[View Point] Part Science, Part Art

I’ve often heard that good pest management practices involve both science and art. The science includes learning and understanding the biology and behavior of pests and how to properly apply pesticides. Much of the art involved in pest control comes only from experience. In other words, "the stuff they don’t teach in classes or in books." These might include adjusting one’s pest management practices in response to unforeseen challenges.

A major goal of PCT magazine and PCT Online is to provide readers with technical features as well as articles that provide practical, hands-on information. For example, each issue of PCT includes Pest Profile, a one-page article dedicated to specific pests — including a full-color photo, identification characteristics and more. In addition, users can access our Web site for more information about that specific pest in our training section at www.pctonline.com/training.

We also think it’s important to give our readers as much hands-on information as possible. This is accomplished by interviewing a diverse cross-section of PCOs who each provide their own different perspective. We also try to include articles from contributing writers whose own unique experiences are helpful to others.

PCT Online has been running a series of articles by Kevin Kordek, president of A-Active Termite & Pest Control, Virginia Beach, Va. After years of significant growth, A-Active decided to construct a new headquarters. In addition to running a highly successful pest control business, Kordek has been a licensed contractor for 20 years, so he decided to act as his own general contractor for this project. PCT Online has been following Kordek from the beginning — when he reviewed potential sites to build on and decided how to best finance the project — throughout the construction process. Along the way, Kordek has shared a number of interesting and informative nuggets of information. For example, Kordek explained his decision to finance the project using a Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loan package. In terms of the actual construction process, Kordek explained a challenge the builders encountered with soil. (Some soil types are poor to build on and this substantially adds to the cost of a project.) Kordek also documented the project with numerous photos, many of which are included in his PCT Online stories.

In speaking with Kordek, I recall him saying that his purpose for these articles was to provide tips to other PCOs who also might be interested in building themselves. Like so many others in the pest control industry, Kordek is willing to share his professional experiences for the benefit of others. These aren’t lessons learned in books or in classrooms but they are valuable all the same.