Meet Our Team
VERNE PETERSON
PRESIDENT
State-certified Applicator in Pest, Termites, Lawn & Ornamental, Weeds, and Commodity Fumigation
Certified Sentricon Specialist
Past President and Life Member of the Texas Pest Control Association
Verne began his career in pest control working for his father, “Big Verne,” at Peterson Nursery and Pest Control in Ranger, Texas, when he was eight years old. In 1963 he packed up his family, moved to the Ft. Worth area, and soon came to work for Elmo and Ada Tucker, the family who started Western Exterminating in 1956. Mr. Tucker built an airplane and a cabin cruiser boat and was a perfectionist at all he did, and that perfection carried over to providing top-quality pest control. The training Verne received from Tucker was instrumental in the pest services Verne would provide and would continue to share with all future Western service applicators. Unfortunately the struggling business would not support two families. Tucker decided to sell the business to Verne in 1965 for $500.00 plus paying off all of the Tucker family debts. Verne quickly started bringing in new customer business after purchasing Western in 1965. The business was moved to the Peterson house on Haltom Road. The original phone number back then was TE-4-1284. That original number is still used today, but they had to add a few extra numbers over the years, so now it is 817-834-1284.
Currently Verne and his wife Carolyn live in Granbury. Even though he works with his family, he still likes to spend some “off time” with them, too. He is active in his church and enjoys road trips all over America, especially to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and Branson, Missouri. He is still active in the business and has retired from his hobbies of playing golf and the guitar.
Note from Verne: This is my 54th year at Western. When I went to work here in 1962, I eventually met nearly everyone who owned a pest control company by being so active in the local and state associations. I do not know one other person, besides myself, who is still active in any of the companies that existed at that time. I guess the secret of this longevity is to start young at eight years of age, buy a company at twenty, work hard, don’t quit, and keep your customers satisfied. In the early 1990s, daughters Nancy and April came to work for Western and currently manage the office and daily operations. NOW FOR THE REAL REASON FOR SUCCESS. GOD has blessed me with a wonderful family, many thousands of wonderful customers and friends, and a very special team of employees that continues to serve our loyal customers.
APRIL HARDY, A.C.E.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Certified in Pest, Termite, Lawn & Ornamental
Certified Sentricon Specialist
Completed Purdue University’s “Pest Control Technology”
Graduated from Haltom High School
April is Verne’s daughter, so she was pretty much “born into the business” but really started her career at Western in April 1990. Along with overseeing the daily business operations, April makes sure our customers are getting top notch service and keeps our technical devices up and running. She believes that God has a purpose for every insect but still has not figured out “why the roach?” Every chance she gets, April likes to relax with her family at PK, boating, fishing, hiking, and reading. She also enjoys challenging family and friends at board games.
NANCY DOYLE
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Certified Sentricon Specialist
Completed Purdue University’s “Pest Control Technology”
Graduated from Haltom High School and completed some basic courses at TCC before going to work in Property Management
Nancy is also Verne’s daughter and grew up in the family business but really started at Western in April 1992. Customer service, public relations, human resources and marketing are just a few of the operations she enjoys at Western. She serves on the executive board of the local chapter of the Texas Pest Control Association and participates in as many membership activities as time will permit in the Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce and North Richland Lion’s Club. Nancy loves to golf, fish, hike, and take road trips with her husband, Ed (yes, the same Ed that also works at Western).
Our Staff
GINA KAMMERDIENER
CUSTOMER SERVICE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECH SUPPORT
Graduated from Haltom High School
Arlington Career Institute for Paralegal Certification
Gina joined Western in December 2017. She is fascinated with pest control and is very customer service oriented. Gina has been a great team member as she is very detail driven and always holds a joyful disposition. She is a true Texan as she was born and raised in Fort Worth. Gina is an active member of her church and loves spending time with her family and friends. In her spare time, she enjoys going on road trips, being around dirt track races, doing karaoke and dancing!