<FONT color=blue>PCT On The Road</FONT>: PCT Technicians of the Year Honored at Legislative Day

The 2007 PCT Technicians of the Year were recognized during NPMA Legislative Day. They are (from left to right): Bill Graves, Orkin Pest Control, Indianapolis, Termite Technician of the Year; Al Moore, Massey Services, Alpharetta, Ga.; and Macy Ruiz, The Steritech Group, Charlotte, N.C., Commercial Technician of the Year. (Photo: Dan Moreland)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of Monday’s NPMA Legislative Day program, the spotlight was shone on the industry’s service professionals through the PCT Technician of the Year awards ceremony. This was the fifth year NPMA hosted this program, which recognizes a trio of standout service professionals in the residential, commercial and termite categories.

PCT recognized this year’s winners:
Al Moore, Massey Services, Alpharetta, Ga. — Residential Category
Macy Ruiz, The Steritech Group, Charlotte, N.C. — Commercial Category
Bill Graves, Orkin Pest Control, Indianapolis, Ind. — Termite Category

“This year’s winners are leaders in their companies and communities,” said PCT Internet Editor and Managing Editor Brad Harbison. “They continually strive for excellence in all that they do. We are proud to recognize such outstanding professionals for the important role they play as protectors of public health and property.”

Harbison then introduced this year’s winners.

Al Moore, Massey Services, Alpharetta, Ga. — Residential Category
Moore’s 25-plus years in the pest control industry include stints as a termite inspector and sales manager. He even owned his own pest control company — Guideline Pest Control. This experience helped him better understand the operational challenges of pest control. During this time, Moore lent his expertise to the Georgia Pest Control Association, serving as GPCA’s first chairman of the Forms Committee. After selling his company, Moore joined Massey Services’ Alpharetta operation, where he is regarded as a “quiet leader,” who approaches service very methodically, according to general manager Wallace Taylor. “His stops usually take a bit longer because he not only performs the scheduled service but takes time to communicate what he’s done to make sure every customer is satisfied,” Taylor said.

Since joining Massey Services, Moore has ‘significantly reduced customer cancellations and has dramatically improved customer satisfaction.’ Massey also benefits from Moore’s deep knowledge and experience at weekly meetings. During these sessions, he shares industry updates and specifics about situations that have occurred in the field.

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Macy Ruiz, The Steritech Group, Charlotte, N.C. — Commercial Category
Originally from Mexico, in 1993, Ruiz and wife Gloria left California for North Carolina. Soon after, Ruiz — who has a degree in forest entomology — went to work for Steritech. In subsequent years, Ruiz has set the service standard at Steritech. He services about 120 clients each month, ranging from the Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte Bobcats Arena (home of the NBA team), Central Piedmont Community College and most of the hospitals in the city.

“It’s easy for us to say that Macy is a shining star at Steritech,” said Rich Ennis president and chief operating officer of Steritech. “His performance-record month after month is without tarnish — low extra service requests and no cancellations reflect his exceptional service ethic and that his clients trust and value his expertise.”

Ruiz is the leader of an 11-person commercial service specialist staff in the Charlotte office. He leads any field training and stresses teamwork. In addition, Ruiz routinely leads the monthly training sessions in the branch, and contributes articles to the Steritech internal newsletter.

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Bill Graves, Orkin Pest Control, Indianapolis, Ind. — Termite Category
Customers and coworkers alike have come to respect the work of Bill Graves, termite technician from Orkin’s Indianapolis office. A strong work ethic; a desire to do things the right way the first time; and a motivation to always learn more about his profession and industry, are just some of Graves’ traits. “He’s always taken the initiative to further educate himself so he can perform his job better,” said Rob Sutherland, Orkin’s Indianapolis branch manager. “I’ve worked with many, many good professionals. Here at Orkin, Bill has been, by far, the best I’ve encountered.”

Graves’s background includes time spent in the U.S. Army and law enforcement. He also has a degree in chemistry - so he has the technical knowledge to understand just how various termiticides work, and the ability to precisely communicate this information to customers. These traits also have made Graves one of the offices’ top trainers and mentors. In fact, those that have been trained by Graves tend to be better employees in the long run, according to Sutherland.

Click here to read the entire story.

During the past 12 years PCT has recognized 37 Technicians of the Year and more than 180 finalists from companies throughout the U.S. of various size and make-up. If you would like to learn more about this program, contact Brad Harbison at 800/456-0707 or bharbison@giemedia.com.