Arrow Exterminators

When You Don’t Have to Bug Someone to Do the Right Thing I met Emily about 25 or 30 years ago. Emily had just graduated from Vanderbilt and was getting ready to start a position in the family business. She was nervous…but excited…anxious but seemingly calm…at least on the outside anyway. Emily and I had a pretty instant connection…although I guess that most people who meet Emily would say the same thing. Her presence fills any room she’s in…in the good kind of way. The only thing bigger than her kindness, thoughtful leadership, and generosity is her smile…it’s sincere…it’s genuine…just like Emily. I have had the privilege to watch from the sidelines as she learned, developed, and now ultimately leads an incredible company…with incredible people and incredible values. So, it was no surprise that when I reached out to Emily to ask for support of Decatur FC’s Path to the Pitch program, she responded instantly. Emily knows firsthand that it takes a lot of great people to build something big…and there is no way we could do what we do without the support of Emily and the thousands of Arrow Exterminators employees across the country. Emily is for sure building a great company with a fantastic culture…but she is also helping to build the next generation of women’s soccer. So happy to call her a friend, a supporter, and a fan! #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #WomensSoccer #Community #DecaturFC #PathToThePitch

One of the best stories in women’s soccer may not be where you think. No one buys a ticket just to see the opening ceremony of a tier-four amateur women’s soccer team. For months leading up to Decatur FC's second WPSL season, I had created (in my mind) this incredible opening ceremony to kick things off. Banners, the local high school’s Flag Guard, the Junior ROTC with the American flag… at some point, I even imagined unicyclists, magicians, maybe a dog catching frisbees. It would have been a sight to see. The vision was impressive. The execution? Well, it turned into the kind of unintended humorous chaos that only a semi-pro sports team can provide on a warm Friday night under the lights at the high school stadium. I get to laugh at myself a lot. But here’s the bigger story: In our 2024 inaugural season, we set the WPSL’s all-time attendance records in back-to-back games, averaged 1,500+ fans per match, went 6-1-1 on the field, and were named Franchise of the Year. In 2025, Coach Campbell Chapman led the team to a perfect 8–0 record, a Peachtree Division title, and five more all-time WPSL attendance records. We averaged 2,500+ in ticket sales per game — the second-highest home attendance in women’s professional sports in Georgia, behind only the Atlanta Dream. We ranked as high as 1st in the South Region and 3rd nationally. We also expanded the fan experience: added a DJ, included two more cameras on our livestream, held our first Media Day, interviews on podcasts and in the news, and were featured in United We Roar, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s miniseries about soccer in Atlanta. Social media engagement soared, our March to the Stadium grew, we had live national anthem singers, special guests like Will Reilly (Hometown Hero & Professional Soccer Player) and Shari Summers (U.S.S.F.), more local food vendors, and a zero-waste program that doubled the amount of trash we saved from going to a landfill. Oh, and two of our players signed professional contracts overseas. Off the field, our Path to the Pitch program also expanded: -        We started Wednesday Night Lights: free clinics for girls ages 6–14, led by our players. -        Offered a free four-day minicamp with academy coaches from famed Celtic FC. -        Raised $1,350 for the Sports Bra Project, helping ensure young women can play with support and dignity. -        Donated over $10,000 to local youth sports organizations. On our best nights…even when the opening ceremony doesn’t go as planned…we get to be a shining example of what’s happening right now in women’s sports, especially soccer. We’re now building the programs and partnerships that will shape season three. If you or your brand want to be part of this story as we continue to set records and grow women’s soccer in Georgia, please reach out.  #DecaturFC #womensSoccer #CommunityPartnership #WPSL