Company: Alterra, Provo, UT
Entry Submitted By: Method Communications
Company Description: Alterra is North America’s number one fastest growing pest control company. Founded in 2012 and having expanded into more than 1,100 cities with 200,000 customers, Alterra has mastered its mission of responsibly protecting families and the environment.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Fastest Growing Company of the Year - Up to 2,500 Employees

Nomination Title: Alterra: Fastest Growing Company of the Year

Tell the story about the growth of this nominated organization since January 1, 2014 (up to 650 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Begin this section with the following two lines: Year over year revenue growth (%): Year over year employee growth (%):

In 2014 alone, Alterra expanded into an additional 200+ cities across the nation, hired more than 250 new employees, and reached a total of 200,000 customers – a monumental growth period for Alterra that is a result of Alterra’s employee development program, environmentally conscious methods and company culture. During large growth periods it is typical for companies to experience negative side effects from “growing pains,” but Alterra was able to retain it’s “A” rating with the Better Business Bureau throughout the U.S., due to excellent customer service and Alterra’s environmentally responsible service.

CEO David Royce cites Alterra’s highly developed training programs as one of the main reasons why his company, which comes from a traditionally stagnant blue-collar industry, had the same growth results as white-collar tech companies. Alterra’s employees have grown alongside Alterra, and are loyal promoters of Alterra’s 10 core values, creating an ever-growing corporation that provides excellence in products and service, satisfying the needs of customers and employees alike. Alterra’s revenue also increased alongside its growth in customers and employees and reached $44,675,500 in revenue last year, a 64 percent increase from 2013. Keep in mind this is a company that started from scratch in 2012.

To ensure customer satisfaction and long-term growth, Alterra practices environmental responsibility by providing products that are of the highest standard, and is a proud member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. Royce wanted to further his initial goal of creating a service that took away customers’ fear of harsh chemicals that might pose a risk to family members and pets. In doing so, Alterra has become one of 200 exclusive companies accepted by the EPA’s stewardship program to promote environmentally conscious methodologies. Alterra only utilizes biodegradable products with the lowest levels of toxicity, and treats every customer’s home as if they were Royce’s own.

In order to constantly improve service, Alterra pays each customer $5 to take a survey and give honest feedback on their recent service, focusing on what they seek from a pest control provider and resulting in the constant advancement of Alterra’s mission. In doing so Alterra continues to strengthen its customer base because their needs are being met, and their feedback is constantly being implemented. Royce also pays employees $100 for each idea provided that gets implemented companywide. Innovation from front-line employees and customers has created unparalleled customer loyalty, and propelled Alterra’s business model as the frontrunner in the pest control industry in 2014.

Aside from personally handcrafting 100+ page training manuals for each job description, Royce holds weekly training meetings at Alterra’s headquarters, annual operations manager retreats during off-road trips in Moab, Utah, and annual sales manager retreats in Hawaii. Royce’s belief in lifelong learning and the constant development of employees’ entrepreneurial skills has greatly contributed to the success and rapid growth of Alterra, and led to Alterra’s 96 percent retention rate with employees that have switched over to Alterra from other pest control companies in 2014.

Additionally, Alterra expanded its Rexburg recruiting office to include multiple new employee offices, ping-pong, foosball, pool tables, and a movie room for employees to watch sports together. In Provo, Royce has added additional amenities including an NCAA basketball court and golf simulator for employees. Royce is passionate about celebrating success, one of Alterra’s 10 core values, and does so with company breakfasts, barbeques, team competitions with prizes, holiday celebrations, and monthly events that feature live performances from nationally recognized bands like Imagine Dragons. Thanksgiving turkeys were distributed to each employee, and monthly “happy hours” were hosted for employees and their family members so they could enjoy a friendly workplace lunch, distributed by local food trucks. As demonstrated, Royce’s desire to disrupt the pest control industry begins and ends with his employees, and with each year Royce further develops Alterra’s company practice to best serve and show his appreciation for his employees and customers.

In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) growth-related achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2014 (up to 150 words).

- 2014 was only Alterra’s third year of open business operations, but saw continued and unheard-of growth rates in each facet of its business development, including:
- 64 percent growth revenue from $27,232,155 in 2013 to $44,675,500 in 2014
- Increase in employee numbers, from 766 employees in 2013 to 1,024 employees in 2014
- Reached nearly 200,000 customers, almost doubling its customer base from 115,000 the year before
- Expanded its services to more than 200 new cities within the U.S. and three new service hubs
- Alterra was ranked the No. 1 fastest-growing pest control service in North America by Pest Control Technology Magazine
- Alterra received the No. 2 ranking of “Top Startup to Watch” in Utah Valley by UV Business Q Magazine
- Alterra expanded its Rexburg, Idaho recruiting office/ headquarters to accommodate rapid growth of employees and customers
- Hired on a full-time director of software development to ensure continued development of technology tools