[Crown Awards] 2005 Termite Technician of the Year

In reflecting on his accomplishments in the pest control industry, 2005 Termite Technician of the Year Benny Bufford is quick to acknowledge the contributions of his entire crew.

"We’ve got a young crew but they are all good workers," said Bufford, termite technician/supervisor, Dixon Exterminating Co., Thomasville, Ga. "These guys won’t leave a job site when it’s quitting time; they won’t leave a job site until they feel comfortable that the termite problem is taken care of."

It’s Bufford who sets the tone for this crew with his honesty, integrity, work ethic and thoroughness, said Charles Dixon, president of Dixon Exterminating. "Benny understands the value of a dollar and the work ethic that’s involved in this business," Dixon said. "He also knows that his (crew) is his most valuable resource and he really tries to treat them well. Benny is a leader by example. Other guys see the work ethic it takes to be successful."

Combine these leadership traits with superior technical know-how and customer service skills and it’s easy to see why Bufford has become highly regarded by clients and coworkers alike.

A HISTORY OF HARD WORK. Bufford’s strong work ethic has been developed through a long career in the service sector. It dates back to his days in high school in 1977 when he worked as a stock boy/bag boy for a local grocery store. He became a store manager at age 24, a job he held for four years before accepting a sales position at W.J. Powell and Company, a Thomasville, Ga.-based distributor and wholesaler.

In 1992, Bufford ventured on his own and purchased a grocery store in Pavo, Ga. Bufford found success owning and operating his store, which he sold for a profit in 2000. While this was certainly a fulfilling experience, it also was a "24/7" job that took its toll on Bufford. "Every nickel I made I earned," Bufford recalled. "I wanted more time for my family and for myself."

Bufford began considering a career jump in the late 1990s and he had several friends and acquaintances that enjoyed working in pest control. Bufford also had become acquainted with Charles Dixon throughout the years and even had his grocery store serviced by Dixon Exterminating. Dixon had come to respect Bufford as a small business- owner and told him about opportunities to work for him. The plan was for Bufford to come aboard as a (general) pest control technician; however, right about the same time Bufford was to begin working at Dixon, the employee tagged to start up Dixon’s reentry into the termite market backed out, and this position became available to Bufford.

Bufford got up to speed with training from Charles Dixon and veteran Dixon technicians Tommy Dixon and George Bass. "I remember being impressed by the quality of Benny’s questions," Charles Dixon said. "They reflected not only his ability to learn, but also to apply his new insights to real-world situations."

Bufford also successfully completed the University of Georgia’s Structural Pest Control Training Program in 2000 and during the last 2-year licensing period for registered Dixon employees, Bufford attained 19 hours of state-accredited training despite the fact that just eight hours are sufficient to meet requirements for the job.

ON THE JOB. After learning the fundamentals, Bufford quickly began putting his "signature on service." One of the best examples of Bufford’s attention to detail is his termite inspections.

Dixon said Bufford does not make generalizations about termite biology on an inspection, but rather he appropriately treats each inspected structure as a new, distinct entity. "Experience may tell him where termites are likely to be found, but he has an open mind while making his inspections," Dixon said. "Importantly, Benny has passed on this trait to the employees who now work with him."

Bufford says the key to doing a proper termite inspection is to "crawl every inch of it."

"What happens is you tend to get focused on a certain area. You look at a part of the house that looks suspicious and you inspect with your moisture meter and other tools," Bufford said. "The key is not to get blinders on; look down, up and all around. Sometimes an infestation can be found in pieces of crown molding."

When doing the actual treatments, Bufford is very considerate about returning the property back to normal. For example, if walls need to be drilled Bufford places special emphasis on matching the color of the grout to the color of the wall. Bufford also stresses on-the-job safety and will not ask employees to do jobs that he himself is unwilling to do – a quality that endears him to those he supervises, according to Dixon.

Proof of Bufford’s quality work and effectiveness as a supervisor also is apparent in the growth of Dixon’s termite sector. Under Bufford’s supervision, Dixon’s termite sales have grown from $2,000 in 2000 to a projected $425,000 in 2005. Perhaps of greater significance is that Dixon Exterminating has only had to retreat two structures that were under service agreement.

A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT. For pest control companies and residents in the South, an issue of great concern is the spread of the destructive Formosan termite. For several years, there were 12 confirmed Formosan termite colony sites in Georgia – all in metro Atlanta. It was believed that these termites were not in the Thomasville area, about 240 miles south of Atlanta.

In 2003, Bufford was performing an initial home inspection, when he observed a few things that raised "red flags," including thoroughly eaten up crown molding, swarmers that resembled drywood termites (which are present in South Georgia) and railroad ties close to the home. Upon closer inspection, Bufford began thinking he may not have encountered drywood swarmers, but Formosans. "In all of our training sessions with (University of Georgia researchers) Dan Suiter and Brian Forschler, and in trade magazines, Formosan termites are always mentioned," Bufford said.

So, Bufford sent samples to University of Georgia researchers, who confirmed that Bufford’s discovery was in fact Formosan termites. (The Formosans were later traced to New Orleans). Dixon Exterminating then began working cooperatively with Forschler, Suiter and University of Georgia graduate students to eradicate and contain the infestation. Treatments included baiting and monitoring as well as traditional liquid applications. In addition to the infested home, the group treated all of the houses/properties on the block, and they continue monitoring these areas to this day.

In working closely with Bufford, Suiter made the following observation. "I see a good number of technicians in my statewide travels. Many simply go through the motions, but not Benny. In my mind, Benny stands out because his questions and comments are typically insightful. That I believe only comes from someone who thinks about and analyzes what they’re doing."

In his typical fashion, Bufford deflects any recognition he receives for the Formosan termite discovery. "I want to emphasize that this was a team effort by Dan (Suiter) and the University of Georgia guys and Dixon technicians Roland Benton, Dale Robinson, Timothy Brumblow and Ashley Fulghum," Bufford said. "I just happened to be the one fortunate to come up with the Formosan termites."

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Active in the Community

In addition to being a standout technician, Benny Buford is a husband and father and is active in the community. Bufford and wife Sherry have been married 22 years and have three adult children.

Bufford also has been active in the community, serving as a past president of the Thomasville Area Jaycees (1991 – 1992). He was recognized as the Jaycee of the Year (1986 – 1987) and the Recruiter of the Year (1986 – 1987).

An active member of the Thomasville Exchange Club, Bufford also has served on the Board of Directors for the Deep South Fair. In 2003, he was Deep South Fair Man of the Year. Bufford also gave of his time to participate in the Thomasville – Thomas County Team 2000 Leadership program in 2003.

Bufford’s hobbies include fishing and hunting and he is a fan of University of Georgia and Florida State University sports teams.