National Entrepreneurship Week is a time to celebrate the risk-takers, problem-solvers and leaders who build businesses from the ground up. Mission Pest Solutions, a Jacksonville-based company founded by lifelong entrepreneur Russell Skinner Jr. and Navy veteran Tyler Terronez, exemplifies how a strong partnership can serve as the foundation for entrepreneurial success.
Russell and Tyler met through mutual friends and quickly discovered a shared curiosity about building something together. While their backgrounds were different, their values and ambitions aligned in a way that made entrepreneurship a natural next step.
Russell, a Jacksonville native, had already experienced the entrepreneurial journey and was ready for a new challenge after selling a previous business. Tyler had spent more than a decade serving in the U.S. Navy and had never envisioned himself as a business owner. When Tyler transitioned out of the military in 2022, both recognized an opportunity in the market and shared an interest in creating a business with long-term potential.
With no prior background in pest control, the pair identified an opportunity after researching the market and moved quickly to pursue it. They recognized the stability of the industry, the recurring nature of the service and the growing demand in Jacksonville, Florida. Encouraged by these factors, they made the calculated decision to take the entrepreneurial risk.
In May 2022, Mission Pest Solutions officially launched with zero customers and no safety net. What they did have was determination, shared strengths, a willingness to learn and a strong financial partner to help, Cogent Bank. Russell brought prior business experience and an entrepreneurial mindset, while Tyler applied leadership, discipline and a people-first approach shaped by his military career. Together, they navigated the realities of building a new business through its early stages of growth.
The speed at which the company grew exceeded their expectations. Jacksonville’s continued population growth and the essential nature of pest control services created opportunity, but Russell and Tyler attribute much of their success to strong communication, consistent service quality and genuine relationships with customers.
As the business expanded, so did their understanding of leadership. Russell’s previous experience reinforced the importance of maintaining perspective, approaching challenges as problems to be solved rather than crises and remaining adaptable. For Tyler, entrepreneurship introduced a new level of responsibility. Hiring employees meant being accountable not only for the business, but for the people who depend on it to support their families. Learning how to balance empathy with leadership became one of the most important aspects of his growth as a business owner.
A key component of their journey has been working with the right financial partner. Russell had an existing relationship with Cogent Bank from previous ventures and understood the value of partnering with a bank that prioritizes transparency, accessibility and long-term support. From the beginning, both Russell and Tyler were confident that their relationship with Cogent Bank would help guide the company through growth in an industry that was entirely new to them.
For Russell and Tyler, Cogent Bank has served as more than a place to manage finances. The team’s clear communication, straightforward banking solutions and understanding of small business needs have provided meaningful support as Mission Pest Solutions has grown. They believe that having a financial partner who supports your beginnings, challenges and growth is essential to long-term success as a small business owner.
Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs reflects the lessons they’ve learned firsthand: remain adaptable, communicate openly, be prepared for setbacks and lead with your people in mind. Mission Pest Solutions stands as an example of how entrepreneurship does not require a perfect plan or prior industry experience, but rather the courage to begin, the discipline to learn and the right partners along the way.
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