[2006 Technician of the Year Awards - Termite] A 'Go-To' Technician

Terminix’s Allen Hulstine earns high praise from customers and coworkers alike for his dedicated service. By Brad Harbison

A help wanted ad for the ideal termite technician candidate might read: Wanted, a customer-friendly, detail-oriented individual able to solve problems and effectively communicate with others. Customers and coworkers alike also use these terms in describing Allen Hulstine, termite technician from Terminix’s Sherman, Texas office, and the 2006 PCT/Syngenta Termite Technician of the Year.

Hulstine has become the Sherman office’s "go-to" man for his ability to accomplish the most challenging tasks. "Allen has a knack for being able to treat the most difficult of infestations," said Martin Johnston, manager of the Sherman office. "He’s a delight to work with and always has a smile on his face. He encourages everyone at our office, including me."

During his nine years at Terminix, Hulstine also has been a (general) pest control technician and salesman, but seems to have found his home as a termite technician.

"I like that you have to ‘think like a termite’ to find out how they are entering structures, then determine how best to solve the problem, whether it be drilling or trenching," Hulstine said. "People are mad with pest control problems, but they can become hostile when it comes to termite work because significantly more money is involved. But being able to solve problems and make customers happy is really satisfying to me."

A NEW PERSPECTIVE. Hulstine’s route to the pest control industry and Terminix has been quite a journey. After graduating from high school in 1986, Hulstine was working for a Dallas printer and also was a U.S. Army Reservist. When the U.S. launched Desert Storm (1991), Hulstine volunteered for duty and served as a truck driver. He was in charge of transporting U.S. troops (redeployed from Germany) from Daharain, Saudi Arabia, to various positions throughout the Iraqi/Kuwaiti border. He did this until the Iraqi troops surrendered, then worked with military police, transporting EPWs (enemy prisoners of war) to POW (prisoner of war) camps.

Hulstine’s experiences in the Middle East left quite an impression on him. "Probably what I remember most is just the absence of life in the desert," he recalls. "It looks biblical — like stepping back in time a thousand years. There were times when you would look around there was nothing but sand in every direction."

When Hulstine returned from Iraq, he went back to his previous profession in printing, then joined Terminix for his first stint in 1996. Hulstine ran a general pest control route for three years, then left Terminix for a factory job, but still kept in touch with people at the office. Hulstine decided to give the pest control profession another look because he missed being outside every day and pest control work.

Hulstine rejoined Terminix in 2001 and has been a fixture ever since. He’s earned the trust of customers for his knowledge, honesty and ability to communicate.

Terminix customer Frank Koerbacher had the following to say about Hulstine: "(Allen) inspected my house and found new tunnels under the tub in the bathroom. He treated the problem area. I would like to comment on this young man. I have been in the body shop business 40 years and handle customers. He answered all my questions very clearly and promptly. I just wanted someone to know how comfortable I feel dealing with him."

A PROBLEM-SOLVING SPECIALIST. Hulstine has become highly regarded for his ability to solve the most challenging termite infestations. One such case in April 2006 illustrates this ability.

A hospital ER room had a termite infestation. Johnston went out to survey termite activity. Knowing that there were utility lines and a basement, Johnston enlisted the hospital’s engineering department to survey the room. They used ultrasound to determine the location of any water and/or gas lines under the floor and actually drilled the holes.

Hulstine was then brought in to apply termiticide using a treatment rod. Hulstine rodded the first two holes, but refused to rod the third hole. The rod he was using went straight through. "He said, ‘This is not right. I am not treating it,’" Johnston recalls. "I said, ‘Allen, their people came out and drilled the holes, it’s gotta be right.’ He said, ‘I’m not treating it until they come out.’"

Hulstine persuaded Johnston to hold off on the treatment. Johnston then summoned a hospital maintenance worker to check things out. Sure enough, the treating rod was sticking through the ceiling of a basement supply room. Had Hulstine treated the hole and flooded the supply room with termiticide, the hospital and Terminix would have had a massive problem that would have involved costs associated with a Hazmat unit, not to mention the ensuing negative media exposure.

Johnston said that case was just one example of Hulstine’s value to the company. "Allen assesses homes and heads off a lot of damage claims in the way he treats," he said. "That’s what makes him stand apart. He really wants to go that extra mile to make sure he does the job right."

LOOKING AHEAD. In 2003, Terminix started a mentoring program for new hires. Hulstine has been a natural fit for this program due to his love for teaching and passing along his knowledge and wisdom. He said it’s an exciting time to be a part of the office’s termite crew, which has dramatically decreased its retreatment rate and is now more focused on new termite work and renewal services.

No doubt these successes are due in large part to Hulstine, whose quality service and mentoring abilities have made him a stabilizing force for the Sherman Terminix office.

The author is managing editor and Internet editor of PCT magazine.