Orkin, Inc. Named to Training Magazine’s Top 100

ATLANTA — Orkin, Inc. was recognized by Training magazine as part of its prestigious Top 100 list, which was announced at Training’s annual awards banquet on Sunday night. Orkin ranked No. 74. This is the fourth straight year the company has been selected to the list.

Training magazine, the training industry’s premiere publication, annually selects 100 organizations that excel at human capital development. These companies are chosen based on criteria such as training practices, evaluation methods and outstanding training initiatives. Orkin will be highlighted in a feature article in the March issue of Training.

Orkin’s training department, called Orkin University, includes 26 performance improvement specialists. The team operates under the acronym SERVE (speed, execution, ROI, versatility, and excellence) to ensure that training is efficient, effective and aligned with company strategy -- supporting employee development from the top down. In 2004, the Aspen learning management system was deployed to further enhance the training department’s efficiency, allowing Orkin to track all training events, including online training and testing.

Training is also effective. To date, Orkin leaders have invested approximately $10 million in the company’s Training Center and training capabilities, ensuring that trainees can make use of activity-based learning tools such as the pest control industry’s only hands-on training center in the United States. The Atlanta-based facility includes a full-sized, fully functional house for applied learning of pest and termite control techniques. Cutaway walls and examples of all common building techniques provide trainees with first-hand knowledge of what they can expect to find in houses across the country. In 2005, Orkin completed a 13,000-square-foot training center expansion, which includes a restaurant kitchen, hospital room, hotel room, supermarket layout and warehouse space for commercial pest control technicians.

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Orkin’s Vice President of Training David Lamb knows the importance of keeping employees informed and engaged.

“For the fourth year in a row, we are honored to be recognized by Training magazine as one of the nation’s best company’s for employee training,” said Lamb. “At Orkin, we believe that customer service starts with investing in our own people first, and this recognition confirms that we are on the right track with our unique training program.”

In addition to dedicated trainers, Orkin’s division vice presidents and region managers spend three days a week coaching employees in the field to ensure that training is effective. Management’s involvement is another way the training department guarantees that department strategies are aligned with company objectives.