[2006 Technician of the Year Awards] Head of the Class

Jim Trevino

ABC Pest & Lawn Services

Austin, Texas

Residential service technician Jim Trevino recently celebrated 30 years in pest control, including the last 27 at Austin, Texas-based ABC Pest & Lawn Services. During this time, Trevino has seen it all. "There is rarely a pest problem that he cannot identify and solve on his own," said ABC Training Director Janis Reed. Trevino can identify and formulate a plan for control of almost every pest he deals with on a daily basis. He rarely has the need to utilize the services of the on-staff entomologist. Additionally, Trevino’s value to ABC goes well beyond that of a productive route technician. He is well respected for his efforts in mentoring new ABC service technicians. Trevino displays patience and a willingness to share his technical knowledge, Reed said.

Jim Heese

Wil-Kil Pest Control
Sun Prairie, Wis.

In 12 years at Wil-Kil Pest Control’s Sun Prairie, Wis.-office, Jim Heese has never received a customer complaint, nor has he ever lost a client for service reasons. Heese is highly regarded for the pride he takes in his work and his file is filled with complimentary letters. He treats all of his customers as friends and has developed deep-rooted relationships with many of them. When a client’s facility is up for inspection, Heese takes that third-party audit score personally — as a reflection of his performance. Thus, he consistently delivers excellent scores on these audits. In fact, he recently obtained a perfect score at a Wisconsin-based food processing facility. Heese also has served as an assistant coach on his daughters’ volleyball and basketball teams.

Jay Bell

Massey Services

Orlando, Fla.

Jay Bell has risen through the ranks at Massey Services, beginning his tenure as a bait technician before being promoted to residential pest prevention technician. Bell has displayed a commitment to service

excellence through his dedication to and desire to deliver the highest level of customer service. In 2005, Bell’s retention rate was 98.4 percent. For these and other reasons Bell has been a two-time recipient of Massey Services’ Technician of the Year Award.

Troy Price

Schendel Pest Services

Tempe, Ariz.

A commercial technician with Schendel Pest Services’ Tempe, Ariz., office, Troy Price runs a route that normally would require two technicians, due to its size and responsibilities. But his time management skills, as well as his vast knowledge of pests and their habits, allows him to run this large route very successfully. Price’s route includes a large milk plant, whose food safety manager had the following to say about Price: "I see many auditors (USDA, FDA, third party and current customers) within this facility. A critical component of their inspection is pest control. For nearly 10 years Schendel Pest Services has done an outstanding job of maintaining our pest control program to exceed required specifications. I would like to take this time to thank you for your service diligence and expansive knowledge of pest control as it pertains to our specific needs. With the type of product we produce your resources are limited as to what control measures are used within the plant. Despite the restrictions you manage to keep the pests outside and away from the building where they belong."

Michael Powell

Spencer Pest Control

Greenville, S.C.

For the past 30 years Michael Powell has been the face of Spencer Pest Control in Greenville County, S.C. Many of Powell’s customers during the past 30 years actually started receiving pest control services from Powell’s father. Last summer Powell was involved in a vehicle accident that restricted him from work for more than two weeks. The customers on his route were so loyal to Powell that they would not permit replacements on their property. In 2005, Powell was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo intense chemotherapy and radiation treatments. During this challenging time Powell checked in with the office and his customers and returned to work full-time in the spring. He now is cancer-free and an inspiration to everyone in the company.

Michael Roy

Orkin Pest Control

Bartonville, Ill.

Matt Hagan, manager of Orkin Pest Control’s Bartonville, Ill., office, calls Michael Roy one of his "go-to" guys. "I went to an automotive repair shop and upon my introduction to the owner, he told me, ‘Everything is taken care of. Mike has done a fantastic job here for me. I used to have mice and Mike got rid of them quickly. Mike is usually here waiting on me to get here.’" Another customer who owned a deli said of Roy: "I haven’t had bugs since Mike has had my restaurant."

William Graves

Orkin Pest Control | Indianapolis, Ind.

For 10 years William Graves has been a leading termite technician at Orkin Pest Control’s Indianapolis office. Graves is sought-after by other technicians for his expertise. "If coworkers run into a problem they will radio Bill and he will coach them through it and often stop back later to check that work," said Rob Sutherland, manager of the Indianapolis office. In addition to his career in pest control, Graves spent eight years in the U.S. Army and served in the 1989 U.S.-Panama Conflict.

JOYCE HAM Terminix | Little Rock, Ark.

Joyce Ham has been with the Little Rock, Ark., Terminix branch since 1989 and during this time she has been a leader in terms of customer retention and sales. Ham provides pest control at the majority of the branch’s corporate/commercial accounts in Little Rock. Terminix Service Manager Mark Vitulli, who has worked with Ham for 12 years, observes the following: "Joyce is the type of person that needs no direction or follow up. I never get any complaint calls from her customers. The only calls I do get are compliments on how well she does her job or how well she is liked. Joyce gives all her big accounts her personal cell number and has them call her direct for any problems. She will even take care of them on days off or when on vacation because of her strong dedication to them."