Meet the Staff

CEO/Owner

Ravi Sachdeva

Passion for pest-control was inculcated early in Ravi’s life. Born the middle son of a quality assurance officer, protecting food, property, and health was his natural calling. With his father, insect collection hikes and hunts is where he learnt about insect life and the micro-environments they like to inhabit. Ravi can still remember being 10-12 years old, bending over a slow-moving stream and finding pebble-encased larvae that developed into dragonflies. His mom taught English as a second language at high schools in New Delhi, India. She gave him the love of history and poetry. His mother was the founder of the “culture” of American Pest Management. She is the one that seared in our minds that APM is a family, providing exemplary customer service by offering useful information, quality work, and a positive experience. Ravi’s parents sent he and his two brothers to top-rated schools in India, so they would learn to be self-reliable and self-determined — qualities deemed to be essential in any leader. They never hesitated from self-sacrifice for the sake of a better future. Ravi says that is why his father never hesitated to give up his comfortable, secure life in India to forge better opportunities in USA for his family. After graduating with a BS in marketing it took 10 years to return to Kansas State University and earn a master’s in entomology. To build a great organization one must build a great team. Elaine, Ravi’s wife and partner, sets the standards for honesty and integrity. Travis, his esteemed vice-president is the keeper of ethics and productivity. The rest of the family all devoted to polish and shine, making the entire team look good. Jesse, his son, has grown into his own as a software consultant, spreading his knowledge and skills with clients from Cape Cod to Honolulu. They share a love of baseball, reading, and podcasts — and who can forget Game of Thrones. They are both passionate about history and travel. His daughter, Amanda, is kicking it in New York City, studying to be a doctor of physical therapy. Ravi says if he looks especially dapper, it is very likely that she picked out his clothes that day. She is his fashion consultant and guide. Amanda is the one who introduced him to the ultimate fashion statement, Coco, a designer dog. Coco is the walking partner that is obedient (most of the time), disciplined (some of the time), huggable and cuddly (all the time). The duo is in training, walking 7 to 10 miles a day in preparation to walk across Ireland … and maybe even New Zealand. someday … and maybe even climbing a mountain or two in Colorado.

CFO

Elaine Sachdeva

Elaine Sachdeva, wife of owner/CEO, Ravi Sachdeva, is an officer in the corporation. She graduated from Manhattan Area Technical College in 1991. She and her husband have a son and daughter. She enjoys spending time with her family and their dog, Coco. She also enjoys tailgating at Kansas State football games, watching football and baseball, reading, and doing crafts.

VP, Associate Certified Entomologist, Master Technician

Travis Aggson

Travis Aggson currently serves as Executive Vice President for American Pest Management, Inc., Manhattan, KS, and Co-Founder of American Services International, Inc. He started in the pest control industry as a “go-fer” for a termite crew in Concordia, KS when he was 14 years old. He is a 1999 graduate of Kansas State University and has worked in the Pest Control Industry for over 29 years. He has traveled to Haiti twice with NPMA’s Help Haiti Mission, has served as President and other Board Positions on the Kansas Pest Control Association, on the Board of Directors for the National Pest Management Association and has chaired the Marketing to Membership Committee and Technical Committee. Travis is was recently named the 2019 Associate Certified Entomologist Professional Award Winner for contributions made to the Pest Management Industry.

Travis enjoys traveling with his wife Jenny, and 3 children, Connor, Maverick, and Cameryn. They have a family goal of visiting all of the inner 48 by the time each one graduates high school. (Saving Alaska and Hawaii for special occasions) Travis also has a goal to watch a game in all of the Major League Baseball Stadiums, 23 so far. He enjoys live theatre (especially if his children are starring in the production), attending any K-State Sporting Events, and Scuba Diving.

Wichita Regional Manager

Peggy Avilez

The voice on the end of the phone line at APM’s Wichita branch belongs to Peggy Avilez. She loves talking with her clients, both old and new, and answering their questions; to her, they are more like friends than customers. She attacks her job with both enthusiasm and mirth as she loves her job. Not everyone can say that about their job and she takes pride in that. She enjoys all-new adventures at APM -she fills several roles – Regional Manager, service technician, and CSR when needed. She is a certified technician by the State of Kansas, holding several certifications.

When Peggy isn’t answering phones, scheduling appointments, keeping her technicians in line, she can be found in her quilt/stained glass studio at home. She and her husband have turned their garage into a huge double-car hobby room where a 12-foot quilting machine is housed. She quilts for others as well as herself. Peggy is a mother of three daughters and added another son and daughter when she married her husband, Don. Together they have a grandson, three granddaughters, (for the children that do not have kids, they claim 5 grand tortoises, grand kitties and grand dogs to add to the family). They enjoy traveling, laughing, bowling, hiking, and playing with their grandchildren. She loves life and tries to live it to the fullest.

Certified Technician

Joseph Bissonnette

Joe Bissonnette has been a certified pest control technician with American Pest Management since 2014. I service Junction City and the surrounding area. I am born and raised in Junction City and have lived here nearly my whole life. Working for American Pest Management, primarily in my community, is a way I feel that I can give back to the place I call home.

Customer Service Representative

Laurie Cox

After working in the customer service industry since she was a teenager in many facets such as telemarketing, local swimming pools, the restaurant industry, retail, and the county government, becoming an account specialist and customer service representative at American Pest Management was a natural fit for Laurie.

The beginning of her college career was spent at Middle Tennessee State University. While she enjoyed Tennessee, she felt compelled to return to her roots in Manhattan to complete her education as a Kansas State Wildcat. After taking a leap of faith in her career path, she landed with American Pest Management in November of 2015 and couldn’t be happier. She has received her commercial pest control applicator’s certification and continues to learn new aspects of the pest control industry each day. Laurie appreciates the family atmosphere this company has to offer. When she’s not “making their clients smile” at APM, Laurie enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog. They can often be found at the lake either boating or camping or country cruising visiting with “neighbors”.

Clay Center Regional Manager

Dave Gonser

Dave Gonser, Clay Center regional manager has served on the Clay Center Rural Fire Department for the past 41 years. He has been a member of the department since graduating high school in 1980. Since starting his career in the pest control industry, he has enjoyed meeting new people and not just calling them clients, but friends and family. Dave is excepted to be apart of a great team that continues to grow and develop new territories.

His family is doing well and they just had an addition, a Golden Doodle named Sophie. Everyone loves her. Outside of work, Dave and his wife, Nancy, love to watch anything their grandkids are involved in.

Certified Technician

Darren Grant

Born in Concordia, Kansas in 1977, Darren moved to Manhattan in 1998 in order to attend K-State. Meanwhile, he began work in the restaurant industry in 1993, until he started with American Pest Management in of 2015. He earned his degree in business management in 2006. He came to work for this company because of the integrity of the people who were and are still running the company.

Grant lives with his wife, Brandi, and their two children, Raef and Kyra, in Wamego, Kansas. He spends his time outside of work fishing, golfing, and attending the kids’ events.

As a pest control specialist, the most enjoyment Darren said he gets is client interaction and helping them with their concerns. Nothing gives him more satisfaction than to go for the follow-up and learning that the client has no issues.

VP - Employee Engagement

Joey Hoke

Hi, I am Joey with American Pest Management, Inc. I have been a team member with APM for over 14 years. Over that time I have held a number of positions. My career at APM began as a pest management technician focusing on residential and commercial clients. I helped APM design one of the first preventative bed bug programs in the United States. We have since trademarked the service and it is now known as Bed Bug PROActive. Next, I was promoted to Technical Director where I was responsible for choosing the products we use for our quarterly programs and making sure our technicians were trained to the highest standards. Today I am the VP – Employee Engagement and I am helping guide the growth of American Pest Management toward our goal of becoming a top 100 pest control company in the US.

I earned my Associate Certified Entomologist certification from the Entomological Society of
America, my Master Technician designation from the Kansas Pest Control Association, and was recognized as National Technician of the Year in 2017. I am a graduate of Kansas State University with a BS in Social Science and have also completed the Management/Marketing program at the Manhattan Area Vocational/Technical School.

Customer Service Representative

Vicky Marstall

Vicky Marstall currently serves as Customer Service Representative for American Pest Management. She is a 2002 graduate of Manhattan Area Technical College, where she obtained her Associate’s degree in Business and Computer Technology. Outside of work, Vicky enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog. If she is not with the family, she enjoys reading, playing video games, or listening to music.

Certified Technician

Zach Messick

Certified Technician

Tyler Mitchell

Hello, I’m Tyler. I’ve been with American Pest Management since 2015 and I am loving it. Before I stepped into this company if you would have asked me what a pest technician is my first thought would have been those guys you saw in movies with the big orange jumpsuit and space-like tank apparatuses, well was I wrong. There is so much more to the pest industry than I could have ever imagined and there’s is always so much more to learn and experience! I never would have imagined myself in this field or have the role that I’m in. However, now I’m not sure I could see myself out of it. Having the opportunity to make a difference in so many people’s lives by providing them with incomparable service and educating them about a world so many people know so little about is, has been, and will continue to be an amazing place in our world for me.

Outside of work some of my passions are being able to spend time with my friends and family. Sports is a huge part of my life, from baseball all the way to wrestling. I own a few motorcycles and there’s nothing like having the wind in your face on an open road with no destination in mind. I am looking forward to meeting you!

General Manager

Doug Nold

Ask his friends and co-workers, he’s “just Doug” (only his mom or his wife calls him Douglas when he is in trouble). After many stops in his career path: working while going to Evergreen High School (in Colorado) as a short-order cook, and becoming a landscape assistant, he graduated high school in 1990 and enlisted in the United States Army. After eight years was medically retired as an E5 Sargent, he became a corrections officer for the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department, then a ground line foreman for Osmose utility services.

In September of 2002, Doug found American Pest Management and a new family to grow and learn with for the past 18 years. When Doug is not “working” he enjoys cooking, shooting, fishing/hunting, boating with family and friends, and watching his 2 boys Dallas & Hunter grow up into adults with lives of their own, trying to help them succeed. And Liliauna, watching her grow and participate in her activities sports, school, friends all with his wife of 25 years, Kennetta.

Executive Sales Associate

Kennetta Nold

Kennetta grew up in Onaga KS and then went on to graduate from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Finance. Kennetta started out with APM as a pest control technician, then moved to office manager. She has since worked her way to sales executive for a total of 16 years with the company. Even though she does not go out in the feild as much she still enjoys being able to help clients over the phone and getting to know them.

Kennetta is married with 3 kids, Dallas, Hunter, and Liliauna. Kennetta lives on a small farm with a variety of animals. When not at work you will find her at sporting events or with the animals.

Certified Techician

Jon Ratliff

 

Jon Ratliff has been a member of the American Pest Management team for five years. Jon is a father of four kids and has been married for 15 years. Outside of work he enjoys collecting records, hunting, and taking cruises through the Caribbean. He is also employed with the Clay Center Fire Department where he holds the rank of assistant chief. Jon looks forward to serving you and doing what he can to take care of your pest management needs.

Certified Technician

Joseph Schultz

Joseph is a 2006 graduate of Barton County Community College and worked as a maintenance tech for 10 years prior to joining the American Pest Family. He loves the family atmosphere the company provides and enjoys the team during and outside of work. He enjoys his job because of the clients.

If you address him, he will answer to Joe, or Joseph. Two things to know about him are that you can find him at about every Kansas State Wildcat sporting event (he bleeds purple), and he has a big appetite … so if you hear stories about food consumption, most of them are true!

Office Manager

Jane Shirack

Jane Shirack is the office manager at American Pest Management. Her children, grandchildren, and family are her life. She grew up with 8 siblings on a farm and loves nature, especially birds and trees. That’s one reason why she lives on a few acres 30 minutes north of Manhattan. From her living room she has a beautiful view where she can watch wildlife and their 3 horses that frequent a spring-fed, crystal clear creek 600
feet from their house. Her husband, Tom, is a superintendent of construction and does various projects within the state. Jane has two sons who gave her two super sweet daughters-in-law and 4 grandchildren that range from 26 years to 33 months. She spends most of her spare time with them.

Even though she prefers outdoors, she has always worked indoors professionally and held office positions in accounting, payroll, and management. There weren’t any electronics mentioned in her childhood, but she did have a record player! She loves music, math, science, organizing things and creating spreadsheets. She has always lived in Kansas and is a Chiefs, Royals and Wildcats fan.

Certified Technician

AJ Simpson

AJ Simpson is a man that comes from the small community of Abilene, Kansas. Growing up in a small town, there wasn’t much to do, so theater and golf are where most of his time was spent. By the age of 16, AJ had taken his love and interest in theater and acting to a new perspective and got involved in a local haunted house. This soon developed into a love for all things scary and spooky, as well as special effects. In 2010, graduation came along and he had yet to decide what career path he wanted to take on.

For the next five years, he spent his time learning a new trait in the electrical field, rewiring and remanufacturing electrical transformers. He has since joined the team and family that is American Pest Management. On the side, AJ has furthered his skills in special effects and character creation through online courses from Stan Winston’s school for character arts. He enjoys anything with the arts and being a make-up artist in his spare time.

Certified Technician

Monica Tharp

Bio coming soon

Tech Supervisor/ Master Technician

Derek Winter

Derek Winter has been a technician at American Pest Management since February of 2009. In June 2012 Derek became a supervisor and in 2019 he became Technical Director for American Pest Management. In 2019 Derek earned the associate certified entomologist designation through the Entomological Society of America. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Kansas State University in December 2008. Throughout his career at American Pest Management he has earned the following awards: Tech of the year in 2014, Mastertech, and the UDA man award.

Derek has been an assistant high school football coach for 21 years. When not at work, Derek enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters, and son. He also enjoys attending Kansas State football games and is a lifelong Chiefs fan.

Certified Technician

Arturo “Art” Martinez

Arturo, who goes by either Arturo or Art, grew up in Hutchinson, KS. In his spare time, Arturo likes fishing, watching K-State football, baseball and relaxing with his wife. He moved to Manhattan in 2018 and began his journey with American Pest Management. Art is bilingual and enjoys helping APM’s Spanish speaking client’s receive the knowledge and quality service American Pest Management has to
offer.

Executive Assistant

Brooke Black

Brooke currently serves as the Executive Assistant for American Pest Management.
She has been with the company since 2017 and was hired a couple of years after graduating high school. She was a manager for football, wrestling, and baseball in school and met other American Pest Management members through the sporting events. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, son, and friends, boating, reading, traveling, and exploring music.

Certified Technician

Andrew

Andrew Hartloff has been with APM since November of 2015 working as a pest control technician. He was born in Denver, CO but raised in the small town of Blue Rapids, KS. Graduated from Manhattan high school in 2011 and been in the workforce since. Was previously working for his dad in Blue Rapids delivering propane to the surrounding area. Growing up in a small-town there wasn’t a lot to do so Andrew played every sport he could get to and was outside riding bikes, 4wheelers, or whatever else was available. Now spends time away from work enjoying time with friends, watching sports on TV, playing video games, or going on walks/hikes with his dog Kai.

Certified Technician

Jacie Sullivan

Jacie joined the Marine Corps when she was 17, right out of high school. Stationed mainly in San Diego, she worked as an aviation ordnance service technician. She remained in the Marines for 4 years, finishing out as a Corporal.

After a year out of the Marine Corps, she moved to Manhattan and started working for American Pest Management. She ended up loving the job and forming a great passion for it. She loves talking to all the friendly, welcoming clients and catching snakes.

Outside of work, Jacie likes to try and do as many outdoor activities as possible with her husband Cody, stepdaughter Stella, and their dog Bowie. Hiking, camping, fishing, running, you name it. Another passion of hers is fitness, working out is definitely a high priority.

Certified Technician

Kenny Elliot

Kenny joined American Pest Management in 2020 and has been servicing the Wichita area. He is from a small town in the Southwestern part of Kansas called Holcomb. Kenny joined the Air Force right out of high school and served our country for seven years. After leaving the Air Force he had a few jobs but nothing he would call a career. He says came to American Pest looking for a job but ended up finding his career. Kenny loves every aspect of his job. There is always something new and exciting.

In his free time he enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and three kids. He is also finishing up an Associates Degree and then will move on to pursue a Bachelor’s in Biology or Entomology.

Certified Technician

Kenny Taylor

My name is Kenny Taylor and I have been with American Pest Management for 7
years. Prior to this, I spent 2 decades in the construction and commercial roofing
business. I have a beautiful wife and daughter and 1 cat. I enjoy fishing, riding my
four-wheeler, and anything outdoors. The best part about working at American Pest
Management is I work with good people and I get to do wildlife work. I look forward
to many more years of working at American Pest Management.