[Urban Wildlife Issue] Changing of the Guard at Avitrol

The once-cloudy future of Avitrol Corp. appears to be clearing up with news that longtime owners Kelly and Betty Swindle have sold the company to employee Tasheena Dillingham, effective June 30. The transaction ensures that Avitrol products have an owner and will continue in production while they are going through the EPA re-registration process.

Avitrol's future home had been "up in the air" because the Swindles were retiring and struggling to find the appropriate buyer. In October 2010, the Swindles announced they would be shutting down operations, effective Oct. 31, 2010, and that the last day for shipping the product would be Oct. 27. However, Avitrol was flooded with orders in the aftermath of that announcement, so the Swindles decided to continue production in 2011.
 

EPA status. One of the significant sales challenges the Swindles had to overcome was Avitrol's pending re-registration status. "We did not feel that it was fair to sell the company to a third party without having a very strong feeling that the product would be ongoing – that the product would be re-registered," said Kelly Swindle.

The Swindles hired a consultant who helped them determine what EPA required for the re-registration. "We found that it was really quite fair and de minimis in terms of its scope," Swindle said." We then contracted with test labs to provide that information and that information is still coming in. So, we reached a point where we remained quite satisfied that the re-registration was, and is, coming to a good conclusion."

After deciding he was comfortable with the progress Avitrol was making in the EPA re-registration process, Swindle re-focused his efforts on selling the company. The Swindles had wanted to retire three years ago and at that time considered several options, including offers from other manufacturers. "Avitrol is a small sales company, so the product is something that needs attention and is something that could easily become the bastard stepchild, if you will, of one of these large companies that does billions and billions of dollars in sales," Swindle said. "We felt that if we could find a home for the product in a small operation – like Betty and I have been the last nearly 40 years – that the industry would be better served because they would have the attention of ownership."

A Natural Fit. Swindle said he long considered selling to Dillingham, who has been with the company for more than four years. "Tasheena understands the company, the industry knows her and she is someone that both Betty and I are willing to assist as much as she needs. She has participated for several years in our re-registration process and she has a good knowledge of the folks at EPA and how that process works. In addition, Tasheena is very personable and the end-users have a good working relationship with her."

During her four-plus years at Avitrol, Dillingham has learned and worked on all aspects of the business — including advertising, marketing and warehouse management — while working closely with the Swindles. Dillingham said, "There really is nothing else like Avitrol on the market and we didn't realize the full extent of how many people utilized our products and how vital Avitrol products are to them until we sent out the press release last October."

Dillingham, who is in her late 20s, is currently pursuing a marketing degree after taking time off from her studies to start a family and be involved in an internship program at Guts Church in Tulsa, Okla. She and husband Sheldon are parents to daughter Sierra, age five. The Dillinghams were first approached by the Swindles with the idea of buying the company this past spring and, after doing their due diligence, decided it was a good opportunity.

"Everyone in the pest control industry has been great to work with. I'm excited for the future of Avitrol and the pest control industry," she said.

Tasheena Dillingham will own and operate the company as a sole proprietor. Sheldon Dillingham, who works full-time as a software support director, also will be involved with the company, primarily with Web development and overall technology management. Kelly Swindle will remain available on an as-needed basis and he added, "I think this is arrangement is good for us, good for Tasheena and, ultimately, the industry will be well served. And that was very important to Betty and me."

The author is Internet editor and managing editor of PCT magazine and can be contacted via e-mail at bharbison@giemedia.com.