|
|
|
|
|
Protecting your health, property
and the environment too
Local pest control firm wins awards for
environmentally-friendly approach
By Steve Littfin |
 |
| Omega Pest Management’s Todd Best, inside his newly remodeled Best Professional Building, formerly known as the “Old KBRO Building” in downtown Bremerton. |
|
Meet Todd Best, 28, President of Omega Pest Management, Inc. Todd acquired Omega in August 1996 from a Bremerton couple whom he met the while working at a local dive shop. At the time, Omega consisted of a single truck and a workload of “three to four hours every other day.” On his off-days Todd volunteered as an intern firefighter in Central Kitsap and continued part-time at the dive shop. Today, Omega Pest Management is an award-winning enterprise employing eight people and serving clients in Kitsap, Clallum, Mason, Pierce, Jefferson, and King Counties.
A local leader in the practice of integrated pest management (IPM), Omega Pest Management is committed to using methods and products that are least toxic to the environment. Todd says that Omega is one of the only pest control companies in the area specializing in the use of botanically-derived, poison-free products. Examples include a citrus-based flea control product, the active ingredient of which is extracted from orange peels; a deer repellent made from red pepper; and mint oil used in the control of hornets and yellow jackets. These agents are effective and environmentally safe.
“We try to limit how much we execute them,” says Todd. “A lot of the [industry’s] older generation want to come in and ‘napalm’ your home and kill everything. We believe there’s a place for every type of insect and as long as they’re not infesting your structure or being a nuisance to you, why not let them be? There’s some benefit they’re serving in our environment. Let’s remove the conditions that invited the pests into our structures in the first place.”
The primary pest in our area is the carpenter ant. Todd says they are capable of significant amounts of structural damage in a short period of time. He adds that Northwest Washington has also seen an increase in termite activity in recent years. He suspects climate changes are the likely cause. The emerging termite problem has created a steep learning curve among local pest control practitioners. Todd has observed companies using a “shotgun” approach to termite control, whereby a trench is dug around a structure’s perimeter and as much as 125 gallons of termite agent is dumped in. Apart from obvious environmental compromises, the method lacks focus and often sacrifices expensive landscaping. Omega’s approach is more systematic and surgical. According to Todd, they identify and eliminate the cause of the infestation, e.g., uncontrolled root growth in the vicinity of a building, localize and kill the termite colonies using monitors and bait stations, then treat the structure against future infestations.
Another innovation by Omega Pest Management is their self-help department. Todd developed self-help pest management as a lower cost alternative to on-site professional services. Most of the pest agents sold over-the-counter by Omega are the same ones used by Todd and his technicians. Omega provides advice in the use of the product and will answer any questions posed by the do-it-yourselfer. Todd adds, “If the customer is unsuccessful with the treatment procedure, we will come and do it for them at a reduced cost.”
What qualities distinguish Omega from other pest control companies? Todd says it’s their customer service. “We hold our customers as the number one priory no matter who they are.” He and his staff take seriously the company motto: Protector of Your Health, Property and Environment. “We do Section Eight (low-income subsidized) housing and we’ve been to Mr. Gates’ house. Everybody is treated the same and that has definitely allowed us to establish a rapport with our customers.”
Omega’s staff includes Angie Baker as office manager and Desiree Gerou as her assistant. The roster of full-time technicians includes Tyler Johnson, Sean Neyer, Mark Bassett, and Rick Olson. Retired banking vice president, Jim Barton, caught the bug from Todd and enjoys working part-time for Omega in several different capacities. Todd is quick to credit the success of Omega to the talents and dedication of these people.
In October 1999 Todd purchased what’s known as the “Old KBRO Building,” a 10,000 square-foot, two-story structure on the corner of 11th St. and Park Ave. in Bremerton. He paid $140K for the building, which had not been occupied for more than two years. A derelict shell, its basement had become a hangout for transients, drug addicts and prostitutes in the years since it was last occupied. The Best Professional Building, as it is now called, is nearing the end of a $100K refurbishment.
Attractive, the building’s remarkable transformation has been substantive as well as cosmetic. New features include sophisticated intruder alarm and fire extinguishing systems and an energy-efficient furnace. Main floor spaces are expansive, secure, well finished and well lighted. Omega Pest Management will occupy 1500 square-feet of the building’s first floor and about half of the basement. The rest of the building is available for lease. Todd expects Omega to move in by June 1, after installation of fiber optic and data-capable telephone lines.
Todd wants to attract tenant businesses such as attorneys, chiropractors, title companies, mortgage firms, etc. He believes a suite on the main floor also offers potential as a gourmet coffee store. The second floor is unfinished. Todd seeks long-term tenants for whom he would consider building to-suit.
During the building’s remodeling — and consistent with his passion for the environment — Todd recycled various materials including the old aluminum window frames and copper electrical wiring. He also used the building’s old exterior glass for interior office windows. But the salvage effort of which he is most proud can be found in the building’s stairwell where thirty-two golden slabs of old-growth Douglas Fir serve as stair treads. Calling on St. Vincent de Paul’s carpentry shop, Todd had all of the treads re-milled for less than the cost of a single new tread of comparable quality. The result is worthy of a visit.
Omega Pest Management is also a leader in ongoing recycling efforts. They are currently the only recyclers of pesticide plastic containers in the county. Todd’s goal was to establish collection points throughout the county where all area pest control companies could deposit their used plastic pesticide containers for recycling.
An Eastern Washington company had agreed to transport the used containers if the operation produced the necessary volume. Working with the transport company and the EPA, Todd succeeded in obtaining a $10K grant to build dumpster-like collection stations for the plastic containers.
These stations were to be distributed around Kitsap County for the convenience of pest control companies who participated in the program.
The project experienced setbacks, however, when the county couldn’t agree on sites for the collection stations, and Todd couldn’t generate necessary interest in the project among other pest control companies. Consequently, the transport company withdrew their offer and the 30 collection stations funded by the EPA grant were placed in King and Pierce Counties. Undeterred, Todd continues to store his pesticide plastic containers and routinely transports them to Tacoma for recycling. Recycled plastics are now used to construct park benches and to fabricate outdoor furniture, deck materials and railroad ties. They are not susceptible to rot or insect damage and the use of plastics in railroad ties obviates the need for the preservative, creosote, a carcinogen.
In 1998 Omega Pest Management, Inc. won the Waste Information Network (WIN) Award, recognition from the Washington State Pest Control Association. The award recognizes leadership and commitment to preventing pollution. In 1999 they won The Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention, and in 2000 Omega Pest Management received the EPA Evergreen Millennium Award for Pollution Prevention. Omega Pest Management is listed among Distinguished Business in the Green by Kitsap County’s Greenworks Program.
They have also become the highest rated pest control company by the Kitsap County Health Department for their environmental efforts. In addition to their use of IPM techniques, which minimize the use of toxic chemicals, all Omega Pest Management vehicles use re-refined motor oil and are cleaned exclusively by commercial facilities that recycle their wastewater. Last but not least, Omega received EnviroStars’ highest rating of five stars for their hazardous waste prevention and management.
Todd is convinced that he is “… blessed in everything I’ve done.” He served in the Navy from 1990 through 1993. At 17 years old, Todd was the youngest sailor on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68) when it was on station in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His job on the carrier’s elite Crash and Rescue team was to extinguish aircraft fires following crashes on deck and to assist in saving the lives of pilots and other aircrew members. It is dangerous work.
Following the ship’s return to Bremerton, Todd began working as a volunteer firefighter. He received an honorable discharge from the Navy and went to work for Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, formerly Fire District 15, as an unpaid intern. He subsequently took a paid position as a federal firefighter at the Navy’s Keyport facility. After three years at Keyport Todd left to formally study firefighting science in college. He has since been enrolled at Bellevue, Edmonds, and Olympic Community Colleges – often concurrently, and has three classes remaining to complete two associate degrees: Fire Command and Administration, and Fire Science with emphasis in arson investigation.
At 28 years old, Todd Best has been an entrepreneur, a landlord (he owns three rental properties in Bremerton), student, employer, Navy war veteran, professional firefighter, and free-enterprise evangelist.
What’s next for Todd? He wants to fulfill a longtime goal of becoming a Seattle firefighter. He has taken the Seattle firefighter’s test for the past five consecutive years. Last year he scored number two out of 6383; this year he scored number 20 out of over 7000 candidates. He hopes to get picked up in this year’s hiring round. Todd says Seattle’s firefighter schedule is organized such that he could work full-time for the city and still run his businesses.
Good luck, Todd.
(Editor’s note: Steve Littfin is a freelance writer based in Port Orchard)
|
|
| |
|
| |
