John Orkin
John Orkin
John Orkin, COO of Rollins/Orkin, is a man who takes his job seriously and cares deeply about the employees that work there. He strongly believes in family values.
Over his career, Orkin has sold more than 42,000 pre-1975 contracts that require annual renewal fees. However, during that period he breached those contracts by increasing renewal fees in violation of section 5.
Early Life and Education
Orkin’s life began with a difficult childhood. He was the son of immigrant parents and grew up in Boston.
Eventually, Orkin was accepted into a two-year postdoctoral program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. There, he began researching the molecular mechanisms governing blood cell development.
In this context, he identified GATA proteins as key transcription factors that control gene expression that directs early blood cell specialization.
Orkin’s research has led him to a career in science. For his accomplishments, he has received numerous honors such as memberships in the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Furthermore, he is an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Today, Orkin continues his lifelong quest for understanding human biology at its molecular foundations.
Professional Career
John Orkin has been a pest control professional for over two decades, holding various positions of increasing responsibility from Pro to branch manager to regional vice president and now to his title: CEO at Orkin USA.
He is an esteemed member of the Orkin family and widely respected among his colleagues for his commitment to excellence and commitment to Orkin’s mission. Additionally, he has achieved multiple successes in President’s Club – Orkin’s highest recognition program – which honors employees for outstanding commitment and dedication.
Achievements and Honors
Orkin’s research has enabled the creation of new genetic therapies for thalassemia and sickle cell disease, two inherited blood disorders that affect millions around the world. He has also contributed to gene therapy advancements for various other genetic diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Over his decades-long research, Orkin decoded the genetic basis for blood cells and hematopoiesis. He discovered a family of proteins known as transcription factors that regulate gene expression crucial to blood cell formation and development.
Orkin’s studies have revolutionized our understanding of blood disorders and how to treat them. He is regarded as an international authority on genetics-related blood disorders and molecular biology of mammalian developmental processes.
Personal Life
John Orkin was a loving husband, father, and brother who always put his family first. He enjoyed being outdoors as much as possible – fishing and hunting were among his hobbies.
John began his career in pest control and worked for Orkin for many years. Eventually, he became the franchise owner of his own branch located in Cornelia and Athens, Georgia.
He was a dedicated and hardworking individual with an inspiring sense of leadership, helping him to become one of Orkin’s most successful salesmen. A dedicated family man, his kindness had an immense effect on everyone he encountered; he made friends and mentors out of many people while enjoying traveling and discovering different cultures. Survived by his wife Mary Lynn and two children Heidi and Jimbo, he will be deeply missed by his family members.
Net Worth
John Orkin, president of Orkin Canada and member of one of Canada’s wealthiest families, hails from Rollins Inc., a global pest control giant owned by his family.
His grandfather, O. Wayne Rollins, established Rollings Broadcasting – a radio and television business. Later, in 1964 he acquired Orkin for $62 million dollars.
By the mid-80s, Rollins had begun expanding beyond his Orkin responsibilities and established Rollins Communications – a media business; RPC Energy Services – an oil field services provider.
He has also been accused of defrauding customers at Orkin. In 2010, four grandchildren of Wayne Rollins sued him, alleging he and Gary Rollins, the family’s CEO and chairman, as well as Randall Rollins, the company’s board chairperson, had misused their power over four trusts set up in their names by their grandfather.