[2009 Leadership Profiles] Chuck Tindol

This third-generation PMP is his own man, but readily admits he owes a debt of gratitude to his father and grandfather.

It may “take a village to raise a child” but for Crown Leadership Award winner Chuck Tindol of Allgood Pest Solutions it took a strong family, including an iconic grandfather who had a great influence on his early years. Both sets of Tindol’s grandparents were there to help raise him when he was young, while his parents, Bubba and Mitzi, attended college at the University of Georgia. And Tindol’s paternal grandfather was the late Rufus “Red” Tindol, a legendary figure in the industry who served as NPMA president in 1976 and worked for Otto Orkin early in his career

“I can remember back when I was a child, and dad and granddad were working for Orkin and they would bring home Orkin coloring books,” Tindol says. “I would spend hours coloring. Everything was Orkin, Orkin, Orkin.”

When Red and his two sons left Orkin to start Tindol Services in 1967, Tindol was a young boy and would go into work on Saturday to cut the grass or throw out the trash, accompanying his father or grandfather on service jobs from time to time. When he was 16, Tindol started working during the summers when school was out, doing termite work and insulation jobs. Then when he graduated from the University of Georgia, he became a salesperson for the company.

“I can remember going to accounts and it would amaze me the number of people who would ask me about Granddad. I never met anyone who didn’t love him,” he said. “He was a very gentle man.”

Tindol describes himself as a “wild child” in his youth. “School was very easy for me so I misbehaved. I got straight A’s in school but I was always in the principal’s office. I wasn’t a bad kid. I was just always looking to have some fun.”

As he matured, he realized that “it’s not just about me, but everybody reaching the goal. That was what Granddad was all about, empowering people. Rather than simply holding them accountable, he provided the reasons why it’s important that they be held accountable.”

Now that Tindol is one of five managing partners of Allgood Pest Solutions, he is putting that philosophy to good use. He acknowledges the company’s success results from several things, including a strong management team consisting of Tindol, his brother Mike, father Bubba, cousins Perry Tindol and Jimmy Allgood, and uncle Mike Allgood, who also shares a financial interest in the organization. One of the strengths of the organization is having a management team with various skills. “We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We’re able to talk through things.

“I’ve also learned to manage more effectively through various training programs like Dennis Fox’s Integrity Selling. I’ve applied what I learned to both my personal and professional life as it opened the door to better understanding my wife (Ann), Perry, Mike and Dad better.”

Learning his strengths and weaknesses, as well as others’ communication styles changed the organization dramatically. Now the company uses a number of peer-to-peer processes (i.e., service manager to technician, general manager to operations manager) to understand — and appreciate — one another’s communication profiles.

TURNING POINTS. When asked about the key moments in his career, Tindol points to three: “The first key moment was when Dad sold to Waste Management. Granddad was ready to retire and Waste Management made a great offer. The sale allowed me to play a role in building my own business.” Tindol was 28 years old at the time of the sale.

“I told Jerry Seegers, (an executive) from Waste Management, that I had always been in my dad’s shadow and I wanted that to change. When I did something right, people would say, ‘That’s Bubba’s son.’ And when I did something wrong, they’d say, ‘That’s Bubba’s son.’” So, Tindol asked Seegers to keep him in mind for any out-of-town career opportunities.

That led to the second key moment in his career. Waste Management eventually offered Tindol a management position in St. Louis. “That’s where I developed my own management style and I met some great people at the same time. I met Mike Rottler and the Mannino family who practically took me in as part of their family. They helped me to understand how to be a good competitor.”

“The third key moment was when Waste Management left the industry, and we decided to come back to Atlanta and start Allgood Pest Solutions,” says Tindol. “When you start your own business you realize pretty quickly that unless you provide great service, you’re not going to feed your family. I had a different passion for our customers since we started the business from scratch.”

FONDEST ACHIEVEMENTS. Professionally, Tindol indicates the thing he’s most proud of is Allgood and the respect they have among their employees and competitors alike. “People like to come to work at our company. They feel respected and they feel like they’re growing both personally and professionally,” explains Tindol.

Partner Jimmy Allgood believes Tindol’s talents are a real asset to the organization. “He’s looked after all our national interests and has taken the lead into looking at the business globally. He and my son (Lanny) have helped change the face of Allgood in Georgia.”

Fellow Georgian Charles Dixon, president of Dixon Exterminating, describes Tindol as a natural born leader. “He has character, motivation and people skills,” he says. “Personally, he was my mentor with NPMA and helped shape the direction of my company. Within our industry, I have never heard anyone speak badly of Chuck.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE. When not satisfying customers, Allgood Pest Solutions is involved in a variety of community service organizations, as well as in raising funds for leukemia lymphoma research. This issue hits close to home as Tindol’s nephew (Mike’s son) was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008 that is now in remission.

Chuck and Ann’s children play an important role in their lives. Tindol coaches sports teams and attends sporting events. Oldest son Luke, 17, is athletic and plays high school baseball. Maggie, 16, runs cross country and plays soccer. Zach, 13, plays football, basketball and baseball. Tindol’s dad, Bubba, is proud of Chuck’s devotion to his family. “They are active as a family in their religion, the children’s sports and family vacations. Chuck has always participated in his kids’ sports as coach, as league president, as fund raiser and any other way possible.”

Ann is a cross country team coach and has this to say about Tindol: “The one word I would use to describe Chuck is passionate...about life, about family, about work. And when he’s passionate about something, he gives 100 percent.”

That passion has roots in his upbringing and in his parents and grandparents to whom, Tindol says, he owes a debt of gratitude.

*****

Up Close: Chuck Tindol
Title: Vice President
Company/Affiliation: Allgood Pest Solutions
Location: Duluth, Ga.
Personal: Married to wife Ann; three children, Luke (17), Maggie (16) and Zach (13); sports enthusiast who enjoys baseball, basketball and football, as well as family vacations.
Career Highlights:

• Bachelor’s degree, marketing, University of Georgia
• Member of NPMA Leadership Development Group
• Member of Allgood Pest Solutions management team
• Represents Allgood Pest Solutions nationally