Pestco Professional Services

Pestco Professional Services began with the American dream of a Lithuanian immigrant named Milton Zlotnik, who first learned about pest control while serving in the United States Army during the turbulent years of World War II. In 1948, he took on a distributorship for a unique new product, the first fan-operated air freshener, which was invented by his brother-in-law, Bob Surloff, thus creating the first monthly commercial air freshener service route. This was the world’s first fan-operated air freshener dispenser, which was named Air-Scent.

There, while servicing his current accounts, Milton became aware that additional service offerings, as well as air fresheners, might fit in well within standard company operations. Consequently, later that year, he established a commercial pest company known as Pittsburgh Exterminating Service and Termite Control with his wife, Marion (Mimie), which they later shortened to PESTCO. This would eventually become Pestco Professional Services.

The company began its long and arduous climb to prominence throughout Greater Pittsburgh, Western PA counties and surrounding tri-state areas. Milton and Mimie originally operated the business out of their home in Pittsburgh and later moved to a building in West Homestead, PA; and later to Braddock, PA. As the business grew, Milton realized the need to augment his knowledge about insects, and he became acquainted with a nearby neighbor, Arnold Mallis, who was a leading entomologist and author of The Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, which is considered to this day to be a foremost authority on urban entomology.

In the mid-1970s, Milton’s son, Arnold Zlotnik, revitalized the Air-Scent service line and expanded the commercial pest control service operation, and after Milton and Mimie stepped away from the daily operations of the company, he bought the business from them in 1985. On August 2, 1995, a catastrophic fire ravaged the entire facility, which was based in Braddock, PA, and burnt it to the ground, forcing relocation. For the last 27 years, Pestco Professional Services’ home has been in Pittsburgh’s RIDC Industrial Park in O’Hara Township and the company has most recently expanded to a second facility in Harmar Township.

Now headed by Robert Wiemer and a staff of highly trained professionals, Pestco Professional Services’ unwavering mission continues to be the same as it has over the course of time; namely, to provide experienced, responsive and uncompromising service to all of its customers. Their friendly and supportive team helps all customers through the process of dealing with a pest infestation, which can be both harrowing and time consuming.

Their knowledgeable technicians understand that each infestation presents its own set of problems and challenges and they are prepared to meet any pest infestation head-on. All of Pestco Professional Services’ technicians are registered and/or licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and attend monthly workshops to keep them always one step ahead of both insect and rodent behavior.

The company attributes its success to the innovative spirit of the company powers-that-be who are always seeking new and unique pest control and pest management strategies and pushing that proverbial envelope far beyond customer expectations.

“At Pestco Professional Services, we strive to provide the highest quality of professionalism and service that exceeds our customers expectations and we are proud to be a 2022 Finalist of the BBB Torch Award for Ethics,” says Robert Wiemer, Executive General Manager of Pestco Professional Services. “We accomplish our mission by working as a team with one goal, Customer Satisfaction!”

According to Torch Awards judge, Jim Weber, “Pestco Professional Services emphasizes commitment to the customer above all else, ethical business practices and a strong company mission – fulfilling high quality service and customer satisfaction, good transparency with customers and central value.”

“Pestco Professional Services provided examples of several practices that empower employees to deliver great customer services and create transparency with customers,” says Torch Awards judge, Alwasi Opoku-Dakwa. “The examples of decisions made with the customer in mind and their stellar online reviews were compelling.”