Pest Management Professional, July 2015

5 questions By marty Whitford Publisher Editorial Director questions with Pete schopen 5 This month my back page column features a question and answer Q A session with pete Schopen a regular Pest Management Professional PMP columnist and owner of McHenry Ill based Schopen Pest Solutions 1 You worked for your dads pest management company Mid Central Pest Control for years before you launched Schopen Pest Solutions What advice do you have for family businesses My three biggest dos for familyowned and operated professional pest management businesses are 1Be humble Listen to your relatives and get different viewpoints 2Dont jump the line Make your children or siblings climb through the ranks if they want to learn and perhaps eventually run the business 3Go above and beyond the call of duty This is your familys legacy Act like it matters one day job and task at a time My three biggest donts for family businesses are 1Dont expand too fast Youll spread yourself too thin and be forced to promote people who arent qualified 2Dont bring work home That includes discussing work related problems at family parties 3Dont let differences in opinion become personal Unlike other peers or employees you have to see these people at Easter 2 Your columns Start Up Diaries and Humor in Uniform embody PMPs commitment to infotainment How did your broadcast journalism schooling and experience pave the way for your writing Im writing an article I thought these were counseling sessions You told me you were a doctor Seriously though am I getting paid for this 3 If you were President of the United States for one day what would be the first thing youd do Encourage Congressman Bob Dold R IL son of PMP Hall of Famers Bob and Judy Dold to introduce a bill to the House that sets term limits cuts government pensions and creates a flat tax reducing the need for the IRS 4 While were fantasizing if you were king for a day in your house what would be the first thing youd do The dog must sleep in his own bed My wife has spoiled him rotten and lets him sleep with us He has terrible gas 5 Can you illustrate how apples rarely fall far from the tree by sharing the funniest thing each of your children have said or done My eldest son Trey is a great swimmer and leader on his team He and his teammates joke around about peeing in the pool while they race Recently Trey wanted to loosen up the guys before a tough polo match so he had shirts printed that read I pee in pools It was hilarious A few weeks later Treys coach who stands 6 5 and weighs 285 lbs was destroying his swimmers in a ping pong match at my house Everyone knows that Caleb my 11 year old is great at table tennis so Coach called Caleb down from his room where he was studying After thrashing Coach Caleb flipped his paddle onto the table and said with a smile on his face That wasnt worth interrupting my education Coach chased him all the way back to his room pmp You can reach Whitford at mwhitford@ northcoastmedia net or 216 706 3766 94 July 2015 pest management professional