SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 MAY 1-7, 2023 SMALL BUSINESS CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 SAFETY All pesticides used by Bug Zero are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Agriculture and are pet and human friendly. Most of its products are odorless and stainless. Officials say the company protects employees with safety equipment, including eye protection, respirators, hard hats and steel-toed boots. CONTRIBUTIONS In the community, Bug Zero supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks, Isabel’s House, Nova Center of the Ozarks and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It also is a member of several organizations, such as the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield, Leadership Springfield Inc., Rotary International and Sertoma Inc. Employees at Bug Zero receive ongoing training each month and are licensed in three states: Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. Its technicians are required to complete a pest control technology course from Purdue University, with officials noting several employees have completed additional training at Purdue, such as its industrial integrated pest management course. 3 Launching pest control company Bug Zero out of his garage, founder Ivan Eftink has grown it from a soleemployee venture into a company that employs 35. In addition to its Springfield headquarters, the business expanded in 2009 to Cape Girardeau, where a second location is owned and operated by Chris Horrell, Eftink’s nephew. In 2022, 24-year company employee Michael Woodring became a co-owner in the Springfield operation. 35 Longevity of leadership has been a hallmark at Grooms, which has only changed ownership once in its 46 years. Olin Grooms started the company in 1977 and sold it in 2015 to husband and wife Jonathan and Audrey Garard. Before obtaining the company, Audrey Garard worked at the business for 10 years, advancing from a sales representative to her current role as chief operating officer. 46 Global supply chain delays led Grooms to experience its height of challenges last year, as officials said all its stateside manufacturers struggled to obtain raw materials. That, in turn, hit the industry hard in terms of prices for materials and labor. In the commercial construction and design realm, Grooms experienced a 200%-300% increase in all lead times of products from manufacturers. Pricing increases to the consumer averaged 20% over a span of six months last year, officials say. 200%-300% SERVICE In business for nearly a half-century, Grooms Office Environments is committed to walking alongside its clients, from fully designing their interior spaces to final installation of furniture and servicing it for decades. Regardless of the project, Grooms officials say they pride themselves on doing what is right by the customer – even when doing so isn’t the most beneficial to the company’s bottom line. INVOLVEMENT The company gives back on a corporate and management level. Grooms has sponsored the annual Warrior’s Journey Golf Tournament for the past three years and was leading sponsor in 2021 and 2022 of Rotaract Double Dare, which benefits Great Circle. It also is a corporate member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Springfield Design Association. by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is set to announce the winner for its 2023 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award this month. Five finalists were selected in March for the annual honor after nominees submitted written applications that included essays on company history, management philosophy, responses to challenges and contributions to the community. An independent panel of judges scored the entries with finalists representing industries such as retail, health care and advertising. The chamber’s Small Business Award is scheduled to be handed out during a May 10 luncheon at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center. The award began in 1992. The finalists, in alphabetical order, are Bug Zero Inc., Grooms Office Environments, Jordan Essentials, Kare Health & Wellness LLC and Revel Advertising. Read more about the companies starting below and continued on page 10. BUG ZERO INC. GROOMS OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS Executives: Ivan Eftink, founder and co-owner, Terri Eftink, co-owner, and Michael Woodring, co-owner Employees: 35 Products/services: Residential and commercial pest control Founded: 1990 Executives: Jonathan and Audrey Garard, co-owners Employees: 31 Products/services: Commercial furniture, design, space planning and installation Founded: 1977 provided by BUG ZERO INC. provided by GROOMS OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS KATELYN EGGER Annual award will be presented May 10 Chamber to honor small biz standouts
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