My Education From Todd Leyse

In my last post I introduced you to Dr. Corrigan and how, unintentionally, he showed me that raising some eyebrows of my peers is oftentimes the key to success in this industry. From that point forward, I mixed traditional and nuanced tactics as I continued to grow in the industry. The man who gave me a wide berth and let me “geek flag fly” was Todd Leyse of Adam’s Pest Control. 

I left you with quite a cliff hanger last week with the trajectory Todd and I were destined to, but before I give you closure, let me give some back story.

I started working for Todd in the winter of 2010. I had just “started getting my life together” after a premature midlife crisis and my girlfriend at the time (now my wife Kandace) convinced me to get back to the industry I loved.

When I started with Adam’s Pest Control, I was a commercial technician responsible for a small territory that was quite literally, a 20 minute radius around my home. Many of my accounts were multihousing, with some production and retail. After going through the intensive training program spearheaded by Dr. El Damir (Adam’s resident entomologist and training director) I was released into the field to do what I did best. 

We are going to skip past the next three years as the last six months of my time at Adam’s were where I learned my greatest lessons from Todd. 

Todd and the leadership at Adam’s had seen my passion for the industry. At our monthly training sessions we would both chat about industry changes in technology and techniques we had seen in publications and online. I remember one conversation where Todd shared with me a type of “google glass” wearable that would allow a technician to show a trainer or manager in real time what they were seeing at an account through the headpiece as the off site mentor was able to send training materials and directions sometimes from the other side of the country. It was invigorating to see Todd so amped about technology options that were destined for our industry. Todd taught me that being an early adopter had risks, but oftentimes, the rewards of adopting the right new technology or techniques would benefit greatly to those willing to take the risk. Something to this day we practise at Huntsman Wildlife.

In my time at Adam’s I had also been given a  “crash course” on management of both staff and clients. I had been promoted twice during my time at Adams, both times I took on more responsibility for training of employees and management of client accounts. In the beginning, my strict adherence to protocol standards and my blunt delivery (due to the military being my only real leadership experience) made me less than popular with technicians and in the biting words of one particular property manager, “an arrogant know it all”, to my clients.

Todd took the time to show me how to be an effective leader, not just a commander. To participate in the process of training of technicians instead of barking orders and demanding results. To sympathise with my clients and to educate and inform, not lecture, in order to have our clients better understand the process and our requirements of them. I can say with 100% certainty, the ONLY reason Kandace is working alongside me is because I am training her the way that Todd showed me how to lead and train, and NOT the way Uncle Sam taught me.

The only thing about Todd I never picked up on during my employment with him was his humility, and that was my downfall. By the time my tenure with Adams was coming to an end, I had made myself into a bit of a Z List celebrity within the industry. I was overly active in the online industry forums due to my “stories” from the large accounts I was charged with keeping pest free and in the process was very public about some of my beliefs and concerns regarding rodent management and where the industry was headed. I convinced myself I was one of the best in the industry, and that arrogance got me in a lot of trouble to the point that after leaving Adam’s, I took a job I shouldn’t have, with a company that was crumbling, and within a year was fully aware of all the mistakes I had made and the price I was now paying for them.

I would have to wait almost three years before I could come back and start up Huntsman Wildlife. Those three years gave me my second “leave” from the industry and allowed me time to create something that I think today, Todd would be proud of, if it did not come at the cost in which it did.

My arrogance, defiance, and self absorption allowed my mind to be poisoned with lies, empty promises, and an unsubstantiated confidence in my future and abilities.

I did not learn my humility from Todd at the time I should have, but now, almost 5 years later, I have. I am good at what I do, but I can always be better. I am grateful of my clients and will always be cognisant that they CHOSE Huntsman, and easily could have chosen others. I will offer help to others in the industry when capable, and will bite my tongue when others do what I might not.

Todd taught me to look forward towards the opportunities that await and be early in adoption if able. Todd taught me to lead by example, be patient, be understanding, and be compassionate in my interactions with both staff and clients. And though it took more time that either of us had together, Todd taught me humility, even five years after we spoke our last words to each other.

Todd is the third of the four great men that unintentionally birthed Huntsman Wildlife. And I'm extremely grateful.

Till Next Time… See Ya Folks.