Editor's note: Congratulations to Virginia's own Cory Oakford of Permatreat Pest Control who won a spot on the Termidor® termiticide-insecticide All-Star Technician team! Enjoy the game Cory!

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC (MAY 4, 2007) - BASF - This year's winners, who will be awarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game taking place in San Francisco on July 10, 2007, are:

· Claude "Tod" Confer, J.C. Ehrlich Co., Pleasant Gap, PA
· Charles Gragg, Orkin Exterminating Services, Springfield, MO
· Chris Bush, Home Pest Control Company, Inc, West Columbia, SC
· John Saxton, Jr., SST Exterminators, Surprise, AZ
· Jose Nestor Rodriguez, The Hitmen Termite & Pest Control, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA
· Christopher Sillinger, B&B Exterminating Company, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
· Cory Oakford, Permatreat Pest Control, Fredericksburg, VA
· Miguel Ocequeda, Western Exterminator Company, Anaheim, CA
· Herbie Yancey, Terminix, Plantation, FL
· Howard Mauldin, McKenzie Pest Control, Inc., Lake Charles, LA
· Michael Howell, Orkin Pest Control, Pikeville, KY
· Christopher Lebrecht, Bob Jenkins Pest Control, Inc., San Antonio, TX
· R.J. Hyatt, Middleton Pest Control, Inc., Largo, FL
· Kim Clark, Action Pest Control, Vincennes, IN
· James Kendzulak, Viking Termite & Pest Control, Bridgewater, NJ
· Rodney L. Williams, Orkin Pest Control, Doraville, GA


Representing the finest termite technicians from the national sales territories of BASF, the Termidor All-Star Technicians will be the company's honored guests at the MLB All-Star Game, taking place on July 10, 2007 at AT&T Park. Winners will receive airfare, accommodations, entertainment, entry to the game and a special awards ceremony to celebrate their personal achievement and contributions to the pest management industry.

"We look forward to meeting this year's winners, and to having the opportunity to personally congratulate each of them for their outstanding work within the industry," said Bill Baxter, Business Manager for BASF. "With nearly 100 entries received, it was difficult to choose only 16 winners. Each of the nominees should be very proud of the tremendous effort they put forth on a daily basis."

Technicians nationwide were nominated by their managers based on their demonstration of three key characteristics: knowledge of termite biology and proper termite defense techniques; value to the pest management company in terms of the technician's role in business development, team morale, or other contributions to the company; and exemplary service to their customers. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of senior BASF personnel from the marketing, sales, and technical groups.

The Termidor All-Star Technician program was launched in 2006 as a part of the BASF "Growing Beyond the Basics" program to recognize the invaluable role that technicians play in the pest management industry. Last year's winners were treated to a three-day event in Pittsburgh where they were honored at an awards ceremony, enjoyed a surprise luncheon with legendary baseball catcher and Hall of Fame member Johnny Bench, and attended the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and FanFest at PNC Park.

For a more information about the 2007 Termidor All-Star Technician winners, please visit www.pestcontrolfacts.com/allstar.

Termidor from BASF is America's #1 termite defense product. Since its launch in 2000, pest professionals have relied on Termidor to defend over 3 million homes against termites - that is more homes than have been treated with any other product on the market today. Termidor is not approved for use in the state of New York.

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