[Leadership] Stacy O'Reilly

Many people who grow up in the pest control industry move directly into the business from college — but not Stacy O’Reilly.

Stacy, the daughter of Sandra and John O’Reilly, former owners of Plunkett’s Pest Control in Fridley, Minn., took over the reigns from her father only after gaining experience outside the industry. For O’Reilly, 44, this career progression was all part of the plan.

"I was always drawn to and a part of the family business," says O’Reilly. "Frankly, it looked like a lot of work, but it’s something I always had an interest in. It drove me to work for someone else before joining the family business," she explained. "It was critical that I develop some credentials outside Plunkett’s and be successful somewhere else before returning to the business. It helped me to know that I had marketable skills and could work for other people who didn’t have to be related to me. I was very fortunate to work in some really neat companies with some interesting business problems."

The O’Reilly family always emphasized education, and from an early age, O’Reilly knew that a master’s degree was in her future. She graduated in 1989, ready to gain real-world experience but also committed to make good on her father’s call to "go prove you’re hirable."

"I always knew I wanted to try something other than pest control before returning to the business," O’Reilly said. "I wanted to be sure it was the right place for me." Furthermore, reflecting on the varied experience her first jobs provided, O’Reilly says she "wouldn’t trade the experience for anything." During those first years out of college, O’Reilly worked in a variety of sales and management roles for such big name companies as NordicTrack, McKinsey Consulting, and PUR Drinking Water Filters.

COMPANY HISTORY. Plunkett’s rich history began in 1915 when it was founded by an Irish immigrant. O’Reilly’s grandfather purchased the business from the Plunkett family in 1923 and put the company on the map in Minneapolis, says O’Reilly. Her father John took the lead in 1968 and continued Plunkett’s’ growth, taking it from a business with five technicians to one with more than 160 on staff, and securing its spot as the largest independent pest control company in Minnesota. That growth has only continued under O’Reilly’s watch: In the seven years she has run the company, revenues have increased two-fold to more than $20 million.

According to O’Reilly, John knew his daughter was prepared for the top post as he approached retirement. "After 35 years of running the company, he really stepped away. He said if I missed a payment, he would take it back! My parents knew I was ready and they were ready to do something else. They were still fairly young with lots of energy," explains O’Reilly. Her parents now run a bed and breakfast on 530 acres in northern Minnesota.

After joining the business, O’Reilly worked as a technician, a supervisor in the field, and in various other management positions before being named president. "The business was running fine at the time. I didn’t have to come in here and do anything drastic at all. The employees knew me as I went through my career and education."

Once in the top leadership role, O’Reilly was surprised that her father disengaged so completely from the business. She claims she and her father are quite similar — strong-willed but fair. "I think he knew I was just as ready to walk away from the business if I wasn’t given that authority to do my job," she asserts. And as it turned out, John’s detachment from the business proved to be helpful as the younger O’Reilly took the reigns, since he never sent mixed signals about who was in charge.

A TEAM LEADER. Comparing her style of management to her father’s, O’Reilly describes John as perhaps more controlling, paying attention to all the details, while she takes a less hands-on, more results-oriented approach. "Both styles work," she says.

As O’Reilly became more entrenched in life at Plunkett’s, she realized how competent the team was. "Upon joining the company, I don’t think I was ready for the all-consuming relationship my dad had with the business. He built the company. I took over after he had a solid team in place. That’s probably why I have a bit more balance when it comes to work."

A work ethic born of her Midwestern roots keeps her devoted to her profession, whether she runs the company or works for someone else. "I stayed up just as many late nights at other companies as I do at Plunkett’s and it had nothing to do with who owned the business. This is true of Plunkett’s employees, too. Many of these people have committed their entire careers to working for Plunkett’s. It’s personal for them, as it is for me."

O’Reilly admits it was intimidating to follow her father into the business. John was devoted to the company and its employees. As O’Reilly got older, she realized her father was a powerful personality and had many talented people working for him. She now understands he didn’t have to work quite so hard and that work is one of his hobbies.

Devotion to the family business, O’Reilly says, was another major factor in her decision to take over at Plunkett’s. "I take pride in the company my family built. My grandfather put his heart into the business and my mother and father, along with a lot of high-quality people, built it. I’m proud to have been a part of it my entire life." She believes that people at Plunkett’s bring an innate sense of pride to their work.

NETWORK OF PEERS. Plunkett’s is a Copesan company and O’Reilly is pleased that she works closely with peers from around the country. "It’s been good for me to see the many high-quality people running pest control businesses around the country. It makes me realize I should not fall asleep at the switch. This is a competitive industry and we should not slow down for a second, lest we be passed by everyone else."

Copesan President Deni Naumann describes O’Reilly as "strategic, tenacious, a fierce competitor and totally focused on delivering exceptional quality of service to clients." What’s more, Naumann says, she has a quick wit and sense of humor as well.

O’Reilly currently serves as vice chair of Copesan’s board of directors as well as its chair of long range planning. As such, she has worked closely with Naumann for the past three and a half years. "Stacy’s professional background includes working as an engagement manager for almost five years for McKinsey Consulting," reflects Naumann. "This day-to-day project management with various Fortune 100 clients, along with her operations and senior management experience gained in her various roles at Plunkett’s, provide valuable insight and direction to me, the board and Copesan, overall." Furthermore, said Naumann, "Stacy’s intelligence, strategic thinking, ability to see the big picture, and plan for the long term are key skills she brings to her company, Copesan, and our industry."

ACHIEVING BALANCE. Growing up, O’Reilly recalls her parents putting in long hours at the company. Meanwhile, she and her older brother Doug were good kids who really didn’t cause many problems for their parents. "Neither of us were particularly exciting," O’Reilly says humbly. "We went to school and did our homework. They weren’t really challenged by us."

However, in a traumatic turn of events, Doug passed away in 1984, at the age of 22, in a car accident. O’Reilly was 18 at the time.

Reflecting on the loss of her brother, O’Reilly says the life-changing experience was "nothing I would wish on anybody." Furthermore, his death caused her to appreciate the person he was in a way she might not have. "He was the social butterfly," O’Reilly offered. "I’m much more introverted." As such, she observed, "we would have been a great team." Clearly Doug is never far from her mind. "He’s present in this business," O’Reilly contends.

O’Reilly also describes herself as competitive, having participated in such sports as softball and hockey in college. Also competitive academically, O’Reilly admits college was at times quite challenging. "I stayed up many a night just to hold my own against the other students," she recalls. However, the sense of accomplishment O’Reilly derived from being challenged at Dartmouth has served her well throughout her career.

Over the years O’Reilly developed an interest in woodworking, a pursuit that suits her personality well, she says. "Woodworking is my hobby because it’s a solitary activity," says O’Reilly. "I like to focus on one thing and make it perfect, just right. I don’t get the luxury of spending that much time on any one thing in the business. More often than not, I have to make decisions quickly. Woodworking gives me the opportunity to get away and relax."

Alfie Treleven, president of Sprague Pest Solutions and a member of Copesan, observes, "Stacy brings a depth of business experience not many in our industry hold. Stacy is all about seeing an issue, owning the issue, leading teams through solving issues and most importantly...she is all about doing the plan agreed to," he said.
 

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IN BRIEF…

NAME: Stacy O’Reilly

COMPANY: Plunkett’s Pest Control

HEADQUARTERS: Fridley, Minn.

POSITION: President

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Vice chair of Copesan board of directors and chair of Copesan long range planning; at Plunkett’s has worked as technician, supervisor and in other management roles; held management roles with NordicTrack, McKinsey & Co. Consulting, PUR Drinking Water Filters, and SimonDelivers Home Grocery Delivery; holds bachelor’s degree from University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., and MBA from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.; also attended University of Trier in Germany

PERSONAL: Enjoys woodworking as a hobby and is a member of the Minnesota Woodworker’s Guild; participates as a member of the Women’s Business Development Center of Minnesota