Orkin Named to Training Magazine's Top 125 for Sixth Straight Year

Atlanta-based Orkin, Inc. was recognized by Training magazine as part of its prestigious Top 125 list, which was announced at Training’s annual awards banquet Monday evening, Feb. 4. Orkin ranked No. 92. This is the sixth consecutive year the company has been included on the list.

Training magazine, the training industry’s premiere publication, annually selects 125 organizations that excel at human capital development. These companies are chosen based on criteria such as best training practices, evaluation methods and outstanding training initiatives.

One milestone of Orkin’s training success over the past year was the launch of the New Customer Specialists (NCSs) Fast Track Training program. The NCS program ensures new employees are prepared to serve customers as efficiently as possible while concurrently reducing their time in training. The program provides trainees with critical information about Orkin’s pest control business while helping them hone sales skills in an inbound call center environment.

NCSs are evaluated on a number of areas that Orkin targets as key to sales performance. Furthermore, trainees receive feedback in real time which allows them to begin making necessary behavioral changes to improve their sales performance instantly.

“Since the program’s inception, we’ve seen tremendous improvement in the performance of our incoming sales force,” said David Lamb, Orkin’s vice president of Learning and Media Services. “The program allows our sales force to enhance the skills needed to improve their overall performance and helps increase quality assurance across our business.”

Orkin TV, a satellite television network launched in 2006, also plays a vital role in preparing Orkin employees. The interactive distributed learning network creates a live “virtual classroom” for the company’s 8,000 employees across the country. The network includes interactive video-on-demand (IVOD), an integrated satellite receiver and site controller, and direct-to-monitor broadcasting. These features allow branches to communicate with instructors in real time and respond to survey questions using an on-site controller pad. It also provides the ability to play back past programming.

To date, Orkin TV reaches more than 360 of its more than 400 field locations. Through this innovative technology, managers can provide integrated hands-on training to employees in every region the company serves, reaching even those in the most remote sectors that might lack computer or online access. Orkin utilizes a blended learning strategy that provides solutions that enhance performance while engaging the learner.

“At Orkin, we constantly re-evaluate our learning solutions,” said Lamb. “We understand that the continuous improvement of our training programs is vital to developing the best trained workforce that is also customer-oriented and highly reliable. We are honored that Training magazine has recognized Orkin’s model of investing in our employees for the sixth year in a row.”