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Welcome to May PCT, the issue that features our annual Top 100 list —the listing of the pest control industry’s 100 largest firms. PCT is proud to be the only source in the industry to recognize the hard work of so many companies and individuals. I’d like to offer congratulations to the 100 companies that made the list. You should be proud. (By the way, the total revenues of the companies on this list increased by about $150 million over last year.)

While we receive rave reviews for publishing this list from many in the industry, it’s inevitable that we receive complaints as well. Complaints that we only focus on the large companies. Complaints that, "So-and-so company performs horrible service. How can they be on a Top 100 list?" Feel free to bring on such (and other) comments. We’re ready to hear from you.

To those criticisms, I offer the following responses. First, PCT magazine doesn’t focus only on large companies — but yes, because of its nature, this cover story does. However, keep in mind that the smallest company on this list has revenues of about $3 million. That’s certainly a reachable goal for many pest control firms. And second, this is not a list that recognizes service quality. It recognizes that a company is one of the industry’s 100 largest. Period.

As far as those from outside the industry who are interested in the list, you’d be surprised at the number of requests I receive from investment bankers, entrepreneurs and non-pest control industry suppliers, all of whom are keenly interested in the pest control market. Routinely I receive calls from financial advisers wanting to know about the industry — and the Top 100. (PCT does not give out contact information to those inquiring about the industry.)

Please keep in mind that this list is based on 2003 revenues for pest control services. Multiple times in the past month our staff has been asked if we were going to include Western Pest Services on the Top 100 list this year. (Some even called to ask if they were going to be bumped up a notch.) The answer to that question is yes, Western Pest Services is included on this list because the list is based on 2003 revenues, not 2004. And in 2003, Western Pest Services had pretty significant revenues. Look for the shake-up to occur on next year’s list.

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The PCT Media Group, and its parent company GIE Media, is striving to eliminate spam from its employees’ e-mail "in boxes" (like many firms around the world). And, just like many other firms, our IT department is gradually learning whose e-mail to let in (readers, advertisers, etc.) and which ones to keep out (plugs for prescription pills, home refinance offers, etc.). But this is not an easy task.

If your company has installed spam-preventing software, it’s possible that you may no longer receive PCT’s weekly E-newsletter or biweekly Product E-newsletter. If that’s the case but you’d still like to receive these valuable products, call PCT Internet Editor Brad Harbison at 800/456-0707 and we’ll work to get you back in the loop. Thanks for you patience as we all try to work through such challenges.

The author is editor of PCT magazine.