Pest Management Professional, December 2017

48 December 2017 Pest Management Professional mypmp net photos Dr Cisse spragins Moving up and branching out D rive and determination are what propelled Dr Cisse Spragins from part time researcher at Bell Labs to founder of Rockwell Labs Ltd in less than a decade Working directly for Bells founder Malcolm Stack PMP Hall of Fame Class of 2004 was a great learning opportunity she says Ultimately though I felt compelled to start my own business really to prove to myself that I could do it more than anything else Career trajeCtory Dr Spragins career in pest management began in 1989 when she landed a job in Bell Labs chemistry lab while working on her Ph D in physics after earning bachelors and masters degrees in chemistry She stayed at the company full time because she enjoyed her work product development and testing and liked the company Dr Spragins was named research and development manager in 1991 and technical director in 1992 By 1995 she was appointed director of international business development and responsible for setting up and running the companys office in England I thoroughly enjoyed working at Bell which was still a very entrepreneurial environment at the time I was able to be involved to some extent in almost all aspects of the business she says But it was time for her to strike out on her own In 1998 she used money she saved over the years to launch Rockwell Labs I really liked the pest management industry but I didnt want to compete with Bell at that time Dr Spragins says So she started her company with insect bait stations insect baits and lures and traps Currently Rockwell Labs core competencies are in insect baits bio sanitation insecticide dusts and botanical insecticides At Bell she learned what it takes to build a successful company Dr Spragins says good products are key to long term success but the ability to deliver on the basics day in and day out is just as important Providing on time and complete shipping offering good customer service and support and generally doing what you say you are going to do all make a difference Doing things right every day yearin and year out is a major component of building a great company I learned that while at Bell and we do our best to apply it at Rockwell Labs she says Starting and running a business can be exhilarating depressing terrifying and everything in between Dr Spragins concludes But I dont for one minute regret doing it PMP You can reach Sofranec at dsofranec@ northcoastmedia net or 216 706 3793 after only nine years in the pest management industry Dr Cisse Spragins took the leap and launched her own successful manufacturing firm BY Diane SofraneC Managing Editor Rockwell Labs Chemistry Manager Todd Fleischmann and student intern Kathryn Monahan discuss a new formulation with Dr Cisse Spragins COVER STORY Dr Cisse Spragins titLe Founder and CEO Company Rockwell Labs Ltd yearS in inDUStry 28 aDViCe for Women in tHe peSt manaGement inDUStry Follow your passion without regard to gender stereotypes or expectations and be aware that those stereotypical expectations could come from men or other women If you encounter people who project negative stereotyping on you prove them wrong by doing the best job you can Work and associate with the smartest people you possibly can because they present the best learning opportunities