Northwest Termite Pest Control Company Profile

ill Mashek, co-owner of Northwest Termite since 1972, is a leader in integrated pest management, or IPM. He's no simple "spray jockey" (as some less professional pest control technicians are known) pumping chemicals wherever trouble pops up; instead, his approach is prescriptive. "IPM combines quality inspections with appropriate use of baiting, monitoring, limited chemical application, sanitation and exclusion," said Bill. What that really means is that practitioners of IPM must be savvy characters with a grasp of biology, ecology, entomology, and even psychology. "A lot of my job is conflict resolution!" laughed Bill, when this interviewer expressed surprise about psychology complementing pest-control. Bill explains that by the time a client is contacting a pest-control company, they can be somewhat unnerved and disgruntled; their attitude tends toward the apocalyptic. Their property is being taken over by...insects. A tactful discussion about the possibilities and options for that reality requires a special skill. Using these skills and some common sense to manage, contain, or eliminate the targeted pests, and maybe educate the customer, is what Northwest does brilliantly. The company has been awarded Quality Pro Certification from the National Pest Management Association. Earned for excellence in customer service, employee relations and commitment to environmental causes, Quality Pro Certification is awarded to less than five percent of pest control companies nationally.

Northwest Termite Pest Control offers a host of options for the variety of pest and fungus problems that can aggravate property owners. Some of the IPM methods include physical exclusion of the pest, baiting, fumigation, Electro gun, and Borate treatment (a preventative pre-treatment). Northwest also does pest inspections for residential, commercial, and municipal properties. Sonoma County relies on Bill and the team at Northwest to deliver responsive, responsible IPM.

Just the Man for the Job
Bill Mashek grew up in California and wound up in the Bay Area through a series of events that have been strangely fortuitous for him and anyone that's ever had the pleasure of working with Northwest Termite Pest Control. Always a healthy, outdoors enthusiast, Bill has been a river guide, a teacher, and a builder. A chance encounter with a termite inspector led Bill to the conclusion that, since he liked working with people and finds insects fascinating, he could do this work; better than that, he likes the job. What's fascinating about bugs? "They keep going, no matter what. Their focus is never broken; they were here long before us and they'll probably still be here when we're gone," said Bill. That perseverance is certainly admirable, regardless of how one might feel about the little menaces.

Bill's admiration for critters and environments extends far beyond his work. Since the 70s, Bill Mashek has been deeply involved with several projects safeguarding fragile ecosystems and their inhabitants. Check out Northwest's Web site for more information about Friends of the River, Rubicon Whitewater Adventures, Reef Check, the Storm Water project, or any of Bill's many other interests. Or just give Northwest a call and let the professionals handle all your pest management issues.

---Genevieve Albers
Staff Writer
The Prime Buyer's Report