Terminix fights Springtime pests: Locally owned franchise protects homeowners’ biggest assets
Published 12:08 am Wednesday, March 28, 2018
- Jeffrey R. Short, branch manager in LaPlace, said Terminix has provided termite protection and insect eradication to the River Parishes since 1985.
LAPLACE — Pest control services have a strong tradition in Southeast Louisiana, and Terminix LaPlace Branch Manager Jeffrey R. Short said protecting homeowner’s assets introduces him to a wide range of people.
Short has been in the industry for more than a decade, having owned a small business later purchased by Terminix. In August 2016, he moved from the main branch in Metairie to LaPlace, a branch that has served the River Parishes since 1985.
Primary services include termite protection and insect eradication, which can cover anything from roaches to mosquitoes, bedbugs and any other pests that find their way into residential spaces.
Eager to implement gradual changes to reach more residents, Short said the first step toward growth was moving the LaPlace office from Belle Terre Boulevard to 501 Airline Highway in October 2016.
Terry M. Bruno, executive vice president of Terminix Eastbank, Westbank, Northshore and River Parishes locations talks to LaPlace branch manager Jeffrey R. Short Monday morning.
“We wanted a location that was more central to LaPlace,” Short said. “This is a good business to be in. You get to meet a lot people, help people and support certain organizations in the community.”
Over the years, Terminix has supported Ronald McDonald House charities, the Salvation Army and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve, according to Terry M. Bruno, executive vice president of the Eastbank, Westbank, Northshore and River Parishes locations.
He said community service primarily involves protecting homeowners across the region.
“The industry itself makes a healthy environment for individual families,” Bruno said. “We are out here to protect a resident’s biggest asset, and that’s their home.”
The LaPlace office, pictured at left, has operated at 501 W. Airline Highway since October 2016 after previously being stationed on Belle Terre Boulevard.
Bruno said the need for Terminix is clear and present, with termites and other insects swarming around lights and digging into home foundations annually from May through September.
Short said community needs vary by weather patterns. Rural in comparison to metropolitan areas, LaPlace presents a different set of challenges than Metairie in that there are more wooded areas on the edges of neighborhoods.
Residents can receive free evaluations on any structure by contacting the LaPlace branch at 985-652-7378, and Short said qualifying structures could receive household damage repair services.
Mosquito control is another concern for local residents, and Short said it is handled on a house-by-house basis using backpack sprayers. As branch manager, Short’s day-to-day operations involve checking in skilled technicians, issuing pest control routes, handling customer service issues and keeping abreast of changes in the industry.
Though Terminix trucks have traveled through local neighborhoods for more than 30 years, Short said the chemicals technicians carry with them change periodically.
Jeffrey Short works at his desk on Monday.
Technological advances have been well-received and positive developments in the local franchise, according to Bruno.
“Industry is always technologically advancing,” Bruno said.
“It’s less obstructive and more convenient to the end homeowner. With the advancements, we don’t have to service structures as often as we used to.”
Short is continuing to build a presence in the community with store renovations and focused outreach efforts.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Short said.
“We’re here to stay and support our customer base. Our goal is always grow for the future and to reach more people.”
The LaPlace office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, call 985-652-7378.
