Dublin’s Cingo celebrates 50 years

After 50 years, Cingo is more than all good. It’s great.

The company began in Dublin in 1974 as Allgood Pest Solutions and was thriving even before a name change eight years ago helped spur unprecedented growth and expansion of its service area, as well as the services it offers.

Cingo employees, family and friends gathered recently at the Market on Madison to celebrate, with a large number of the company’s 114 employees on hand to enjoy a catered barbecue lunch, award presentations, games and even a standup routine by professional comedian.

“It’s just great to be back here in Dublin, where it started. You know it is the DNA of the whole company,” said owner Lanny Allgood. “We’re excited about the future though. It’s been a great 50-year run, and we’re ready to do another 50.”

Allgood’s father, Jimmy, founded the company in 1974, starting out with a much smaller workforce and fleet.

“It was me and a 1973 GMC pickup truck,” Jimmy Allgood recalled.

“To see Lanny and the way he has developed the business has been probably the most satisfying part of it continuing, it’s unbelievable, but also the fact that our community embraced the business early, then it’s just spread from one community to another.

“And we run the business, I think, the same today as it was run 50 years ago, which was just a personal touch with every customer we have.”

Allgood Pest Control had expanded regionally, but the Cingo name-change in 2017 opened up new markets in Macon, Atlanta and Brunswick, and later Savannah and Charleston, South Carolina.

“It really was about opportunity for us,” said Lanny Allgood, who bought the business in 2012. “There was a sister company, also named ‘Allgood,’ that was going to sell to a European company, and they would insist on the name. 

“That was going to unlock all new markets for us, and it would give us our own identity.”

“The Allgood Guys” forged a new brand. Lanny chose “Cingo,” which he explained “means to surround and protect.” The company not only branched into new areas in Savannah and Charleston but also into new services with home security, smart home products and real estate inspections. 

“All under umbrella of protection, ways to protect your home,” Lanny Allgood said.

Todd Gay, 30-year customer, turned out for the celebration.

“They do a great job. They’re an asset to this community, no doubt about that,” Gay said.

Among the company’s workers recognized at the event was Larry Sumner, its longest-tenured current employee at 27 years. It’s longest-tenured former employee was recognized, too, when Jimmy Allgood was given a “Good Stuff” award. 

The annual award was named for elder Allgood’s way of bragging on employees. After a brief speech, he could not resist throwing in one of the old company’s classic catchphrases before leaving the mic.

“When the bugs are all gone, it’s Allgood … and Cingo,” he said.