2002 COMMERCIAL TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR: Steve Rogers

For Steve Rogers, the 2002 Commercial Technician of the Year, pest control has been a perfect fit.

Rogers, a commercial route technician for Presto-X-Company, Denison, Iowa, has steadily built his route the last 12 years by delivering quality, consistent service and putting in long hours. In return, Rogers has found a career that is well suited for his skills and allows him the flexibility to spend time with his family.

Watching the great skill and care Rogers takes at an account, it is hard to believe that he is a relative newcomer to pest control. Prior to working for Presto-X-Company, Rogers worked as a meat cutter for Farmland Foods before being hired by Presto-X-Company in 1990.

When Rogers was hired he wasn’t intending on making a career of pest control. His plan was to work temporarily for Presto-X-Company and then go back to school to receive training for a computer job.

"I didn’t plan on staying long, but I’m glad that I did because it’s been a great job," Rogers said. "I had no idea that pest control was so involved and that Presto-X and the facilities you service had such high standards."

AN OPPORTUNITY WAS AWAITING. Although Rogers had limited pest control knowledge prior to joining Presto-X-Company, he quickly got up to speed. Plus, he had many of the qualities needed to be a successful commercial route technician. Technicians who service commercial accounts must be thorough, efficient and able to communicate well with a wide range of people.

Rogers took to his new job like a fish to water. He organized his route, which covers 80 square miles, to maximize efficiency. The goal of all Presto-X-Company’s commercial technicians is to have 50 percent of their work completed by the 15th of each month. Rogers has 85 to 95 percent of his work completed by the 15th of each month.

"Steve tells his wife on the first of each month that he’ll see her on the 15th," says Vic McCarty, branch manager of Presto-X-Company’s Lincoln, Neb., office.

Since most of Rogers’ routes have to be serviced during nonworking hours, he works in the wee hours of the morning.

At 3:30 a.m., when most people are sound asleep, Rogers’ day is just beginning. He usually visits his key, large accounts first, followed by his other routes.

Besides the obvious benefits of easier access, Rogers has found other benefits to early morning servicing, such as being able to communicate with facility personnel including cooks, cleaners and maintenance workers.

"Sometimes management will write up a report and say we saw (a pest) in the west wing, but the cleaning people can show you exactly where they saw it," Rogers said.

After taking care of the majority of his route by 8 a.m., Rogers returns to his office to make follow-up phone calls. Oftentimes, he’ll receive other service request in the morning. In the afternoon, Rogers will usually make a follow-up visit to some of his key accounts to speak with the site manager.

"For example, I’ll go service a hospital early in the morning and then return in the afternoon to speak with (the site manager) and find out if the work was done satisfactorily and also if they have any special service requests," Rogers said.

Most of Rogers’ accounts are under $100 per month; however, he also services several key accounts that are more than $1,000 per month. His large accounts include Farnam Bocken Co. — a supply company for grocery stores — IBP packing plants and large distribution warehouses. His smaller accounts include gas stations, "mom and pop" grocery markets and local retail shops.

Rogers says that communication is the key to successfully running a commercial route.

"It’s not just Presto-X taking care of an account — it’s a partnership between Presto-X and the customer," Rogers says. "You have to work together to get things done right so that when inspectors visit your account things are fine and they are able to sell their products."

"I think one of Steve’s best qualities is that he is very likable," McCarty adds. "He’s always smiling and is easy to work with. He goes out of his way to explain pest problems and he genuinely cares for his clients."

As Rogers’ career in pest control has advanced, so too has his pest knowledge. He’s gleaned knowledge from in-house training from Presto-X-Company, has completed three correspondence courses from Purdue University and has attended other conferences specializing in IPM and how to service food-processing facilities. He also has completed Copesan’s Signature Care Program training course. Rogers also credits Presto-X-Company for providing the support system necessary to be a successful technician. In particular, Rogers credits McCarty, Presto-X-Company Technical Director Earl Hallberg, and fellow commercial route technicians Mike Pitt and Dave Ryba.

"If you encounter a wasp nest down a tube you can give them a call and if they can’t tell you over the phone they say, ‘Tell you what, let me stop out and I’ll take a look at it.’"

A WELL-EARNED REPUTATION. The Denison, Iowa, area has come to respect the professionalism of Rogers. Moreover, his reputation for quality work has helped him grow his route substantially. When Rogers first began at Presto-X-Company, the route he inherited averaged a little more than $3,000 per month. In May of 2002 Rogers had revenues of more than $18,000 per month. Presto-X-Company has split the Denison route three times since Rogers came on board. During his 12 years at the Presto-X-Company, Rogers has been on the company’s Sales Topper list 96 months out of 144 months and on the Top 25 list nine quarters. In 2001, Rogers was awarded the Exceptional Customer Service Award.

It’s taken a lot of long hours and hard work for Rogers to grow his route and earn the respect of his coworkers, customers and community. But the payoff has been worth it, he says.

Rogers and wife Cheryl have four daughters, Kelly and Kristie, who are married, Holly, a senior in high school and Ashley, a fifth grader. Rogers is involved in many of their activities. Thus, the flexibility of being a commercial route technician has made the job a perfect fit for him.

"I’m able to set my own hours as long as they are in-line with my customers," Rogers says. "It works out great because the girls might have a soccer game at 5 p.m. that I’m able to attend."

Rogers’ achievements in pest control serve as a great example of what pest control technicians can accomplish with hard work and dedication, according to McCarty.

"I think we are all provided the opportunity to succeed in our jobs; unfortunately some people don’t take advantage of these opportunities," McCarty says. "Steve has taken advantage of his opportunity and has brought a true sense of professionalism to the Denison area."

Sharing His Knowledge

Steve Rogers is using his skills as commercial route technician to educate not only his clients about pest control but many residents of Denison, Iowa .

With his years of experience as well as the various training courses he has completed, Rogers has become Denison’s resident insect expert.

Rogers is a familiar face at local grade schools, bringing in various insects he encounters on the job. In addition to sharing his insect collection, Rogers educates children why insect pests are present and what can be done to prevent them from becoming a problem.

An interest in insects is not the only way Rogers connects with nature. Rogers is a past president and current member of Pheasants Forever, a conservation group that helps put habitat out in the country for pheasants, quails and other animals

In addition to these activities, Rogers has served as board member at St. Rose of Lima School in Denison, Iowa, the parochial school his children attended.