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Jason Sullivan worked as an Associate Certified Entomologist three years ago so he could help the people who call and say they have weird flaws in their home. (Courtesy photo)
Jason Sullivan worked as an Associate Certified Entomologist three years ago so he could help the people who call and say they have weird flaws in their home. (Courtesy photo)
Jason Sullivan worked as an Associate Certified Entomologist three years ago so he could help the people who call and say they have weird flaws in their home. (Courtesy photo)
Jason Sullivan worked as an Associate Certified Entomologist three years ago so he could help the people who call and say they have weird flaws in their home. (Courtesy photo)
LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR: Jason Sullivan, Operations Manager, Action Termite and Pest Control
MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE: How long have you owned your business?
JASON SULLIVAN: Jim Rutherford’s father, Jack Rutherford, founded the company in 1986. I started working for the company in 2003 and became Operations Manager in 2005.
MNA: What inspired you to start your business?
SULLIVAN: Tired of working for others, the Rutherfords started their own business to provide a quality pest control solution to the citizens of Manistee and the surrounding area. I enjoy working for the company because it’s a family business that focuses on customer service. I enjoy working with everyone who works here.
MNA: What makes Manistee a great place to own a business?
SULLIVAN: We have the biggest people and businesses here in our town. I came to Manistee as an employee of a company that did the streetscape work in downtown Manistee. I was originally from the Saginaw area and lived all over the place but I liked Manistee and decided that I would really like to stay here.
MNA: How is your company doing in the local community?
SULLIVAN: We give presentations to school groups to identify errors and solve these problems. We donate to local charities in need. With the help of our generous customers, we were able to donate $ 50,000 to Folds of Honor, which will benefit the children of fallen soldiers.
MNA: What are some of your personal interests and hobbies?
SULLIVAN: I enjoy the outdoors. Camping, snowmobiling, anything outdoors.
MNA: Which local companies you work with will make your business a success?
SULLIVAN: We work with Manistee Ford, Edmondson Graphics, the Jackpine Business Center, Gill-Roys Hardware, and others.
MNA: What are your favorite local stores?
SULLIVAN: Chopos Northside Bar, Diner 31, Painted Lady, Bungalow and Gill-Roys Hardware, to name a few. We have a great community with a lot of great local businesses.
MNA: Other thoughts?
SULLIVAN: (COVID-19) didn’t have a big impact on our business. In fact, business did a little bit because people were spending more time at home and noticing more of their insect problems.
We are considered an important workforce so we didn’t have to switch off. We worked through the quarantine.
The number one pests that we have to deal with are ants and spiders. The goal is to keep them outside so we can do most of our work outside of the buildings. We get a couple of phone calls about bed bugs every year, but we refer to this work because we’re not big enough to have the heat treatment equipment to do it.
People call and say we have these weird bugs so let’s go over and identify them. I became an Associate Certified Entomologist three years ago so the training in this aspect of the job helps me.
We also help with bees and control the mouse. Annual customers are our biggest business. We carry out treatments to keep your buildings pest free all year round.
We also do retail sales. People come in and tell us what kind of problem they have and we sell them what they need and train them to use it.
Action termite and pest control
91 W. Hoague Road, open ground
Postal address: PO Box 118, Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-6888
www.actionwdi.com
Founding year: 1986
Number of employees: 12th
