Living in the desert can be a real adventure. Bill Cherwin is here to keep it from becoming a nightmare. He and his wife, Kelly, have recently opened a new business in town called BC Pest Control and he’s already delivering on the promise to keep the wild things from taking over! Bill is the primary principal operator of the business, and handles the activity in the field, while Kelly takes care of the administration and dispatches Bill to calls in Boulder City and Henderson.
We recently had the chance to sit down with Bill and find out what it takes to become a licensed primary principal in the state of Nevada and why he and Kelly chose now to open their small business.
Bill is not new to the pest control game. As a matter of fact, he’s had plenty of experience working for other people. As a devoted husband and father, he decided that becoming his own boss was a great way to continue helping Boulder City residents, while being able to carve out time for school drop off and pick up for his children, among other family activities. Part of the appeal of starting his own business was driven by his desire to have more time with his family. But becoming a licensed pest control principal operator is not just getting some chemicals and having business cards printed.
Bill underwent rigorous instruction, training, and testing to get his operator’s license. In addition to knowing all there is to know about Nevada’s indigenous insects and other pests, he learned which chemicals to deploy to deter them. He also had to pass a law test about pesticides and pest control from the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Once he was successful with all of those requirements, he had to undergo a criminal background check before his license would be issued. The learning doesn’t stop with the issuance of a license, either. Bill is required to obtain 80 continuing education credits in order to maintain his license and keep his business. Primary principals are responsible for record keeping, regulatory compliance, providing training to operators, and maintaining good standards of practice across the company, per the Nevada Department of Agriculture website. A primary principal must have:
- Proof of 2 years of verified experience related to the pest control license category sought; OR,
- Proof of 6 months of experience related to the pest control license category sought AND 16 college credits in biological sciences from an accredited college or university related to pest control.
- Primary Principal applicants must pass State and Federal fingerprint and background checks. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude may be denied a Primary Principal license. Fingerprinting information is included in the Primary Principal Fingerprinting Packet.
It’s important to use licensed personnel to do pest control around your home, in order to keep your family and pets safe from exposure to potentially deadly chemical poisoning. Bill is careful to take the proper measurements and precautions to keep everyone safe. You can verify your service is licensed by checking the list HERE.
Bill noted that the pest control industry is rapidly changing, with several large corporations taking over and buying out smaller businesses. Bill wants to maintain the “small town business” atmosphere of superior service accompanied with excellent customer service. Affordability is a concern many people have voiced to Bill and he’s doing his part to keep costs reasonable for his customers. Potential customers can call Bill at (702) 238-5627 or an email HERE and request an estimate for service for their property. Bill will come out to the home or business, inspect the area for evidence of pest infiltration, and develop a treatment plan for the property.
Bill is licensed to take care of all sorts of insects and rodents. As many longterm Boulder City residents know, ants, scorpions, and spiders, are very prevalent here. Bill can take care of these unwanted invaders, while keeping you and your pets safe. His company is licensed to handle those creatures, as well as cockroaches, pantry pests and other nuisance pests common to the area. You can schedule service on a month-to-month basis – no lengthy and expensive contracts are required.
Kelly’s previous service in the US Army makes BC Pest Control a veteran-owned business. They maintain a webpage HERE. Again, the phone number is (702) 238-5627 and customers can reach the company via email HERE.
Kelly and Bill have been married for eight years and have two children, daughter Adelyn and son Bradley. They have made their home in Boulder City for several years. We wish them all the best with their new company!
Photography courtesy of Timothy Hill, Timothy Hill Photography.
