Andy Bongiorno: Taking on the Termites
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
BRENTWOOD — As a former FedEx courier, Andy Bongiorno used to deliver parcels for a living, but now that he’s a termite control professional, he spends his days delivering clients from perilous, pestilent plights. “After working as a courier for several years, I started to look for something new,” he explains. “Basically, I didn’t want to be delivering packages for the rest of my life. I had a friend who owned a pest control business, so it seemed like a good opportunity to learn a specialized trade. After working with my friend for a few years, I got my license, and when he sold his business, I decided it was time to branch off and start my own.”
Today, as owner of Bongiorno Termite Control, Inc., Andy says while most of his time is spent dealing with termites, his favorite part of the job is working with people. “I appreciate the people I get to meet and work with, and it feels good to help customers. When you’ve removed a major threat from someone’s home and given them peace of mind, it gives you a good sense of accomplishment.”
A resident of Oakley (where he lives with his wife, Leeann), Andy expresses his appreciation for the versatility of the Bay Area. “It’s a great place to live. We have the mountains, the ocean, lots of parks and all kinds of activities. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, there’s always something fun to do.”
Outside of work, Andy likes to stay active, both on land and on water. “I have a couple of sailboats and enjoy sailing out on the delta. I also like mountain biking, snowboarding and motorcycle racing. Basically, I’ll try anything that looks fun.” When he’s not thrill-seeking, Andy enjoys going wine tasting with his wife, barbequing with friends and spending time with family, including his three grown sons and his grandchildren.
In regard to his professional career, Andy espouses the importance of trust. “It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but as a professional, it’s critical to operate with honesty and integrity,” he says. “When a customer hires me, they’re trusting me to take care of them, and that’s a big responsibility. At the end of the day, it’s all about building upon that trust by doing what’s in their best interest.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Andy says he’d take his enjoyment of sailing to a whole new level. “I’d probably buy a yacht and sail around the world. I enjoy traveling, but I’m not able to do it as much as I’d like, and there’s still a lot of the world I have yet to see.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s the most death-defying feat you’ve ever attempted?
A: Probably going off a big snowboard or mountain bike jump.
Q: Music or talk radio?
A: Music.
Q: What kinds of movies do you like?
A: Usually action, but I like anything that has a good story.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: England and Italy—that’s where my heritage is, and I’ve never been there.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Memorabilia from sporting events and auto races I’ve attended.
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