MICHELLE JORDAN

MERIDIAN PEST MANAGEMENT OWNER – QUALIFIED TIMBER PEST TECHNICIAN

The judges were taken aback by Michelle Jordan's impressive credentials as a business owner and qualified timber pest inspector. Her story of starting from scratch, all on her own as a woman, was truly inspiring. Despite the odds, Michelle has grown her team to 14 skilled technicians, all of whom are male, operating in both NSW and Melbourne with their headquarters located in Ingleburn.

Michelle has been a part of the pest industry for 27 years, with 17 of those years spent as a qualified technician. After working for a pest company for a decade, Michelle decided to take the leap and start her own pest control business. She believed that if she was going to run her own business, she needed to be fully qualified. What sets Michelle apart is that she doesn't rely on sub-contractors. Instead, all her employees work under Meridian Pest Management, with some having been with her for an impressive 13 years.

Michelle's day is a whirlwind of activity. Her top priority is conducting pest inspections and ensuring that all reports are accurate and current. She also takes on the challenging responsibility of quoting for new builders and managing the daily office operations, including handling all accounting and invoicing tasks. Some may question why she doesn't delegate these duties to someone else, but Michelle learned the hard way when her previous office manager embezzled funds from the company after a decade of service. Determined to prevent a similar situation from occurring again, Michelle took charge of the office management herself and implemented new systems to safeguard the business. Despite the difficulties she's faced, Michelle remains committed to ensuring that her company runs smoothly and efficiently. The team at the office is expanding, with the addition of two female colleagues working alongside Michelle. Furthermore, a new receptionist is set to join the team soon.

Going back when Michelle first started the business, her biggest challenge was being a woman. Her primary work is in pre-construction, and in the past, some builders doubted her expertise. Although men are beginning to recognise that women are also present in the field, it can still be challenging for women to fit into industries such as pest control. Michelle advocates for the empowerment of women in business and firmly believes that having a female-owned and operated company is a key factor in achieving success. She understands that women can better relate to and understand the needs of other women. As a result, there is a growing demand for female technicians in the pest control industry, but unfortunately, they are still a rare find. Michelle is committed to promoting and supporting women in business and hopes to see more women-owned companies thrive in the future.

Michelle's passion for the pest management industry lies in the challenges it presents. She thrives on securing fresh contracts with builders and expanding her clientele. She has established strong relationships with major building companies and a dedicated group of builders. Michelle finds inspiration in two important people in her life - her significant other and his mother. They take immense pride in her accomplishments and never fail to acknowledge her hard work in building a successful business from the ground up. In fact, Michelle's partner is also an integral part of the company.

Michelle's story is one that deserves to be shared and can truly motivate the pest control industry. She has chosen a challenging path in pre-construction, and her determination is truly inspiring. As Michelle herself says, "the more women who enter this field, the better it will be."