“Tonight we are surrounded by the best of the best in our industry – the technicians that work every day with our customers, that are out there doing the best job possible servicing their accounts, and that are out there supporting our business and our industry,” said Bill Baxter, business manager, BASF Professional Pest Control.
Baxter said that more than 100 technicians were nominated and that BASF even received nominations from homeowners this year.
Baxter then turned the podium over to Dave Buzzelli, eastern regional manager, BASF. Buzzelli said he recently attended a presentation by Mississippi State Entomologist and public health expert Dr. Jerome Goddard, who put in perspective how important the pest control industry is in protecting the safety, welfare and quality of life of people. “This is one of the reasons I’ve stayed in the industry so long,” Buzzelli said.
Buzzelli presented the awards to Termidor All-Star technicians from the eastern U.S., while BASF Western Regional Sales Manager Michael Toce presented the awards to Termidor All-Star Technicians from the western states.
This year’s winners are:
- Claude “Tod” Confer, J.C. Ehrlich Co., Pleasant Gap, PA
- Charles Gragg, Orkin Pest Control Services, Springfield, MO
- Chris Bush, Home Pest Control Company, West Columbia, SC
- John Saxton, Jr., SST Exterminators, Surprise, AZ
- Jose Nestor Rodriguez, The Hitmen Termite & Pest Control, Santa Rosa, CA
- Christopher Sillinger, B&B Exterminating Company, Jacksonville, FL
- Cory Oakford, PermaTreat Pest Control, Fredericksburg, VA
- Miguel Ocequeda, Western Exterminator Co., Anaheim, CA
- Herbie Yancey, Terminix, Plantation, FL
- Howard Mauldin, McKenzie Pest Control, Lake Charles, LA
- Michael Howell, Orkin Pest Control, Pikeville, KY
- Christopher Lebrecht, Bob Jenkins Pest Control, San Antonio, TX
- R.J. Hyatt, Middleton Pest Control, Largo, FL
- Kim Clark, Action Pest Control, Vincennes, IN
- James Kendzulak, Viking Termite & Pest Control, Bridgewater, NJ
- Rodney L. Williams, Orkin Pest Control, Doraville, GA
On Tuesday, BASF All-Star Technicians will be treated to a special guest appearance by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, followed by a trip to San Francisco’s AT&T Park to watch the All-Star game.
Technicians nationwide were nominated by their managers based on their demonstration of three key characteristics: knowledge of termite biology and proper termite defense techniques; value to the pest management company in terms of the technician's role in business development, team morale, or other contributions to the company; and exemplary service to their customers. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges composed of senior BASF personnel from the marketing, sales and technical groups.
For a more information about the 2007 Termidor All-Star Technician winners, please visit www.pestcontrolfacts.com/allstar.