History
Saela Pest Control was founded in 2008 in Centennial, Colorado by Andrew Richardson, originally operating under the name Edge Pest Control. For more than a decade, the company built its reputation on rapid response times, delivering high quality treatment methods, and a commitment to customer service that set it apart from larger national competitors. In 2022, the company rebranded as Saela, a word meaning “happiness” in Old Norse, chosen to better reflect the culture and mission its leadership had cultivated over the years.
From Edge Pest Control to Saela.
Saela Pest Control was founded in 2008 in Centennial, Colorado by Andrew Richardson, originally operating as Edge Pest Control. For over a decade it built a reputation on rapid response, high-quality treatments, and customer service that set it apart from larger national competitors. In 2022 the company rebranded as Saela — “happiness” in Old Norse — to reflect the culture and mission its leadership had cultivated.
RECENT GROWTH
One of the largest pest control providers in the country.
Headquartered in Orem, Utah, Saela has grown to more than 250 team members serving residential and commercial customers across 20+ branches in ten states, and is recognized as a top-ranked provider on the PCT Top 100 list.
Meet the leadership team
president – Western u.s. brands for rollins
Mitch Smith
Mitch Smith serves as President of the Western U.S. Brands for Rollins, Inc., where he oversees three brands: Saela, Clark, and the newly acquired Romex Pest. With four decades of experience in the pest control industry, Mitch has lead in many roles from a Service Specialist to Chief Operating Officer. He has spent 18 years with Rollins in various leadership roles. Prior to returning to Rollins through the acquisition of Saela in April 2025, he served as President and COO of Saela for six years. A dedicated, people-first leader, Mr. Smith brings deep operational expertise and a proven track record of building strong teams across the industry.
executive vice president
Jeff Ward
Jeff Ward serves as the Executive Vice President of Saela Pest Control, where he leads all departments at Saela. Mr. Ward focuses on building high-performing leadership teams and fostering a culture of ownership and continuous improvement. With more than two decades in the pest control industry, he has advanced through roles ranging from Branch Manager at TruGreen and Orkin, to Vice President of Operations, and to now EVP at Saela. Many people refer to Jeff as a people-first leader with deep operational expertise. Mr. Ward holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School and maintains certifications in pest management.
Director – Human resources
Karen Trujillo
Karen Trujillo, SHRM-CP, serves as Director of Human Resources at Saela Pest Control, where she leads the company’s HR strategy and operations. With over 15 years of management experience, Karen brings a proven track record of building strong teams, optimizing processes, and driving operational excellence across the organization. Prior to joining Saela in 2019, she held leadership positions at OOCL and Vivint Solar, where she managed multinational compliance and led customer relations teams. SHRM-Certified Professional with executive training in HR Management and Analytics from the Wharton School. Ms. Trujillo is known to lead with confidence and achieve high expectations while mentoring and empowering her teams and employees.
director – Sales
Kory Horlacher
Kory Horlacher is a seasoned sales and business leader with nearly 30 years of experience in the pest control and home services industries. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for driving growth, developing high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Kory believes that long-term success is built on trust, service, and genuine relationships. His customer-first approach and commitment to developing people have enabled him to lead teams that consistently exceed expectations while creating lasting value for customers and stakeholders alike.
With nearly three decades in home services, Kory continues to be driven by the opportunity to mentor others, improve organizations, and advance the standards of excellence within the industry.
controller
Michelle Carlile
Michelle Carlile, CPA, serves as Controller at Saela Pest Control, where she oversees the company’s accounting operations and financial reporting. With 15 years of experience in accounting, Michelle has advanced through progressively senior roles at Saela, from Accounting Supervisor to Controller in 2024. Prior to joining Saela in 2020, she held accounting positions at Zija International and HARMAN International, where she managed inter-company reconciliations and balance sheet accounts across multinational operations. A licensed Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Carlile holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. Known as an exceptionally organized and detail-oriented leader, she brings a proven track record of accuracy, dependability, and financial excellence to every level of the organization.
director – operations
Scott Puckett
Scott Puckett serves as Director of Operations at Saela Pest Control, where he holds direct oversight for the company’s Servicing and Logistics teams. With 18 years of hands-on operational expertise delivering professional services across residential and commercial sectors, Scott understands the realities of field operations. His focus is on performance management, customer retention, safety compliance, and managing seasonal demand. His leadership is grounded in practical execution, consistently transforming operational rigor into scalable, sustainable, and profitable growth. Originally from Louisiana, Scott has lived and worked in multiple regions during his five years with Saela, experiences he credits with shaping his leadership style and broadening his understanding of the people, teams, and diverse environments in which the company operates. He brings a proven track record of turning field-level insight into results that strengthen the organization at every level.
director – technical services
David Jensen
David Jensen serves as Director of Technical Services at Saela Pest Control, where he provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for pest control operations and related technical programs. With over 9 years at Saela, David has built a reputation for versatility and cross-functional expertise. He has collaborated across operations, human resources, finance, and IT in developing a broad organizational knowledge and problem-solving mindset that define his leadership today. David’s career is grounded with two decades of full time and part time military service. He enlisted in 2001 and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. In 2026 he became a Commissioned Officer. Across 22 years with the Army National Guard, he has held a range of leadership roles. That experience instilled the discipline, adaptability, and steady leadership he brings to every challenge at Saela. Known for his exceptional work ethic and willingness to support others, David has made a lasting impact across the organization.
director – Marketing
Devin Hutchings
Devin Hutchings serves as Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control, where he leads the company’s marketing and growth strategy. An analytical, technical, and creative marketing leader, Devin specializes in building data-driven growth channels that drive customer acquisition, retention, and sustained revenue growth—consistently challenging the status quo and making bold, calculated bets. Over more than 15 years, Devin has built and scaled marketing across companies of every size, from global brands like Uber and C.R. England to high-growth marketplaces and startups including Lugg and Neighbor. Across every role, he has developed, launched, and managed multi-tiered marketing channels that turn performance metrics into scalable results. Devin leads with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to building strong partnerships across the organization.
Identify the threat. Provide a solution.
This scientific approach has been successful with hundreds of thousands of homeowners and businesses.