Business Briefs Couple gives back to its senior supporters Triad Pest Control gets rid of what's bugging you By PATRICIA SMITH-DEER1NG Community N?w Editor Spring is a time for cleaning out those basements and attics. It's also the time when those tiny crea- ~ Hires that have lain dormant through the winter become active making life at home less than comfortable. James "Bo" and Marilyn Gilliam have just the solution with their nine-year-old firm, Triad Pest Con trol. Gilliam, president of the firm, was working for a local pest control company, when in 1982, he decided it was time for him to venture out into his own business. "They (the company) were making preuy good revenue," he said. He couldn't see why he shouldn't do the same. "He's - always wanted to go into business for himself," his wife and vice pres . ident of Triad added. There was an additional reason that the Gilliams saw the need for their business, particularly in the - African-American community. "I saw how (other companies) would come into the black community and charge more," he said, adding, "I figured they needed a black in the area to offer service at a fair price." With that in mind, he quit his job and with "$25 that I borrowed from my daddy to open a checking account," he recalled, he got started. "I remember it was a Saturday," he said, "She (Marilyn) was away at the time." Although he had not told her that he was going to resign right then, when she found out, she was a firm supporter. He said, "She told me; -I'm behind you.' When she said that* i . that meant a lot" 'Since that time, the two have worked together to build the busi ness which customizes its services for the growing number of residen tial and commercial clients that it has. "We've been blessed," Marilyn said, "never having to get a loan from the bank." The profits were position as a city/county personnel specialist. In 1986 she accepted a position as personnel director for Catawba County, and Bo traveled between his business in Winston Salem and their new home. "We Photo by U.B. Speas Jr. "Bo" and Marilyn Gilliam have turned a $25 venture into a suc cessful pest control company ? Triad. simply returned to the business. made an agreement when she Initial ly, she was working only accepted the job there that we'd go parttime in the firm, handling the for two years," he said. "1 was very paperwork while maintaining a supportive of her career." They returned to Winston-Salem in 1988, and Marilyn joined Triad fulltime. "I think that the only way I could have come fulltime with him was to have had the time to pursue my career. 1 went the limit of what I wanted to do before joining him," she said. Remembering with a smile how her husband got started, Mari lyn said, "He's very good in sales. It was himself and a blue Volkswagen (working) from the basement of our? home." The Volkswagen was traded for a white Ford Ranger. Now, Triad has five technicians and a secretary. Bo, who is also a technician, said he is also "salesperson and bill collec tor." Bo believes that dressing fo? success has been an important con tributor to the growth of his clien tele over the years. "I looked sharp; people trusted that uniform," he said. "I talked to people, they fell the warmness." In the beginning he knocked on many doors, some for customers who knew him in his pre vious job. "It was that blue and white uniform that worked," he said with a broad grin. His customers are not limited to the African^AmericaiL community and are evenly split between residences and commercial firms. "Personally, I don't think it matters if you're black or white in a service-oriented business," Bo said. Believing that often race is used as an excuse that can handicap a per son, he reasoned, "It's the way you present yourself. Prejudice will be out there, it will never die." The couple is thahkful for the support they have received from the senior citizens in the African-Amer ican community. "We give the black N * v4-. 1 -til. MIIT be publishing a a. .Vv{v ',\ V ' '?$ '?S: ? : * ; i% -Sf#' K..k'A?^ ;-&SKS : .:? V W.v ? -Sj. IN ' ?*0V i ?S? & FREE XISTING for all Minority Businesses ?* **Nv1 #n i i There is no cost to list your business in this directory: 1. NAME * ' ' 2. MAILING ADDRESS 3. BUSINESS NAME _