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View photo/Mike GriffinAndy Murdock opened SoCo PestAway in October. He is a former inspector for the state Division of Plant Industry. |
SoCo PestAway opened in October, and is just getting up to full speed. What makes Murdock and his company so unusual is Murdock's background.
He was an agriculture inspector for the state Division of Plant Industry, and served in a variety of regulatory functions, including investigating the misuse of pesticides.
"Most people don't come from the regulatory side back to the commercial side," Murdock said.
He said his experience as an inspector gave him a very good understanding of the laws, and what pest control companies are required to do. He said he wants to go beyond those requirements.
Customer service is what Murdock says will set his business apart from other pest-control operations.
"Our willingness to do what the customer wants" will go beyond that of many other companies, Murdock said. "It doesn't matter to most people what brand of chemical I use. It's how I treat you when I enter your home or business that matters."
Murdock said getting up to speed in a service business can be a slow process, because word-of-mouth business is important. But he has high hopes for 2004.
"We want to grow to be a community business," Murdock said. "I really want to be very reputable."
And as things pick up, Murdock hopes his business can grow.
"I'd like to be able to hire and train more people."
For now, Murdock is licensed for commercial and structural pest control - basically, for insects that invade the home. He is working toward licensure to deal with gophers and other yard pests.
Murdock has a bachelor of science in wildlife biology from Colorado State University. He's a Colorado native, and moved to Pueblo West in 2001.