Photo: Pest Management Inc.
This month, we feature a question-and-answer session with Sarah McElwee, director of business development for Pest Management Inc. in Austin, Texas. McElwee is the first in the Lone Star State to join an elite class of technicians to earn the National Institute of Decontamination Specialists (NIDS) environmental disinfection certification.
As we go to press, Pest Management Inc. is the only Texas pest management company to hold this certification.
1. What does it mean to earn disinfection certification from NIDS, and how do you plan to put that certification to work?
Biohazards, infectious diseases, and threats of bio-terrorism are increasing concerns for our country, and certain agencies have proven to be ill prepared for such outbreaks or events. Our company’s goal is to educate organizations on how to prepare and respond to incidents, help minimize damage, and reduce the likelihood of further contamination. With the accomplishment of my recent certification, our team is trained and ready to respond to outbreaks on a 24-hour basis.
2. What prompted you to seek such certification?
Pest Management, Inc. takes initiative and seeks out advanced education and training for our craft, so our clients receive the most up-to-date and effective treatment methods. For nearly three years, our company has provided disinfecting and antimicrobial treatments. With this new certification, we opened the door to more complex cleanups.
3. Have you had any other unrelated jobs in different fields throughout your career?
My passion and career focus has always been in business development, and it has led me to a few different industries. One of my first jobs was with the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center, where I worked under the vice president of business development. In addition to free events, one of the best perks of being a full-time employee at the Toyota Center was riding the same elevator as the basketball team. Since I stand at just over 5 ft., it was a memorable experience standing next to players that were over 7 ft. tall, especially Yao Ming — I felt kid-size. Being in that elevator with someone so crucial to the organization’s success made you feel like you shouldn’t even breathe the same air or make any movement, because you didn’t want to put the athlete at risk of catching your sniffles or tripping on your foot. Now, several years later, I am part of the solution to help keep athletes and employees healthy and safe from germs through our other company, GermLogic.
4. Did you ever imagine that you’d be working in this field before diving in?
I certainly would have never guessed that I’d work in the pest management industry, but when family calls, you have to answer the phone. That call came in 2010, when a family member asked me to help take their one-town operation statewide. Six years later, we cover all of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. My business experience from previous industries easily translated to the pest management sector, but it took me awhile to get used to the topic of conversation. For the first six months of my employment, I honestly had nightmares every night about bugs crawling on me.
5. As a successful businesswoman in a largely male-dominated industry, do you have any advice for young women looking to get into the pest management industry?
To simply sum up my advice for professional women in any industry: Don’t let someone else dictate what you are worth. Having confidence and knowing your value can play a large role in your success.
Senior Editor Will Nepper can be reached at wnepper@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3775.
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