By Jackie Lum
Slug-A-Bug president Steve Lum has hit an impressive milestone this month: 35 years with Brevard County’s top pest-control company.
Steve is nothing short of an American success story. I should know, I married him.
He started life very poor, the oldest of four boys in the projects of Harlem. Steve’s father had come over from China to begin a new life, working whatever jobs he could snag to support the family. For years, Steve had rarely even seen a tree – that’s how “urban” his life was.
One time, he visited a cousin in Connecticut and was astonished at the beautiful trees all around. He was 14 when his mother decided the family had had enough of the treeless inner-city life (it was the early 1970s). They sold everything and moved to an apartment in Cape Canaveral.
I met Steve when he was 19 and managing a fast-food restaurant in Cocoa Beach. Times were tough; I was getting around on a moped and making ends meet as a hairstylist. After I loaded up my salad plate at the restaurant – lots of chickpeas for the extra protein – he walked over. “So, you like chickpeas?” Those were his first words to me. (He had me at the “chickpeas.”)
Steve is just such a gentleman, so caring and kind. At the time, I was also enamored with his ride: a black Pontiac Trans Am (quite a contrast to my moped). We started dating.
After we married 41 years ago, Steve took various jobs to pay the bills. He worked stints as an insurance salesman, then a debt collector (he was much too tender-hearted to succeed in that). One year, our W2 forms at tax time numbered 17 – that’s how many different places he was working. It really gives you an idea of his work ethic, a value he learned from his family early on.
When Steve applied for a job at Slug-A-Bug, he’d had six months’ experience under his belt at another pest control company. The company founder, Doug Vander Poest, mistakenly thought Steve had written six years on the application. When Steve corrected him, Doug was evidently impressed with his honesty. “You’re hired,” he said.
Over the years, Steve rose steadily through the company ranks – from trainee to pest department supervisor to general manager. When Doug passed away, the board of directors, beneficiaries and trustees named Steve president of Slug-A-Bug. His leadership has helped the company grow significantly in revenue and stature since then.
One secret of success: He runs the business as if the customers and employees are family. The goal is to make everyone feel important.
That philosophy has served Steve and Slug-A-Bug extremely well. We’re all very proud of him.