biologist. She too went to the University of Kansas, but
only as a brief stepping stone on her way elsewhere, as KU did not offer a
marine biology program. She soon transferred to the University of the Virgin
Islands in St. Thomas where she ultimately earned a B.S. in Marine
Biology” he stated. “In
addition to working towards her bachelor’s degree, Linda also spent much
of her time as an aquarist at a marine park on St. Thomas called Coral World.
There she performed shark feedings and gave presentations on various marine
animals and habitats” he added. As if that weren’t enough she continued
her studies at Nova University “she went on to earn an M.S. in Marine
Science from Nova Southeastern University, and is now a Marine Scientist for
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Palm Beach Gardens” Corey proudly
explained.
So
how is it that Corey went from English to Termites? “I
got my introduction into the pest control industry shortly after moving to St.
Thomas in 1999, and have been involved with it ever since” he stated.
“My first position was as a branch manager for a franchise of one of the
industry’s largest companies. For more than 2 years I oversaw the
operations of their St. Thomas / St. John facilities, and quickly came to
realize just how destructive and disruptive termites and other pests can
be” Corey commented. “In late 2002 we returned to Kansas, and I
reunited with the same company as a manager for one of their corporate
operations in Kansas City. Not long after, (February 2003) I was lured away by
their prime competitor with an offer that was too good to pass up to manage their
operation in Topeka, Kansas” he replied. “4 years of management
experience in two very different pest environments, and I had gained valuable
information pertaining to the inner workings of the pest control
industry” he added.
When
asked how this wealth of knowledge of the pest control industry impacted his
company he told us “We offer both residential and commercial services
throughout Palm Beach County. Our service plans are tailored to fit the unique
circumstances of a particular structure, and most come with unlimited free
extra services as needed and are backed by a full satisfaction guarantee. If
your pests return, so too will Triton” he said with a smile.
“Triton Termite & Pest is a full service termite and pest control
company specializing in general household pest control (ants, roaches, spiders,
rodents, etc…), termite prevention and control (subterranean, Formosan,
and drywood termites), and mosquito abatement services. At Triton, our top
priority is making sure homeowners are equipped with sufficient information in
order to make an educated decision about how to spend their money in protecting
their homes” he explained.
With
two young children and a business appealing to family needs The Heights was a
perfect fit for the Knoeck household. “One of the wonderful things about
the Heights is the variety of small business owners living throughout the
community. From landscapers and electricians, to plumbers, painters, realtors
and more, we can have almost any household need addressed just from talking to
our neighbors” he commented. Corey admits that both he and Linda are very
family oriented and it was that appeal that attracted them to the Heights in
the first place. “We were drawn to the Heights by its family-friendly
atmosphere. With a young daughter and a son on the way, our priority was making
sure we got into a community that would lend itself to a safe upbringing for
them. After looking at homes and communities throughout Broward and Palm Beach
County, we quickly realized that the Heights was
exactly what we were looking for” he willingly acknowledged. After
purchasing their home on Barbara St in January 2006, they are now enjoying time
spent with their almost 5 year old
daughter Avery, as well as their 1 ½ year old son
Triton.
With
so much time focused on their careers we asked him how they spent their down
time. “Outside of work, our lives are centered around
our two children. Most weekends involve several trips to parks and the beach.
Can’t miss TV for us each night is Wheel of Fortune. Avery wouldn’t
miss it for the world” he laughed. Not to be misinterpreted as couch potato
he also added “We spent the holidays in Kansas & Chicago visiting
both sets of grandparents!”
While most of us would run from the thought of a business that involved termites, roaches, rats and more; it certainly hasn’t damaged his sense of humor. When asked if he could change anything (in the neighborhood) Corey said “I think I’d like to have bangs. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have hair in my eyes!” Then again—maybe it has had a negative impact on his brain!! J
Editors Note: To learn
more about Corey or “Triton Termite and Pest” call him at
561-452-7712 or visit him on the web at www.gotriton.com. If you would
like to suggest someone for a future Heights profile just email NPBHeights@bellsouth.net. B