Whitworth Pest Solutions
Storied Past, Exciting Future
Dr. Terry Whitworth began his career in pest control back in 1975, working for a local pest control company as its manager and staff entomologist. Soon after beginning work there, he became dissatisfied with the way the business was run. He wanted to cater to the client more-- rather than continually and excessively worry about profits. He also wasn’t satisfied with the way employees were treated. They were often left in the dark or by upper management when it came to how the company was doing. Therefore, they lacked confidence, focus and drive.
Terry started his own company in Tacoma and at first, was a "one man show." He realized that if he provided honest, ethical pest control for his clients, then growth and profits would eventually come. Profits did come, and slowly the company grew, mostly by word of mouth, and needed employees. Rather than leaving employees in the dark, he was open with them about how the business was doing. Having this openness inspired employees to believe that they were part of the "big picture." The company’s books were always open to employees. Every month, company-wide meetings were held and the numbers were discussed in detail. Gross revenue, gross profit, net income, etc. were all shared with employees. In addition Terry offered his employees some of the best benefits in the pest control industry: medical/dental, 401K matching up to 4%, paid vacations and sick leave, and aggressive incentive-based bonuses. These benefits, along with the openness and trust in his employees, continue to this day.
In the late 1990s, the company was growing well and Terry decided it was time to move to a new location. Employees were becoming overcrowded in the current office (which was an addition to his house). He looked around and wasn’t satisfied with the buildings that were out there, but did like a piece of land in Puyallup. Going outside the norm of the industry, in which most pest control businesses either leased a building or worked out of the owner’s home, he began planning for construction of a brand new building. With the help of an architect, he planned a building that specifically catered to the needs of a pest control company. He also consulted with and followed every single recommendation by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor and Industries to make sure the building set the highest standard in pesticide and worker safety. He knew a brand new building was a huge expense, but he wanted to set the company apart by specifically designing a building for pest control.
In the year 2000, Whitworth Pest Solutions moved into their new building in Puyallup. Everything about the building was designed with pest control in mind: Separate fire-safe pesticide storage under lock and key, indoor parking for work vehicles in which the floor was specially designed to contain accidental spills, a specially designed water system to not allow accidental pesticide outflow, technician areas where they could each have their own space to store files and contact clients, and a reception area.
The costs of a new building and new location presented financial challenges, and Terry wasn’t afraid to admit it. He hired consultants specific to the pest management industry that helped us serve clients even better. New programs were introduced, client care was enhanced, and client retention became focused on and measured regularly. A client retention program was implemented, and training and education for staff was enhanced. After the implementation of these initiatives, as well as improved employee retention and other programs, the company grew even more and still is today. Instead of letting growth get out of hand, however, and losing sight of client needs, we’ve focused even more on the client.
What does the future for Whitworth Pest Solutions hold? Although we can’t predict some of the exterior market forces that will shape the industry, what drives our company will remain the same: our dedication to our clients and our employees. We’re not seeking to merely satisfy clients, we’re seeking to exceed their expectations. We’re never going to stop thinking about what we need to change, add, or remove from the business to continually improve. Stagnation or complacency is not an option. Our dedication to our employees will never change either, with our goal being to exceed their expectations as well. Terry Whitworth founded the company on the premise that honest, ethical pest control would make his company and employees flourish and stand out from all of the heavy competition in the pest control industry. That premise is the fuel that lights our way forward now and continually into the future.
