Previously Kemp was the VP Business Development at Scotts Lawn Service (SLS), a division of Scotts MiracleGro (NYSE: SMG), the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products. His responsibilities included leading all merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, developing new service lines, growing existing service lines, as well as expansion of the franchise operations including service offerings and growth in new geography.
As a business leader with SLS, he delivered an acquisition in less than 2 years of the defined strategic initiative. It was the 56th largest pest control company in the US launching Scotts in to an entirely new service sector. Additionally in 2013-2015, he was responsible for and grew the franchise network of over $65MM in domestic revenue with 1,000+ employees to the largest organic growth in over 5 years for the enterprise. He also spearheaded new consumer service program offerings that produced record new service line revenue and profits for the enterprise.
Prior to joining SLS, Kemp was Director of Acquisitions for Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL), parent of Orkin, responsible for expanding the company via merger and acquisition activity throughout North America and the Caribbean. In that role, he led Orkin in to Puerto Rico and USVI helping take the organic footprint International.
At Middleton Lawn and Pest Control, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNR, a holding of Royal Palm Capital Partners – a PE Firm), Kemp was both Director of Business Development and Manager of Legal Affairs. He was responsible for growing the company organically and via acquisitions, with oversight and negotiation of all acquisitions. The entire enterprise doubled in 5 years. As Manager of Legal Affairs, Kemp oversaw M&A, customer and employee related legal action as well as facility and environmental oversight to approximately 30 locations regarding leases and environmental guidance.
As Founder and President of America’s Pest Solutions and NOT1BUG.COM, he started and built a pest control and termite company from the ground up, offering the consumer a choice between conventional home services or do-it-yourself products purchased via an internet site, shipping products to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. This endeavor included privately funded M&A activity.
He began his service industry experience at Sears Termite and Pest Control in Branch Operations, then Customer Service Leadership, District Operations Management and Leadership and later Director of Business Development company-wide. This is where Kemp first worked in M&A leading an effort to expand with patented products and processes from Australia.
Kemp holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Rollins College (92) as well as an MBA from The Roy E. Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College (94). Kemp and his wife live in Florida and are the proud parents of four sons.