Karen E. Atkins didn’t retire so she could slow down — she retired to build something of her own. After 30 years working in administration and accounting in state government, she could have taken a step back.
Instead, she stepped into a second career that would challenge her in entirely new ways, launching Pirates Pest and Termite Control and carving out her place in a male-dominated industry.
Growing up in Four Oaks in a family of small business owners, Atkins had long understood the value of entrepreneurship. That mindset was shaped largely by her father, who owned a logging company until he passed away in 2020.
“My father, mother and my brother just really instilled in me, the only way to get ahead is to own your own company,” she said.
In 2017, she started Pirates Pest Control with her partner Robert Davis, who brought a background in the pest control industry.
What began as a team of four — Atkins, Davis as manager and licensee, and two employees — has grown into a company of 11 that serves customers from all over Eastern N.C., from the Triangle to the coast, up to the Virginia border and down to South Carolina.
Atkins brought decades of financial and organizational experience to the business, along with studies in computer science and business management at Johnston Community College and business administration and management at Barton College.
She knew how to run an office, but she also knew that to be a good leader, she needed to understand the work that happened out in the field.
In the early years, that meant going out on service calls to homes and construction sites. She de-webbed houses while Davis handled chemical treatments and learned firsthand what trenching, crawlspace treatments and other physically demanding tasks required. That hands-on start shaped how she leads today, and it earned her the respect of the technicians and office staff she now employs. “They’re all such hard workers and I’m blessed to have them,” she said. “None of this would be possible without them.”
Small business ownership, while rewarding, has not been without its challenges.
“There were a lot of sleepless nights early on,” she said. “Owning your own business, you can’t ever really walk away from it or put it down. The challenges are always on your mind.”
Today, her primary role is managing the administrative side of the company, but she still visits job sites, talks with customers and observes technicians to stay connected to the work. “And I’m still learning every day,” she said.
Pirates Pest and Termite Control provides general residential and commercial pest control, pre-treatments for new construction, termite services, bed bug treatments, wood destroying insect reports and wildlife-related calls such as squirrels in attics and moles.
No matter the job, Atkins keeps her focus on service. “We treat their house like it’s our own home,” she said.
That approach to customer care is another lesson she credits to her father. Over the years, she has built strong relationships with realtors, builders and homeowners, while also investing in continuing education through classes and industry seminars to stay current on best practices.
As the business has grown, so has her involvement in the community. Now that Pirates Pest and Termite Control is established, Atkins makes it a point to support local events, civic groups and the chamber of commerce.
“In the end what you do for others will always come back to you,” she said.
Even with steady growth, her goal remains the same. “I still want that home town, local service feel,” she said.
For Atkins, retirement didn’t signal an ending. It marked the beginning of a new chapter built on family lessons, hard work and a willingness to learn every part of a business from the ground up.
