VIEWPOINT: Honoring The Best Of The Best

Every December, for the past 19 years, PCT magazine selects a Professional of the Year. Past winners have been pest control industry legends, such as Austin Frishman, John Osmun and Norm Cooper. To determine the Professional of the Year, PCT editors talk to "movers and shakers" in the industry to find out whose work is truly making a difference in the world of pest management. Some years it’s tough to decide. This year it wasn’t.

This month we honor Paul Hardy as PCT’s 2001 Professional of the Year. Hardy is an industry professional who likely has had contact with more pest management professionals than any other trainer. Known as "Orkin’s Answer Man," Hardy fields calls from all over the country – and not just from Orkin personnel. People he may have trained but have since moved on to other companies rely on Hardy to help them with questions they may have – especially in the complex area of termite control.

His 40 years at Orkin represent the most dynamic this industry has ever faced, especially in the area of termite control, one of Hardy’s specialties. He’s been an expert witness in many trials and spoken at numerous industry events about the country’s most destructive pest. Hardy has developed countless new techniques and products for the pest control market. Working on products for the entire industry – not just for Orkin – is only part of what makes Paul Hardy so special.

It’s only fitting that in the same issue we honor Hardy’s 40th anniversary that we also recognize another milestone for Orkin Pest Control – the company’s 100th anniversary. If a lot has changed in the 40 years that Paul Hardy has been in pest control, imagine how much has changed in 100. While many smaller pest management companies may not like the strong competition they face from the "Big Two" pest control firms, they should realize that Orkin Pest Control is truly a pioneer for the entire industry. The company’s advertising efforts, in particular, have shaped what consumers all across the country think about pest control.