PCT/BASF Announce 2020 Technicians of the Year

CLEVELAND — PCT and BASF are proud to announce the 2020 Technicians of the Year: Mike Pugliese, Terminix Service (residential category); Wallace Taylor, Arrow Exterminators (commercial category); and Steve Morrison, Burt’s Termite & Pest Control (termite category). The annual awards are sponsored by BASF and recognize three technicians that excel in categories of commercial, residential and termite professional services.

“We couldn’t be prouder to shine the spotlight on Mike Pugliese, Wallace Taylor and Steve Morrison,” said PCT Senior Digital Editor Brad Harbison. “Their hard work and commitment to their companies are moving the pest control industry forward.”

Derek Miller, national sales manager for BASF’s Professional & Specialty Business, said, "The 2020 Technicians of the Year are representative of a resilient pest management industry that didn’t stand pat when COVID-19 hit, but instead reinvented itself, using all available tools to solve customers’ pest control problems in the most challenging of circumstances.”

PCT’s Residential Technician of the Year, Mike Pugliese, Terminix Service, has been a leader at the company’s Hendersonville, N.C. office the last 26 years. Pugliese’s responsibilities range from training new technicians to selling services to new customers, and he is widely praised for his ability to adapt to the needs of those around him. (Watch a video about Pugliese that Terminix Service created.). Read more.

The ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of termite work has been crucial to the success of Steve Morrison (Burt’s Termite & Pest Control, Columbus, Ind.), PCT's Termite Technician of the Year.  From adapting to changes brought about the switch from chlordane to newer generation termiticides, to learning new technology (e.g., Termidor HP High Precision Injection System), Morrison has always displayed a willingness to challenge himself and share his knowledge with coworkers. Read more.

Read more about each winner in the soon-to-be published December issue of PCT magazine. The 2021 program will launch in April. For more information about the program email bharbison@gie.net.

About the program: Since 1997, PCT has recognized outstanding service professional in the residential, commercial and termite categories with our annual Technicians of the Year Awards. Each year, PCT receives dozens of nominations from pest control companies throughout the United States of various size and make-up. Managers/owners were asked to evaluate service technicians in several areas including: technical skills; communication skills; service to company/community; and their mentoring role within the company. All the nominations are reviewed by a panel of pest control industry experts who determine the winners. During the last 23 years PCT has recognized 69 Technicians of the Year and more than 430 finalists from companies throughout the U.S., ranging from 3-person operations to companies at a pest control industry event. The awards are sponsored by BASF.