Orkin Named to <EM>Training Magazine’s</EM> Top 100 For Third Straight Year

ATLANTA – Atlanta-based Orkin, Inc. was recognized by Training magazine as part of its prestigious Top 100 list, which was announced at Training’s annual awards banquet in March. Orkin ranked No. 57th. This is the third straight year the company has been selected to the list, and No. 57 is the highest ranking the company has received.

Training magazine, the training industry’s premiere publication, annually selects 100 organizations that excel at human capital development. These companies are chosen based on criteria such as training practices, evaluation methods and outstanding training initiatives. Orkin will be highlighted in a feature article in the March issue of Training.

Orkin’s training department, called Orkin University, includes 23 performance improvement specialists. The team operates under the acronym SERVE (speed, execution, ROI, versatility, and excellence) to ensure that training is efficient, effective and aligned with company strategy -- supporting employee development from the top down. In 2004, the Aspen learning management system was deployed to further enhance the training department’s efficiency, allowing Orkin to track all training events, including online training and testing.

Orkin University’s outstanding training program is also effective, boasting activity based training tools like the pest control industry’s only full hands-on training center in the United States. The $3 million Atlanta facility includes a full-sized, fully functional house for applied learning of pest and termite control techniques. Cutaway walls and examples of all common building techniques provide trainees with a first-hand knowledge of what they could expect to find in houses across the country. Orkin recently completed a 13,000-square-foot training center expansion, which includes a restaurant kitchen, hospital room, hotel room, supermarket layout and warehouse space for commercial pest control technicians.

Orkin’s Director of Training Craig Goodwin knows the importance of keeping employees informed and engaged.

“We’re excited and honored to be recognized by Training for the third straight year as one of the nation’s best company’s for employee training,” said Goodwin. “Our one-of-a-kind training program enables us to provide the best service possible to our customers – and that’s our ultimate goal.”

In addition to dedicated trainers, Orkin’s division vice presidents and region managers spend three days a week coaching employees in the field to ensure that training is effective. Management’s involvement is another way the training department guarantees that department strategies are aligned with company objectives.