Providing pest management services to sporting venues has its perks. The opportunity to meet world-class athletes, touch championship trophies, and score tickets to playoff games are just a few.
One of the perks of servicing PPG Paints Arena, where the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey, is getting to touch the Stanley Cup. Pictured are Pestco Professional Services’ Vice President Jeffrey P. Petti and COO Bryan Zlotnik. Credit: Pestco
Jeffrey P. Petti knows what a special treat it is to handle these special commercial accounts. The vice president of Pestco Professional Services keeps the venues for Pittsburgh’s Steelers, Pirates and Penguins pest-free.
The company has more than 70 years experience with commercial clients throughout the city. It offers a packaged approach called Complete Facility Care that includes detection, pest control, prevention services, odor control, scent systems and other building maintenance solutions, Petti says.
Serving as facility care contractor for such large and complex venues as PNC Park where the Pittsburgh Pirates play baseball, PPG Paints Arena where the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey, Heinz Field where the Pittsburgh Steelers play football and the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex where the Pittsburgh Penguins train poses unique challenges.
Chief among them is a zero tolerance for pests in plain sight. But in a facility that holds thousands of spectators, the chance of a sighting or complaint is high.
Credit: Pestco
Pestco Professional Services supports Pittsburgh’s sports teams through sponsorships and advertising. Credit: Pestco
Another challenge is the venue itself, which often feature indoor and outdoor areas in need of pest management. So not only does Pestco handle the typical indoor pests, it also must control rodents, birds, and occasional invaders typically found outdoors. The location of the venues also must be taken into consideration, as those in Pittsburgh are built along riverbanks.
Customer relations is one way the company meets these unique challenges. Because it considers itself a strategic partner, it recommends sanitation, maintenance and exclusion solutions to ensure success.
“Clients see the pests, but our technicians look further to determine what environmental factors might be contributing,” Petti says. “We make specific recommendations to help our clients manage the issues and prevent future problems. Often we are hired to implement these recommendations.”
Pestco’s Complete Facility Care approach includes Air-Scent air fresheners, hand care dispensers, restroom care supplies, trash and garbage odor control, and air freshening and ambient scenting for large area.
The company doesn’t just get involved behind the scenes, however. Pestco is a corporate sponsor for all of the teams in Pittsburgh it services, and it advertises in programs and on signage. Its employees volunteer and participate in team-related community events.
Like Pittsburgh’s sports teams, Pestco is an integral part of the city’s history and heritage.
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