---
title: "Our Story - VACO Pest Management"
description: "VACO Pest Management is a family-owned pest control company serving Charlotte, Lake Norman NC and Richmond VA. Founded in 2021 by brothers Bryan and Derek Vaughan. Board Certified Entomologist on staff, Sentricon Certified Applicator, and Partner in Freedom with Safe House Project. Learn our story."
url: "https://vacopest.com/about/our-story"
date: "2026-07-01T07:37:29+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

## A Family-Owned Pest Control Company Built on Service, Accountability, and Relationships

VACO Pest Management is a family-owned pest control company serving North Carolina and Virginia with personalized service and uncompromising standards. We treat your home like our own, take the time to actually understand your problem, and stand behind our work because our name (and our family's reputation) is on every truck. We believe customers deserve more than a transactional experience, and that belief shows up in every visit, every recommendation, and every interaction we have with the people we serve.

![VACO Pest Management Family-Owned Company](https://vacopest.com/ccdadmin/vaco-story.jpg)

 ## Our Four Pillars of Service

### Responsiveness

Quick communication, prompt callbacks, and follow-through on what we say we'll do. No exceptions, no excuses. When you need us, we show up.

### Accuracy

Even the best solutions fail without an accurate understanding of the problem. We take the time to correctly identify what you're dealing with so we can apply the right approach the first time.

### Recommendations

Beyond solving the immediate problem, we share what we know. Practical, honest recommendations that help you avoid future pest issues and protect your home long-term.

### Little WOWs

Going beyond what's expected. Small personal touches that turn a service visit into a positive experience, because the difference between a good company and a great one is in the details.

 ## Credentials That Matter

Professional credentials matter because they reflect ongoing commitment to expertise and ethical practice. VACO's credentials include:

- **Board Certified Entomologist on staff,** a rare credential in the pest control industry that ensures accurate identification and appropriate treatment decisions
- **Sentricon Certified Applicator** for termite protection, using the industry's most scientifically validated baiting system
- **Licensed in both North Carolina and Virginia** for pest control and WDI/WDIR inspections
- **Member of the National Pest Management Association** and state-level industry associations

 ## Our Story

Bryan and Derek Vaughan may own a pest control company now, but growing up, neither of them probably thought, "One day, we'll spend our lives talking about termites and crawlspaces." Life had other plans.

Today, the Vaughan brothers are the owners of VACO Pest Management Co., a family-owned pest control company serving communities across North Carolina and Virginia with a strong focus on expertise, integrity, and treating customers like family.

Bryan's journey into the pest industry started more than 13 years ago after studying biology at Christopher Newport University and briefly considering a career in physical therapy. After realizing he didn't want to spend his life in a clinic massaging feet, a conversation with his father-in-law—who worked with Sentricon termite systems—introduced him to the pest industry. Bryan's first reaction? "You mean the guys who drive around with the giant bug on top of the car?"

Despite the skepticism, Bryan gave it a shot and quickly discovered he loved the combination of science, problem-solving, and working directly with people. He started in commercial sales at a respected Richmond pest company and steadily worked his way up through management and technical leadership roles. Over the years, Bryan became known for his deep industry knowledge, operational leadership, and ability to explain complicated pest issues in a way customers could actually understand without feeling like they needed a biology degree.

Meanwhile, Derek Vaughan was building a completely different—but equally valuable—skill set that would later become a major part of VACO's success. Derek brought experience in administration, accounting, customer service, operations, and the pest industry itself. Where Bryan thrived in technical expertise and big-picture growth, Derek became the steady hand behind organization, systems, customer relationships, and keeping the business running smoothly behind the scenes. If Bryan is the one excitedly talking about termites and moisture readings, Derek is the one making sure schedules, finances, customers, and day-to-day operations stay on track.

When the company Bryan and Derek worked for was eventually acquired by an international corporation, Bryan and his wife, Jacqueline, started discussing the possibility of building something of their own. In 2021, during the middle of a pandemic—because apparently launching a business during global uncertainty sounded like a good challenge—Bryan started VACO with a business plan, a van with a magnet logo, and a lot of determination. He worked nights and weekends while balancing a full-time job, slowly growing the company one customer and one referral at a time.

As the company gained momentum, Derek officially joined as co-owner, helping expand VACO's operations and strengthen the customer experience. In 2023, Derek opened and now manages VACO's Richmond, Virginia branch, bringing the company back to where the brothers first started in the industry. Together, they have built a business that blends technical expertise, practical solutions, and real relationships with customers.

The name VACO stands for Vaughan Company, and that personal connection matters to them. They aren't a franchise, and they don't want customers to feel like just another number on a route sheet. When customers call, they talk to real people. When problems arise, they're handled with honesty and care. And while the company has grown significantly, the goal has stayed the same: to positively impact the lives of everyone they come into contact with.

At its core, VACO is more than pest control. It's two brothers building something meaningful together—one service call, one customer, and probably one termite joke at a time.

VACO at a Glance

Founded

2021

Ownership

Family-Owned & Operated

Markets Served

Charlotte/Lake Norman, NC & Richmond, VA

Credential

Board Certified Entomologist on Staff

Termite System

Sentricon Certified Applicator

Licensed In

North Carolina & Virginia

 ## Community Impact: Partners in Freedom

VACO is a Partner in Freedom with the Safe House Project, a national organization combating human trafficking through education, survivor support, and aftercare housing. Every VACO technician completes Safe House Project training to recognize and report potential trafficking situations encountered in the course of their work.

Pest control technicians have a unique vantage point. We visit homes and businesses regularly, we move through spaces most people never see, and we're often present when others aren't. That exposure carries responsibility, and our training helps our team know what to look for and how to respond.

The need is real. Consider what the data shows:

40%

of trafficked children are sold by a family member

99%

of trafficking victims are never identified

80%

of identified survivors are re-victimized without access to safe housing

These numbers are difficult to read. We share them because awareness saves lives, and because every person who knows what to look for becomes part of the solution.

If you suspect human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

National Human Trafficking Hotline — 24/7

 [1-888-373-7888](tel:18883737888)

We share this work not as a marketing angle, but because it matters. The communities we serve are stronger when more of us are paying attention.

 ![VACO Pest Management Team](https://vacopest.com/ccdadmin/get-to-know-vaco.jpg)

## Get to Know

VACO

We'd love to show you what family-owned pest control looks like in practice. Contact us to schedule a free consultation, ask a question, or just learn more about how we work.

NC: [(704) 313-5076](tel:7043135076) VA: [(804) 213-2630](tel:8042132630)

[Schedule Your Free Consultation Online →](https://vacopest.com/contact)

## Schema

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 1,
            "name": "Home",
            "item": "https://vacopest.com"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 2,
            "name": "Our Story",
            "item": "https://vacopest.com/about/our-story"
        }
    ]
}
```

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": [
        "LocalBusiness"
    ],
    "@id": "https://vacopest.com/about/our-story#localbusiness2",
    "name": "VACO Pest Management",
    "image": "https://vacopest.com/",
    "url": "https://vacopest.com/about/our-story",
    "address": {
        "@type": "PostalAddress",
        "addressCountry": "US"
    }
}
```

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Service",
    "name": "Our Story - VACO Pest Management",
    "serviceType": "Our Story - VACO Pest Management",
    "description": "VACO Pest Management is a family-owned pest control company serving Charlotte, Lake Norman NC and Richmond VA. Founded in 2021 by brothers Bryan and Derek Vaughan. Board Certified Entomologist on staff, Sentricon Certified Applicator, and Partner in Freedom with Safe House Project. Learn our story.",
    "image": "https://vacopest.com/",
    "url": "https://vacopest.com/about/our-story",
    "provider": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "address": {
            "@type": "PostalAddress",
            "addressCountry": "US"
        }
    },
    "offers": {
        "@type": "Offer",
        "price": "0.00",
        "priceCurrency": "USD"
    }
}
```