Back Talk, January 2000

I’m writing to protest Kevin Clark’s erroneous letter to the editor "Statement About Wildlife Company is Self Serving" in the November issue of PCT. His letter was about my September article, "Is There Profit in Animal Control?"

Mr. Clark states, "A little more research and restraint of self-serving interests is in order." He might follow his own advice. I have absolutely no ties with the WCT Wildlife Control Services franchise. I was editor of WCT Magazine for five years, but an even cursory reading of the franchise ads will reveal that it and the magazine are two completely separate entities.

In addition, Mr. Clark launches an insulting attack on the WCT franchise, then goes on to praise his own franchise, Critter Control, for most of the letter. His statements are self serving in the extreme.

Mr. Clark has attacked my reputation for accurate, unbiased writing. I hope he has the integrity to apologize for his error.

I would like to respond to Kevin Clark’s letter in the November issue of PCT. First let me say that my hat is off to Clark for his accomplishments as a successful entrepreneur in the nuisance wildlife control industry.

I’ll begin with Clark’s own quote from his letter. "A little more research and restraint of self-serving interests is in order." I find this quote to be particularly amusing given the inaccuracies and self-serving nature of his own letter, considering the only thing that was mentioned in Noonan’s article was our company name. If one reads the article, it seems our name was mentioned to make a simple point about the industry as a whole. Another question that begs to be answered is if we, WCT Wildlife Control Services, have no national presence, why would this prompt such quick and defensive response from the "nation’s leading animal control firm?"

To accuse the author, Bob Noonan, of being self serving and having direct ties which would give him a conflict of interest is bordering on libel. Noonan does not now, nor has he ever, had direct ties or affiliation with Wildlife Control Technology Group Inc. or WCT Wildlife Control Services. Noonan was the editor of Wildlife Control Technology Magazine from its inception until last year. WCT Magazine and WCT Group Inc. are two entirely separate entities that happen to share the same name. Although I know Bob Noonan personally and professionally, having been interviewed by him many times for articles, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that these ac-cusations are founded. To the contrary, he always goes out of his way to see that there are no conflicts of interests in his writings.

I would like to ask Kevin Clark a question: Did you start with 100 offices or were they built in the almost 15 years he has been in business? I too could cite my accomplishments and the standards I have helped set for the industry, having been in it for almost 15 years but I will not. My partners and I want to see this industry thrive and continue to gain the professional recognition it deserves.

How can I express to PCT my appreciation for the interview with PCT Managing Editor Jodi Dorsch a few months ago? How can I thank your staff for the effort to write the story, your meaningful presentation at the convention and, most of all, the communication you initiated with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the letter which was written for me? More importantly, how can I thank GIE Publishing, Inc. for the $1,000 contribution to the museum? I would think many people experienced the elation I felt when PCT Publisher/Editor Dan Moreland made the presentations of the leadership winners on Oct. 28, 1999, on behalf of PCT and Zeneca Professional Products.

I would also like to thank the many friends I have in the industry for sending letters of nominations to PCT.

In deep appreciation for Buddy Camors, Zeneca and PCT, my wife Rosalye and I present PCT with a check for $1,500 for the benefit of the Pi Chi Omega Scholarship Fund, which is indeed worthy of support that PCT and Zeneca so generously are funding. Thank you once more for the honor bestowed on me.

I cannot begin to tell you how moving the Leadership Awards presentation to my cousin Richard Yashek was for me. Despite my familiarity with his life story, the way Dan Moreland presented it and the circumstances in which he did so made this a very emotional evening for me. Throughout the rest of the convention, people were continually approaching Richard and even me to express similar thoughts.

Thank you for all of the effort you put into this. You obviously took a great deal of time and care to fully research the material available. The extra step of contacting the Holocaust Museum was an extremely thoughtful gesture on PCT and Zeneca’s part and one which I know Richard, as well as I, greatly appreciated. Thank you for a memorable evening.

Thanks for sending me PCT Online updates and news bits. I really enjoy them as well as your publication. I am a five-year veteran pest control technician. The information and news is always helpful and insightful since I plan to stay with the business at least until I retire. I am currently 37 years old, so I guess I have a few more years, right? Hopefully so!