[PCT on the Road] Sweet 16

During a special dinner ceremony held on the eve of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in San Francisco in July, BASF recognized the 2007 Termidor All-Star Technician team.

“Tonight we are surrounded by the best of the best in our industry — the technicians that work every day with our customers, that are out there doing the best job possible servicing their accounts, and that are out there supporting our business and our industry,” said Bill Baxter, business manager, BASF Professional Pest Control.

Baxter said that more than 100 technicians were nominated and that BASF even received nominations from homeowners this year.

Baxter then turned the podium over to Dave Buzzelli, eastern regional manager, BASF. Buzzelli said he recently attended a presentation by Mississippi State Entomologist and public health expert Dr. Jerome Goddard, who put in perspective how important the pest control industry is in protecting the safety, welfare and quality for life of people.

TECHNICIAN PROFILES. Following are profiles of all 16 Termidor All-Star Technicians.

Claude “Tod” Confer
J.C. Ehrlich Co., Pleasant Gap, Pa.
In his nomination letter, Keith Hamilton, district manager for Ehrlich, told BASF about Tod Confer’s invaluable contributions to a Termidor research project that was conducted with Ehrlich, BASF and Penn State University. Confer was the lead technician who personally treated all of the homes in the study, and he’s a master at sharing the data with other pest professionals and homeowners.

Charles Gragg
Orkin Pest Control, Springfield, Mo.
Orkin Service Manager Rich Goodwin told BASF that in the 16 years Charles Gragg has been with the company, sales are high because Cragg’s customers are confident in his abilities. Gragg’s colleagues also respect and admire his work ethic.

Chris Bush
Home Pest Control Company, West Columbia, S.C.
Chris Bush joined Home Pest Control Company in September 2003, and he’s made quite an impression, according to Home Vice President Steven Leidinger, who said, “Chris has become a leading example for his devotion to customer service. He is an excellent ambassador for our business and the pest control industry as a whole.”

John Saxton, Jr. 
SST Exterminators, Surprise, Ariz.
At 26, John Saxton, Jr., has more than a decade of experience in the pest management industry. He started helping out at SST Exterminating in Surprise, Ariz., when he was a kid, after school and on weekends. Since then, he’s worked his way up to become a leader in the business, a real go-to-guy for advice on termite problems and treatments.

Nestor Rodriguez 
The Hitmen Termite & Pest Control, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Nestor Rodriguez’s manager Robert Fouts credits the success of The Hitmen in part to Rodriguez’s reputation for quality workmanship, and a consistent work ethic based on professionalism, friendliness, and willingness to spend time educating customers.

Christopher Sillinger
B&B Exterminating Company, Jacksonville, Fla.
According to B&B management, Christopher Sillinger is constantly seeking ways to improve his techniques so he is confident and able to personally guarantee his work to his customers. His intelligence and skills make him valuable to the company and to the overall team, setting an example for his peers and never letting them down.

Cory Oakford
PermaTreat Pest Control, Fredericksburg, Va.
“Amazing,” “exemplary,” “tireless,” “knowledgeable,” “team player,” “devoted family man,” and “volunteer,” are just a few of the words that management uses to describe Cory Oakford, a termite technician from PermaTreat Pest Control, Fredericksburg, Va.

Miguel Ocequeda 
Western Exterminator, Anaheim, Calif.
According to Western Exterminator Division Manager Glenn Green, from his supervisors to the office to his peers in the field, Miguel Ocequeda is first and foremost in everyone’s mind for any award. In the six years he’s been at Western, Ocequeda has won employee of the month 16 times and employee of the year twice.

Herbie Yancey
Terminix, Plantation, Fla.
Terminix Branch Manager Les Wattenberg said that Herbie Yancey’s product knowledge is beyond reproach, and no matter what the situation calls for, he always gives 110 percent. In Wattenberg’s opinion, you can’t train someone to have the passion that Yancey has for his profession.

Howard Mauldin
McKenzie Pest Control, Lake Charles, La.
According to management at McKenzie Pest Control, Howard Mauldin’s personal motto is “To perform the service as if he were buying the service, as if he were treating his own home and as if the integrity of the structure depended on him.”

Michael Howell
Orkin Pest Control, Pikeville, Ky.
Michael Howell’s manager at Orkin, Michael Carter, credits Howell’s success to his “I can do it” attitude. “Mike has always been able to answer any and all questions asked about the termite treatments he performs for his customers,” he said.

Christopher Lebrecht
Bob Jenkins Pest Control, San Antonio, Texas
Chris Lebrecht of Bob Jenkins Pest Control researches every termite product and maintains efficacy data under different soil, environmental and structural conditions. According to CEO Bob Jenkins, Lebrecht’s research skills and passion for this business have been instrumental in the company’s growth and success.

R.J. Hyatt
Middleton Pest Control, Largo, Fla.
According to Middleton District Manager Jim Swayne, R.J. Hyatt’s combined knowledge of termite behavior and building construction make him one of the best troubleshooters in the industry.

Kim Clark
Action Pest Control, Vincennes, Ind.
Kim Clark was nominated by Action Branch Manager Justin Summers, who told BASF that Clark is a leader among his peers in the company and the go-to-guy for tough termiticide application situations and detailed inspections.

James Kendzulak
Viking Termite & Pest Control, Bridgewater, N.J.
James Kendzulak had the opportunity to work with China’s National Termite Prevention Director, and his manager told BASF, “James represented our company, this industry and Termidor with the same professional demeanor he gives to our customers every day.”

Rodney L. Williams
Orkin Pest Control, Doraville, Ga.
This isn’t the first time Orkin’s Rodney Williams has been recognized — he was selected to represent Orkin’s finest technicians at the company’s President’s Club, not to mention the steady stream of customer compliments and referrals he receives.

As part of the event, BASF All-Star Technicians were treated to a special guest appearance by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (see related story on page 91), followed by a trip to San Francisco’s AT&T Park to watch the All-Star game.

For a more information about the 2007 Termidor All-Star Technician winners, visit www.pestcontrolfacts.com/allstar.

The author is Internet editor and managing editor of PCT magazine.

For more information about the 2007 Termidor All-Star Technician winners, visit www.pestcontrolfacts.com/allstar.

Termidor All-Star Technicians Treated to an Appearance by Frank Robinson

The 2007 Termidor All-Star Technicians are among the best in their profession, so it was only fitting that the keynote speaker at a special ceremony recognizing them was one of Major League Baseball’s all-time standout professionals as a player and as a manager — Frank Robinson.

“Frank Robinson knows what it is to be committed to his profession, just like all of you know what it is like to be committed to your profession,” said Bill Baxter, business manager, BASF. “Every single one of you is here because you are more than a model employee. You are an asset to your management and your company. You are a leader among your peers, your families and the communities you live in. You work long tough physical days. You go beyond people’s expectations on a regular basis to get the job done and you do it on a regular basis.”

Baxter then introduced Robinson, whose credentials include: 12 All-Star appearances; two World Series victories; a Triple Crown award; and MLB’s first African-American manager.

Robinson congratulated the Termidor All-Star Technicians, as well as the pest control industry, for recognizing individual contributions. He also lamented the fact that Major League Baseball teams have gotten away from these types of recognitions. For example, Robinson said MLB teams don’t recognize players who do the little, unselfish things like bunt or sacrifice runners into scoring position. “Players used to be rewarded for that,” he said. “A manager would go to a general manager and say ‘Joe didn’t hit for a good average this year, but he did a tremendous job sacrificing for the team and we won ball games as a result of that, so when you are talking contract with them keep that in mind.’

“That used to be done, but players today are influenced by agents who say, ‘Put up the numbers and you will get the money.’”

Robinson then talked about some of the challenges and rewards of playing and managing in Major League Baseball. For example, during Robinson’s most recent managerial stint with the Washington Nationals, it was a constant struggle to get his team to hold infield practice.

Currently, Robinson is working alongside MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to help revitalize baseball in inner cities, with the goal of getting more African-Americans interested in the sport.

Robinson concluded his speech with a humorous story about an incident with MLB Umpire Ron Luciano. During an at-bat, Robinson took a first-pitch ball that was out of the strike zone (high). The opposing pitcher then threw a pitch in exactly the same spot and Luciano called it a strike. Stunned, Robinson turned around in disbelief and said, “That pitch was in the same place.” To which Luciano responded, “It was? Okay, strike two then.” — Brad Harbison