BASF’s Termidor All Star Technicians Honored in Pittsburgh

Published July 10, 2006

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Termidor All Star Technicians honored during a special ceremony in Pittsburgh were (from left to right): Randy J. Thomas, B&B Exterminating, Jacksonville, Fla.; Amanda Duck, Oklahoma Termite Specialist, Inc., Edmond, Okla.; Benny J. Bufford, Dixon Exterminating Company, Inc., Thomasville, Ga.; Mark Ellis, SOS Exterminating, Inc., Goodyear, Ariz.; Bobby Baine, Pest Management Systems, Inc., Lexington, S.C.; Mitchell Sachs, All Dade Exterminators, Miami, Fla.;Chris Bachmann, Falcon Termite & Pest Control, Orlando, Fla.; Jon Scott, ABC Pest and Lawn Services of DFW, Inc., Lewisville, Texas; and James Schaefer, Swat Pest Management, Evansville, Ind.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — BASF honored this year’s Termidor All Star Technicians during a special ceremony held in Pittsburgh, where the 2006 Major League Baseball All Star Game was held.

The men and women named inaugural Termidor All Star Technicians were recognized at a dinner/awards ceremony last Monday and also attended this year's mid-summer classic, which was held at Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

Karl Kisner, senior marketing manager, BASF, and Dave Buzzelli, eastern regional manager, BASF, presented this year’s awards. Kisner commented on the importance of recognizing service technicians, who in many ways are the pest control industry’s unsung heroes. “Technicians are counted on to handle our products, educate homeowners and allow us to achieve success. They are the face of the industry to the public,” he said.

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BASF’s Termidor All Star Technicians were treated to a guest appearance by Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench (third from right). (Photo: Brad Harbison)

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Johnny Bench (left) shakes hands with All Star Technician Benny Bufford and autographs baseballs. (Photo: Brad Harbison)

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Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, home of the Pirates, was the site for this year’s All-Star Game. (Photo: Brad Harbison)

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A giant American flag in the shape of the United States was rolled out prior to the singing of the National Anthem. (Photo: Brad Harbison)

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The PNC Park scoreboard, shown here featuring Cleveland Indians slugger Grady Sizemore, was decked out for the All-Star Game. (Photo: Brad Harbison)

Kisner added, “It’s easy to get feedback from owners and managers about a product, but technicians are the ones who report on how it works in the field.”

Nine of the 16 winners traveled to Pittsburgh for the game and Buzzelli read brief comments about each Termidor All Star Technician in attendance. This year’s Termidor All Star Technicians are:

• Chris Bachmann, Falcon Termite & Pest Control, Orlando, Fla.

• Bobby Baine, Pest Management Systems, Inc., Lexington, S.C.

• Benny J. Bufford, Dixon Exterminating Company, Inc., Thomasville, Ga.

• Jeff Colburn, Environmental Health Services, Inc., Norwood, Mass.

• Amanda Duck, Oklahoma Termite Specialist, Inc., Edmond, Okla.

• Mark Ellis, SOS Exterminating, Inc., Goodyear, Ariz.

• James Minor, Perma Treat Pest Control, Fredericksburg, Va.

• Richard Moyers II, Kammermann’s Exterminating Company, Inc., Farmington, Mo.

• Mitchell Sachs, All Dade Exterminators, Miami, Fla.

• Rodney Santos, Western Extermination Company, Murrieta, Calif.

• James Schaefer, Swat Pest Management, Evansville, Ind.

• Jon Scott, ABC Pest and Lawn Services of DFW, Inc., Lewisville, Texas

• Donald Stone Jr., Omega Termite and Pest Control, Oakland, Calif.

• Randy J. Thomas, B&B Exterminating, Jacksonville, Fla.

• Saul Vizcaya, Western Pest Services, Cape May, N.J.

• Dudley Wilson, All-Rite Pest Control, Lexington, Ky.

BASF’s Termidor All Star Technicians also were treated to a guest appearance by Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench, prior to the All-Star Game.

Bench, considered one of the greatest catchers in Major League Baseball history, congratulated all of this year’s winners and drew a parallel between being a termite technician and a baseball catcher. “You all are in charge of protecting real estate and catchers protect the most valuable real estate on a baseball diamond,” he said.

More than 100 service technicians from around the country were nominated by their co-workers and managers, who were asked to submit essays detailing the knowledge, value, and service that these technicians brought to their customers and their companies. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of senior BASF personnel from the marketing, sales, and technical groups.

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