MOJAVE, Calif. — After more than 21 years of dedicated service with Etex-Ltd., the Mojave, CA-based manufacturer of the Electro-Gun, Phil Holt, head of research, development and maintenance in their Austin, Texas facility, is retiring. According to Susan Fortuna, company president, Holt, now 56, was an integral and valuable member of the Etex team and will be missed.
“Phil has worn many hats at Etex throughout his career here—from electrician to electrical engineer to president. I have to say that in each capacity, Phil always rose to the challenge with dedication, loyalty and ingenuity,” Fortuna said.

“He became president after D.J. Bondy, our first president, became ill. Phil held that position for about eight years, and was instrumental in developing and implementing many of the design changes that have improved our Electro-Gun,” she says. The Electro-Gun is a non-chemical alternative to fumigation and chemical spot treatments.

“During his career here, Phil has also trained hundreds of pest control operators in the use of the gun,” says Mike Fortuna, Etex’s chief operations officer.

Before joining Etex, Holt owned an audio and stage lighting business in Norman, Okla. When he sold that company, he learned that Etex, then located in Las Vegas, was hiring and started there as an electrician. Impressed with the company and its potential, he then studied to become an electrical engineer.

As an electrical engineer, he worked with the original developers of the Electro-Gun-- Lucas G. Lawrence and D.J. Bondy, to redesign and improve it. “That’s something that gives me great pride,” he admits. He’s also proud of his role in arranging efficacy studies by an independent laboratory that “helped convince naysayers that the Electro-Gun is an effective termite control device.”