KEY STAFF | HISTORY
| MISSION | AFFILIATES
MISSION STATEMENT
To eliminate the threat of pests from your life and please
you in the process.
KEY STAFF
We have a saying at Paratex, "If you want to be an associate get a
job at Wal-Mart." We're all employees here and we work hard at being
good ones— some of us for a very long time. We want employees
to be individuals— not plastic job descriptions— in the
same manner we honor and respect the diversity of our customers.
Administration
Jim Osborn - President and CEO
Attended Whitworth College and the University of Barcelona before
graduating from the University of Washington. Served in the US Marine
Corps before joining Paratex in 1962. He has been its president since
1972. (Over 45 years with Paratex) email: jim@paratex.com
Ray Williamson - Pest Control General
Manager
Grew up in Manchester, England. He received his education at the noted
Army Apprentices Harrogate and served in the British Army in Northern
Ireland, Germany, and South Africa. After coming to the United States,
he was employed by a national pest control company in Palm Springs
before joining Paratex in Seattle as a route technician. (Over 25
years with Paratex) email: rwilliamson@paratex.com
Michael Carette-Meyers - Special Projects
Manager
Mike grew up in the pest control business, having started at 5 chasing
mice on chicken ranches with his father. Having survived his summers
and weekends treating carpenter ant nests during his youth, he began
working at Paratex in 1985. He holds 13 categories of licenses with
the WA State Dept of Agriculture and is licensed in Alaska as well.
Mike oversees the fumigation and bird exclusion areas and technician
certification. (Over 20 years with Paratex) email: mcmeyers@paratex.com
Tom Grazian - Fumigation Manager
Tom learned about critical safety issues on the deck of a US Navy
Aircraft Carrier. He worked for a major pest control firm in the Bay
Area before joining Paratex (over 15 years with Paratex) email: tgrazian@paratex.com
Rafael "Raffy" Sanchez - Fumigation
Coordinator
Raffy was born in The Philippines and worked in International Shipping
before joining Paratex. Raffy coordinates on and off-site fumigation
customers and has extensive experience with U.S. Customs, Homeland
Security and shipping documentation requirements. (Over six years
with Paratex) email: rsanchez@paratex.com
Darrell Beetham - Corporate
A graduate of the University of Phoenix in Business Management, Darrell
has been employed with three Fortune 500 companies and has spent over
20 years in sales and management with a large-scale regional service
company. email: dbeetham@paratex.com
Carol Slavin - Quality Control
Supervisor
Worked in the music industry and in outside sales for an international
shipping company before joining Paratex (over 14 years with Paratex)
email: cslavin@paratex.com
Joleen Cochran - Accounts Receivable
Manager
One of our smartest employees, Joleen grew up a member of the Cree
Nation in a small Montana town on the Canadian border. One of her
daughters received a full scholarship to Seattle's prestigious Lakeside
School. (over six years at Paratex) email: jcochran@paratex.com
Terry Snider - Human Resources/Financial Manager
Terry graduated in accounting from the University of Idaho and practiced
as a CPA with a Seattle firm before joining Paratex (over eight years
with Paratex) email tsnider@paratex.com
Senior Technicians (more than 10 Years at Paratex)
Keith Keyt - (Tacoma)
Graduated from Oregon State University with an Entomology Degree and
received his Masters Degree from the University of Illinois, served
in the US Army in Vietnam and retired with the rank of Major. (over
19 years)
Doug Proctor - (Everett)
Still proud of
becoming an Eagle Scout, he served in the US Air Force as a Crew Chief
on C-141 Aircraft before joining Paratex (over 17 years)
Michael Graham - (Spokane)
Ran his own pest
control firm before joining Paratex. He has provided service in both
Eastern and Western Washington. He recently tested in the high 90's
in three Washington State Exams (over 18 years)
Dave Sorensen - (Bellingham)
Worked for Bellingham Chemical Company until it was purchased by Paratex
in the 1990s Holds State Licenses in Ornamental and Weed Control categories,
as well as General and Structural Pest Control (over 14 years)
Fred Meyers - (Bellevue)
Started in pest
control in 1965 and worked for a major company in Denver in the early
'70's. Began with Paratex in 1980. In spite of a degree in Radio and
TV Broadcasting, Fred has worked in pest control for more than 40
years. His other passion is model railroading. (over 18 years)
Arthur (Ray) Quick - (Seattle)
worked for a
major supplier for many years prior to joining Paratex where he gained
a depth of experience with pest control chemicals and equipment. Ray
has vast experience in pest prevention in critical health care
facilities. (over 10 years)
Notable Employees:
Holly Johnson (our novelist) - Holly recently
completed her first book, a children's fantasy novel, which took 14
months to write. Holly has a BA in Biology from Central Washington
University and seven years experience in pest control. She is a
technician based in Bellingham.
Trevor Goldsbury (our purple heart) - Trevor was
discharged from the Army at Madigan Hospital in Tacoma before recovering
from war injuries at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. Trevor's vehicle
was blown from under him while serving in Iraq. While he lost an eye
and suffered severe leg injuries his physical strength and positive
attitude have made him a welcome addition to our fumigation crew in
Tacoma.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM NEARLY 100 YEARS OF SERVICE
Paratex is a unique Pacific Northwest organization with a long history of continuous service. The fumigation service began in 1908 as a ship supplier was called to eliminate rats in the holds of ships arriving on Seattle's waterfront. During the Second World War a fumigation facility was built in Seattle's industrial district to fumigate cotton arriving from India. That original location serves as our headquarters today. The general pest control area started in the late '40s as a branch of a Los Angeles company which began in the mid '30s and took its name (Paramount Pest Control) from one of its first clients, Paramount Pictures.
Today our service is provided by local technicians across the state
to a vast array of commercial and residential customers. We are still
the major supplier of fumigation services, a leading innovator in
pest bird solutions, and a consistent provider of the latest general
pest control methods. We are very apreciative of the vast local support
of our "historical" Northwest company and we value our long-term friendships
with customers and friends.
AFFILIATIONS
Food Protection
Alliance (member)
Master Builders Association
(member)
Service affiliates:
Paratex Pied Piper
(Alaska)
Paratex American (Grays
Harbor)
Paratex Certified (Pt Angeles) (360) 452 8000
Paramount Pest Control
(Portland, OR)
Supplier affiliates:
Hotfoot America
(bird exclusion)
Favorite business affiliations:
Seattle Executives
Association
Spokane Executives
Association
Favorite service clubs:
Seattle
International Rotary
Tacoma
Sunrise Rotary
SODO
Rotary
Favorite charitable organizations:
The
Millionair Club Charity
Urban
ArtWorks Seattle
