Podcast

The Business Case for Empathy: Leadership That Drives Ownership

Aug 19, 2025

1 min read

The Business Case for Empathy: Leadership That Drives Ownership

Episode Overview

Empathy, transparency, and strong communication have fueled employee satisfaction and impressive business growth for Ross Pest and Lawn in Aledo, TX.

Kevin McKee, the president and CEO, shares how simple habits like answering the phone and showing up on time drive customer trust, but more importantly, how investing in employees as people builds long-term loyalty.

From open-book financials and profit-sharing to teaching strategic thinking and soft skills, McKee explains how he’s intentionally built a culture where employees feel true ownership in the business.

Join McKee and Pest in Class podcast host Amanda Salvatore as they discuss:

[5:16] The simple habits behind Ross Pest & Lawn’s 30+% growth.
[14:44] Why sharing the P&L with the entire team builds trust.
[20:51] How to talk to your team about soft skills without micromanaging.

To hear more stories from the pest control industry, subscribe to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or subscribe on YouTube to watch episodes. And as always, FieldRoutes welcomes your review and rating.

Check out more episodes

The Technician Performance Trifecta: Recognition, Rewards, and Retention

Taylor Olson, CEO of Applause, joins FieldRoutes’ Pest in Class podcast to explain how automated scorecards and real-time recognition are redefining technician performance.

Why Owners Need Other Owners: The Real Benefit of Networking

Thomas Harris of Uinta Pest Solutions shares his journey from solopreneur to thriving CEO. Hear strategies you can use to build a powerful network, drive referrals, and scale your company.

Put Your Numbers in Timeout: Building a Call Center People Want to Be Part Of

Steve Short, vice president of sales and marketing at Fox Pest Control, joins Pest in Class to discuss building a healthy call center culture.

Pest Control and Parenthood: How the Goins Built Grace Into Their Business

Noelle and Rian Goins, owners of Get Goins Pest Control, share how they prepared their business for a new arrival, from adjusting pricing to embracing a new definition of success.

Protect Your People and Profits: Seven Big Payroll Mistakes to Avoid

Inova’s Mary Leveridge and Kathey Palmer join Pest in Class podcast host Amanda Salvatore to share ways your pest control company can protect people and profits.

Pest Control's Future: A Deep Dive into the 2025 Pest Industry Report

Explore key findings from FieldRoutes’ 2025 State of the Pest Industry Report with Anders Fredericksen, senior product marketing manager.

About the Show

The Pest In Class podcast from FieldRoutes is your destination for hearing insight, inspiration, and stories from fellow pest control industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Pest In Class host Amanda Salvatore will interview a new leader each episode as FieldRoutes celebrates the success of its customers while delivering software solutions to help them along their growth journey.

Get on our show