Mar 22, 2025 | Community News, Company News
The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose dedication and service have left a lasting impact on the local community. This year, two outstanding leaders—Marilyn M. Helms and Lee Tubbs—have been honored for their significant contributions to business, education, and community service.
Marilyn Helms: A Legacy in Education & Leadership
Marilyn Helms retired in December 2024 after an impressive 25-year career at Dalton State College, where she served as Dean of the Wright School of Business. Her leadership was instrumental in securing AACSB Business Program Accreditation, overseeing a $10 million renovation of Gignilliat Hall, and launching a bachelor’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Beyond higher education, Helms has played a vital role in community health initiatives, serving as Chair of the CHI Memorial Board, where she has been a driving force behind bringing a new hospital to the region. Her dedication to both education and healthcare exemplifies a true commitment to community betterment.
Lee Tubbs: A Pioneer in the Pest Control Industry
A respected leader in the pest control industry, Lee Tubbs founded Enviroguard Pest Solutions in 1997 with a mission centered on quality, integrity, and service. His company quickly became known for its exceptional service and dedication to customer satisfaction.
A former Catoosa Chamber Board Chair, Lee’s impact extended far beyond his business. He recently merged Enviroguard with Northwest Exterminating, ensuring the company’s continued growth and extraordinary service in pest management. His decades of industry leadership also earned him a well-deserved induction into the Georgia Pest Control Association Hall of Fame. At Northwest, we are proud to honor Lee’s legacy and celebrate his contributions to both our company and the communities we serve.
Alongside his wife, Lee has been a fixture in the community, embodying a spirit of service that goes beyond business. Together, they have built a reputation for customer-first values and a commitment to giving back—principles that have guided their success over the years.
A Lasting Legacy
Both Marilyn Helms and Lee Tubbs have profoundly shaped Catoosa County, leaving legacies that will be felt for generations to come. Whether in education, business, or community leadership, their extraordinary contributions have made the region a better place to live and work.
We celebrate Marilyn and Lee’s incredible achievements and look forward to seeing how they continue to inspire and impact the community in the years ahead!
Oct 25, 2021 | Community News, Good Deed Team
It’s incredible how our community partners leave a lasting impression on our hearts. The Northwest LaGrange team supported the “Build a Bunk” initiative by Sleep in Heavenly Peace in 2019 and were so honored to team up with them yet again to make a difference for the kids in their community.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a non-profit that builds and delivers beds to children in need. By noticing the generosity in other charities when it came to donating clothing, toys, and food, they saw that there was a gap to fill in respect to donated beds and bedding. Their belief is that “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”
Our LaGrange teammates reached out to see if they needed any help and were informed that every Thursday people meet and deliver bunks to the children. They helped with delivering the beds from storage units to homes and helped put together the bedding. It was a full circle moment to have the opportunity to assist with delivery when a couple of years ago the team supported the construction.
Our teammates enjoyed lending a helping hand and having the opportunity to continue to support an organization that truly looks for ways to serve daily. We look forward to participating more in the future. If you would like to help Sleep in Heavenly Peace, you can search for a branch near you and learn how to volunteer at https://www.shpbeds.org/.
Feb 25, 2021 | Community News, Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
Opportunities present themselves in interesting ways. Northwest has service centers in the Birmingham, AL and Carrollton, GA areas. One morning, a teammate driving between the two heard an announcement about the need for donations at a local Food Pantry on the radio. The result was the Northwest team coming together to meet this call.
The teammate who overheard the announcement reached out to the local service centers and Corporate office to see what could be possible. The radio asked for donations of basic hygiene needs, especially children’s soap and shampoo. Teammates collected and donated over 251 items within 2 days of the request.
Northwest was able to collect children’s shampoo and soap, baby wash and wipes, Q-tips, men’s and women’s deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, face wash, soap, and razors. All 250+ items were dropped off at the donation society to be used at the Food Pantry. While dropping off, our teammate was able to collect a list of additional needs and items, which the team plans to work on collecting and donating in the future.
It’s incredible to see teammates from all over the Southeast come together in support for our small, local communities we’re fortunate to serve. The Birmingham and Carrollton service centers look forward to supporting more initiatives in the area.
Jan 6, 2021 | Community News, Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
Piedmont Pest Control, soon to transition to the Northwest Exterminating name, continues to create ways for teammates to be involved in the Laurens’ community, something every teammate enjoys.
A connection the Laurens team created early on was with the local first responders and law enforcement, especially to say thank you for all they do daily for our community. Though 2020 has changed the way our teammates are able to serve locally, they have found ways to so safely and with the same service-oriented heart.
Supporting a Customer
Some of our teammates took a Saturday morning to help an elderly customer with yardwork they were unable to do. The lawn was mowed, tree limbs were cleared, the yard was picked up, and our team was able to honor and support our customer in this small way they were thankful to be a part of.
First Responder Cookout
Our Piedmont teams’ partnership with the Laurens first responders continued this month with another First Responder Lunch, but this time drive-by style! This was a fun day of celebration, involvement, and connecting with our first responders with a Chick-Fil-A lunch. We enjoyed having our police officers and firefighters come by to pick up lunch and for our team to express our appreciation for their service and commitment to our extraordinary community.
First Responder, K9 Partnership
The Laurens team is thankful for the overall involvement with our first responders and the incredible people met throughout the years. There have been some special times our Laurens’ team has been able to help one team, the K9s. Our Laurens office was able to host the Laurens Police Department K9 training dogs and use our office as training grounds for them. This might be the coolest thing our teammates have been able to participate in – it was incredible! One K9 stole the team’s hearts altogether, Kai. She is beautiful, energetic, and an honoree Laurens teammate. At 2019’s First Responder Cookout, our team sponsored a bullet proof vest for her to have. Thank you, Laurens PD, for allowing us to be of service to not only your team of first responders but also the K9s.
Being involved in the communities our teams live and work in daily is an honor and something our teammates enjoy, not only because of the small acts of kindness created, but also because of the opportunity to create even a small impact in the communities we love. Thank you to all our teammates for looking for ways to continue to be involved throughout a year that looks difficult for all.
Jan 6, 2021 | Community News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
This holiday season presented Northwest Exterminating with an unexpected Christmas miracle opportunity. Our teammates were asked to help a family that had recently lost everything in a house fire. With the holidays near, Christmas was far from the minds of the family with so much going on and with few ways to make it special for their children.
The Northwest Family was given ways to help and came together to collect items on the children’s wish list and to make a small difference to this family’s Christmas. The Northwest team loves to find ways to support the opportunities given to serve, but the true difference maker in this story is a teammate’s daughter. She heard of what Northwest was doing, saw the family we were supporting had a 15-year-old daughter her age, and granted each clothing item wish on her list.
Northwest Exterminating’s Co-Director of the Good Deed Team, Kristen Milligan, speaks value to this story, “This gives hope that the next generation has the compassion and willingness to help others that reflects our commitment to bringing the heart of Northwest into the communities that we live and work in. This kind of compassion is only taught by the actions and behavior they see around them, which is a true testament to our Northwest teammates and family.”
This family was able to have a Christmas miracle this year with gifts for everyone! We are so thankful WSB reached out to us on this opportunity to be difference makers for a family in the holiday season.
Oct 2, 2020 | Community News, Good Deed Team
We have some incredible customers that have chosen The Mouse for many years! We couldn’t be more thankful for customers who continue to trust our team to protect their home. Because of the longstanding relationship we have with some of our customers, our teammates try to get to know each and genuinely listen for ways we may be able to help if the time ever comes.
For our Monroe team, that time came in September when longtime customers mentioned a need for a small shed to be removed from their property. The family was unable to remove the shed on their own due to health and cost concerns, but when the need was mentioned to their Northwest Service Professional, that teammate brought the need back to their team to see if we could help.
The Monroe team came together to demolish the shed and remove the debris from the property so that the family would not have to worry about it! What only took a few hours for our team meant so much to the family.
Our teammates were grateful that the family allowed us to help in this small way. Looking for the meaningful ways to make a difference is the Northwest Way, and we are thankful to have teammates who care about their customers, as our Monroe team continues to show.
Jul 19, 2018 | Community News, Mosquito
We’ve reached the point in summer where random showers appear out of nowhere and end just as quickly as they start. The showers can sometimes occur back to back and the sun does not have time to dry up the puddles or standing water, leaving behind the perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes. Not only are mosquitoes one of the more annoying pests, they also carry disease, endangering you and your family. West Nile and Zika are the most well-known diseases that can be spread through mosquito bites. However, in recent news, another disease has surfaced in the media, the Keystone Virus.
- What is the Keystone Virus? This is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. The first human case documented was in 2016 in North Central Florida. However, the virus was first discovered in Keystone, FL in 1964.
- Should my family and I be worried about the Keystone virus? The virus is not a cause for panic or concern like Zika. Humans infected by the Keystone virus, may exhibit a mild fever and rash, and in very rare cases it may cause encephalitis. However, it is very unlikely to exhibit any symptoms.
- What kind of mosquito spreads the Keystone virus? The virus is primarily transmitted by the floodwater mosquito. This mosquito is common throughout the southeastern U.S and is most active during dusk. Unlike, the Asian Tiger Mosquito, this mosquito does not breed in containers but prefers woodlands and swampy flooded areas.
- I think I was bitten by a mosquito and I do not feel well. What should I do? Contact your doctor or a medical professional.
Our products and mosquito reduction program have proven to help control this mosquito, but there are steps you can take in mosquito prevention as well!
- Keep gutters clear of debris and consider installing gutter guards.
- Eliminate any areas of standing water. If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, check that the water is draining properly.
- Peak mosquito activity is during dusk and dawn. Minimize outdoor activity during these periods. If this is unavoidable, make sure to use insect repellent, preferably one with DEET.
- Call a pest control professional if you suspect a problem with mosquitoes.
Mar 14, 2018 | Community News
The Northwest team came together on March 8th and 9th to support the “From Hunger to Hope” initiative with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)! Northwest packed over 3,000 meals, which will be provided to children across the world to help combat hunger.
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit organization that works to ship meals to undernourished children with the help of volunteers and distribution partners. Their mission is “to reach everyone, until ALL are fed;” the organization has provided over 2 billion meals and counting.
“It was such an honor to get our Northwest teammates together with our Co-Presidents, Stephen and Stanford Phillips, to spend a few hours serving to make a difference,” said Kristen Milligan, Co-Director of the Good Deed Team. Each year, the Good Deed Team sets out to “bring simple, meaningful opportunities for our Northwest team to create a positive impact,” and we feel fortunate to work with many great organizations across Metro Atlanta who are inspiring change in our communities.
Over the course of the two days, the 336 volunteers successfully boxed over 200,000 meals, which will help to feed over 500 children 3 meals a day for the next year. To get involved with the FMSC or for more information, please visit their website.
Mar 14, 2018 | Community News
The Northwest team came together on March 8th and 9th to support the “From Hunger to Hope” initiative with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)! Northwest packed over 3,000 meals, which will be provided to children across the world to help combat hunger.
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit organization that works to ship meals to undernourished children with the help of volunteers and distribution partners. Their mission is “to reach everyone, until ALL are fed;” the organization has provided over 2 billion meals and counting.
“It was such an honor to get our Northwest teammates together with our Co-Presidents, Stephen and Stanford Phillips, to spend a few hours serving to make a difference,” said Kristen Milligan, Co-Director of the Good Deed Team. Each year, the Good Deed Team sets out to “bring simple, meaningful opportunities for our Northwest team to create a positive impact,” and we feel fortunate to work with many great organizations across Metro Atlanta who are inspiring change in our communities.
Over the course of the two days, the 336 volunteers successfully boxed over 200,000 meals, which will help to feed over 500 children 3 meals a day for the next year. To get involved with the FMSC or for more information, please visit their website.
