ohDEER Expands to Midwest with First Female Franchisees

WAYLAND, Mass. – ohDEER is expanding into the Midwest with the addition of its first female franchisees. Mother-daughter duo Jeri Lucco and Sarah Lucco will own and operate ohDEER Northwest Columbus, Ohio.

This expansion signifies a major milestone for ohDEER highlighting a growing demand for eco-friendly outdoor pest control solutions and advancements for female entrepreneurs in the pest control and franchise industries.

“At ohDEER, we believe that empowering female entrepreneurs strengthens our brand and enhances the communities we serve,” said Colleen Upham, owner and co-founder of ohDEER. “Jeri and Sarah joining ohDEER as our first female franchisees is a proud moment for us. As a female leader in historically male-dominated pest control and franchise industries, I understand the importance of creating opportunities for women to thrive in business ownership.”

Sarah, who holds a degree in recreation and tourism management from Arizona State University, initially pursued a corporate sales job, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. She transitioned to assisting her mother, Jeri, a franchise consultant, with marketing emails, which sparked her interest in franchising.

Drawn to the balance of hands-on work and business ownership, Sarah explored various home services franchises before ultimately choosing ohDEER, a recommendation from Jeri that aligned with her goals. Now, the duo will bring all-natural pest control solutions to Northwest Columbus.

“Bringing ohDEER to the Midwest is a huge step in our mission to provide the most effective all-natural deer, tick, and mosquito control, so every community can enjoy more time outside,” said Jereme Shelton, vice president of franchise development at ohDEER. “This expansion goes beyond just opening a new territory. It’s a testament to the strength of our model and the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions. I'm thrilled for Jeri and Sarah, and I know they will help propel the brand forward while making outdoor spaces safer for their community.”