Rottler Pest Solutions

How did you get started in the pest management industry?

My father, Fred Rottler, purchased his first spray tank and in 1956 with a $10 loan from my mom’s aunt. A Florissant native, he worked part-time (after getting off from his other job at St. Louis Car) spraying homes in North County for bugs. He continued working for St. Louis Car for about 5 more years, while attending pest control classes at the University of Missouri. He joined the Missouri Pest Control Association and became an expert in termite control and prevention. Throughout high school, my brother Gary and I worked part-time after school, on weekends and over summers, helping our dad service homes. After college in the 1980s, Gary and I joined what is now Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions full-time to help our father build the family business. In 2000, at age 76, Fred Rottler finally retired and left us to run the business as partners.

Tell us your most memorable moment so far in your career in the pest management industry. 

My most memorable moment in my career would have to be the first day I worked full-time with my father, Fred. I remember pulling up to a house, which looked huge to me at the time, thinking I would be finished in just a couple hours. My father, my uncle and I got to work on what turned out to be an all day job. After what seemed like forever, I remember being so exhausted and grateful to finally be pulling away from that house but so happy to finally be working with my Dad.

What is the guiding principal behind your success with Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions?

I think the guiding principle behind my success in this business really stems from my father and the way he chose to run his business. He always lived and worked by the Golden Rule “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” This philosophy not only holds well for customers but also for your co-workers and employees and has helped me when making decisions in life and business.

Why did your company choose to earn the QualityPro accreditation? 

Customers are often unsure how to choose a pest control company.  The QualityPro seal makes it easier for the apprehensive consumer to select a pest management company that goes above and beyond in choosing and training their technicians to ensure not only a job well done, but the overall safety of the consumer’s home, family and pets.

Overall, what do you think the most valuable aspect of QualityPro is to your company? 

Because we must abide by strict guidelines regarding pre-employment screenings as well as the ongoing training process of our employees in order to bear the QualityPro trademark, Rottler has been able to hire more qualified employees and keep them around for longer periods of time.  We believe that when your employees trust each other and enjoy being around the people that they are working with, they are more likely to stay with the company for an extended period of time, allowing us to keep retention rates high and turnover rates low.

-Mike Rottler
President, Rottler Pest Solutions