Pest Management Professional, October 2013

UNDERCOVER BOSS Aaron Laney Glendale Calif I m a sales service technician and Ive worked for Orkin for about three years My job is unusual because I service the jobs I sell I love what I do because its different every day I started my zoology degree with an emphasis in entomology so I love everything about insects My dad used to bring bugs home for me to play with when I was a boy The day with Bob was fun and I enjoyed teaching him what I do but he never could be an Orkin Man with that beard I gave him many tips tying the similarities between pest control to his restaurant which I found out later was fake I told him the three most important aspects in a service business are value professionalism and providing the best service I knew who John Wilson was the minute he walked around that corner for the final reveal Hes on company training videos all the time I couldnt believe I was sitting there with Mr Orkin himself It was crazy It was absolutely amazing I didnt recognize him in his Bob disguise but looking back it all makes sense I went to Atlanta this summer and it was fantastic to see Orkins training facility and the home office campus I met the scientists there and Im fired up to finish my degree with the financial help of Rollins and John Ive been applying to colleges and I hope to be starting soon I postponed my college degree for family reasons and have always wanted to return To receive money to put toward my sons college education was a blessing Id been praying about that for a long time and now thats off my plate Everything is about family and to have a company leader who realizes that is amazing I was in a daze for a long time I couldnt believe what had happened to me Its wonderful to have that kind of backing from a corporation I feel like I can do almost anything now Continued from page 46 area Aaron who quit school halfway through his entomology degree for family reasons had me in a bee suit and in a cramped crawlspace under a small house for a rodent inspection I met extraordinary Orkin employees while I was undercover I was reminded every one of our almost 8000 employees is different and unique Aaron is an outstanding company ambassador He explains things well and presents a positive first impression Hes naturally enthusiastic about insects and that excitement comes through when he talks with customers Aaron would be an ideal entomologist researcher or educator and were lucky to have him Were looking for ways to enhance his career with us so he came to our corporate headquarters earlier this summer to meet with our technical services and training team Overall I had a pleasant experience I learned a lot and the best part was meeting such fantastic employees I was reminded our reputation is only as good as our technicians relationships with our customers The worst part other than wearing that horrible and uncomfortable disguise was seeing the conditions in which the family in the trailer lived You forget there are people who live like that usually out of ignorance and with children Well never be able to fix their pest problem if they dont address their own living conditions but the Lafayette branch has taken them on as a special project to control their pest problem Im sure we can make an improvement for them and hopefully the Lafayette staff can teach them how to help themselves a bit I met extraordinary Orkin employees while I was undercover and I was reminded every one of our almost 8000 employees is different and unique I learned even though there are sound business reasons for companywide policies we must educate our field employees to implement local common sense management techniques when appropriate As company leaders its our job to make it easier for field employees to do their jobs Theyre what Orkin is all about Also I was reminded each of our customers is different From the horrible trailer infestation to a home thats neat as a pin and everything in between our technicians deal with a different situation every time they visit a customer When they knock on a customers door they need the skills and scientific knowledge to handle whatever is behind the door They must be accomplished adaptable personable problem solvers It was a lot of work and I didnt get much sleep as an Undercover Boss Orkin Man Im definitely not cut out for show business but I wouldnt trade the experience for anything I couldnt be more proud to work for Orkin and lead such a fine group of people PMP You can reach Wilson Rollins president and COO at jwilson@ rollins com 48 October 2013 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net Photo Studio Lambert 2013 All Rights Reserved Courtesy CBS BROADCASTING INC