*In the 20+ Club
(Must be on-staff at Gunter Pest for over 20 years. 7 members of our team are currently in this club.)
Get To Know Hayley Santell:
How long have you worked at Gunter Pest Control and Lawn Care? On and off since 2003 when I was in high school! I went to University of Missouri gaining dual degrees in Fine Arts and Journalism and after graduating I moved to Florida where I started an ethical fashion company called MADI Apparel. In 2015, I moved back to Kansas City, opening a shop for my business in Westside, KC and began working part time at Gunter as our director of business development. I closed by shop in 2024, diving in to painting (going back to my roots as an artist) which I now do part time in addition to my role at Gunter.
What does your role at Gunter involve? As our Director of Business Development, I do just as that title sounds – to grow our business with the goal of keeping us in business another 75+ years! I create our organic social media content, write blogs, update our website, develop community partnerships and marketing opportunities. I make the graphics, the business cards, respond to customer reviews, I lead our customer happiness outreach, represent our brand in the community and I offer commercial sales proposals to businesses in the community needing ongoing pest control prevention. I’ve loved working here for over two decades with my grandpa, dad and brother Noah who’s now our 4th generation president!
What are you passionate about? Meeting new people, my husband, my doberman.
Favorite family tradition? Cheese and chocolate fondue on New Year’s Eve at parent’s house.
What was your first car? Green Volkswagen beetle! A previous Gunter service vehicle 🙂
What do you do outside of Gunter? Have fun with friends, travel, I own my own business that empowers women in need.
What’s left on your bucket list? Travel to Asia, Africa, skydiving, deep sea diving.
Favorite trip(s): Two summers taking art classes and traveling all over Italy, Galapagos Islands, Malta, The Hague.
Favorite memories working at Gunter: When my cousin (from Seattle) came to work and live here in KC for the summer when I was in high school. 18 members of my family have all worked here over the last 75 years! Or, when my best friend worked with me in high school – we’d have chair races in the office, try not to make each other laugh while on the phone with customers, etc. Ever since my dad put this into play in the early 2000s, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the all-inclusive paid vacations that the company takes us and a guest on every five years! SO cool!
What do you enjoy most about your co-workers? Unique personalities and good hearts.
