NEPMA presents distinguished service award

Tony DeJesus, vice president of Big Blue Bug Solutions in Providence, R.I., is the 2019 recipient of the New England Pest Management Association’s (NEPMA’s) highest award for distinguished service, the Bartlett W. Eldredge Award.

Tony DeJesus (center) is joined by Stephan Goldman, president (left), and Brian Goldman, CEO (right), of Big Blue Bug Solutions located in Providence, R.I. PHOTO: NEPMA

The association presented DeJesus the award during its annual meeting in Woburn, Mass.

As vice president of Big Blue Bug Solutions, DeJesus manages all field services, along with the operations team and the company call center.

“Tony is vital to all aspects of the business and is also the ‘Face of the Franchise’ handling all public relations duties as well,” says company president Brian Goldman.

DeJesus has been an active member of NEPMA for many years and has also demonstrated his expertise on the national stage as a presenter for the National Pest Management Association at a variety of venues, including PestWorld. He was an early advocate for integrated pest management and speaks at schools, hotels and for other groups in the New England area, including during training sessions for the Rhode Island Health Department. For the department, he has trained health inspectors on matters related to pest management.

In terms of community service and engagement, DeJesus has become a well-known radio personality throughout southern New England over the past 25 years courtesy of his award-winning radio show broadcast each Saturday morning when he speaks to the public about current pest issues and offers helpful advice to callers. He also makes use of social media channels such as YouTube.

DeJesus founded Operation ROVAC, which delivers gifts to veterans who would not otherwise receive gifts during the holidays. He started the program with just a few bags of gifts 20 years ago, but it now delivers gifts by the truckload to veterans homes. For this effort, he has rallied the support of company employees, customers and the general public.

A deacon in his church, he is also known to play Santa Claus at functions throughout his local community. He resides in East Providence, R.I., with his wife Sue.

“By way of his outstanding contributions to our industry, his commitment to his community and a life dedicated to helping others, Tony exemplifies all the best qualities we seek when determining who the winner of our most prestigious award will be,” says NEPMA President Galvin Murphy of Yankee Pest Control.

Named in honor of the organization’s founder and first president, the Bartlett W. Eldredge award is intended to honor a pest management professional who has distinguished himself and demonstrated service to the association, the pest management industry, local community service, and who has earned overall respect and recognition by industry peers.

The association is comprised of more than 140 pest management professionals and affiliated industry suppliers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.