Crown Technicians of the Year Honored at Legislative Day

Syngenta’s Ashish Malik (left) and 2005 Technicians of the Year (from left to right) Benny Bufford, Norbert Brungardt and Steve Atchley. Also pictured (far right) is Syngenta’s Bery Cothern.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of NPMA Legislative Day, PCT magazine and Syngenta Professional Products honored the 2005 Crown Technicians of the Year during a special ceremony Tuesday.

Ashish Malik, business head, Professional Pest Management, Syngenta, noted that 2005 marked the 10th consecutive year in which PCT and Syngenta have honored a trio of service professionals in the residential, commercial and termite categories. Malik commented that events such as Legislative Day have helped raise the industry’s profile and that the outstanding work performed by frontline professionals, such as this year’s honorees, is another key component to enhancing the industry’s professionalism.

Malik and Brad Harbison, managing editor/Internet editor, PCT magazine, introduced this year’s winners, who also were profiled in December PCT.

This year’s honorees were:

• Steve Atchley, Cook’s Pest Control, Albertville, Ala. — commercial category
• Norbert Brungardt, Orkin Pest Control, Tulsa, Okla. — residential category
• Benny Bufford, Dixon Exterminating Co., Thomasville, Ga. — termite category.