Cleveland Chemical Pest Control Celebrates 120 Years

CLEVELAND –  Cleveland Chemical Pest Control recently celebrated 120 years in business. The company was founded in 1903 and acquired by William E. Kirchner and his wife, Lucile, in 1929, the year of the Great Depression, for $2,500, paid in $100 monthly installments.

Cleveland Chemical serves residential and commercial customers across Northeast Ohio through four divisions: Cleveland Chemical Pest Control, Lake Wildlife Services, Glenridge Pest Control and Avalon Pest Control.

Bill Kirchner, current president of the company and grandson of William E. Kirchner (and son of second-generation owner William L. Kirchner), said Cleveland Chemical Pest Control relies on the same formula that has helped it succeed through five generations.

“My family’s commitment has never wavered. We provide, and have always provided, the highest level of service to every customer who trusts us with their pest management needs.”

In the eight years prior to acquiring the company, Bill, an associate certified entomologist (A.C.E), was a technical sales representative for Southern Mill Creek Products of Ohio, a Cleveland-based pest control supply company owned by his father and uncle before being acquired by Univar in 2010.

He is the treasurer and past president of the Greater Cleveland Pest Control Association; a member and past president of the Ohio Pest Management Association; and a longstanding member of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

 In the community, he is a member of the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, Cuyahoga County Bed Bug Task Force and other professional business associations.

Cleveland Chemical is also a member of the Ohio Environmental Health Association.

“We attribute our success to the dedication of every person who works here,” Bill says. “We are all committed to serving Northeast Ohio and continuing to build our company to serve generations to come.”

PCT’s Roots Begin at CCPC

Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazine’s beginnings go back to Cleveland Chemical Pest Control.

In 1972, Rick Schroeder, son of Cleveland Chemical Pest Control co-founder Dick Schroeder and cousin of present-day owner Bill Kirchner, launched PCT magazine.

“The concept was to offer a magazine that was free to subscribers – paid for by advertising – and have it geared more to technicians,” said Kirchner.

© credit | PCT

One of the more memorable sections in the magazine, Kirchner recalled, was Bugmate, PCT’s answer to Playboy magazine’s Playmate. Each issue would feature a different glossy photo of an insect "centerfold" with accompanying biology and behavior information on the flip-side page.

PCT was originally published by Somick Publishing; the Somick name is a combination of Southern Mill Creek Products (abbreviated as SOM) and Rick (as in Rick Schroeder).

Kirchner said that although the original PCT concept was good, the magazine was financially challenged. PCT was eventually sold to the Scherzinger family (owners of Scherzinger Pest Control, Cincinnati).

In 1980, PCT was purchased by Richard Foster, current chairman of GIE Media, Inc. PCT remains a part of GIE Media, which is now led by Chris Foster, president and CEO of GIE Media. – Brad Harbison