Natasha Wright

AGAWAM — Braman Termite & Pest Elimination announced that Natasha Wright, the company’s entomologist and technical director, has been named the 2026 Women of Excellence Award recipient by the New England Pest Management Assoc. (NEPMA).

This international honor recognizes women who advance the pest management industry every day. The award celebrates leaders who have made notable contributions to the development and growth of the profession, their businesses, and other women in the industry. She will be honored at an award dinner on Wednesday, March 4 in Marlborough, and recognized at PestWorld later this year.

“Training has always been the foundation of our success,” said Gerald Lazarus, president of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “Natasha embodies our commitment to pride, honesty, and quality. Her scientific knowledge strengthens our team, supports our customers, and elevates the entire organization. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful for the value she brings to Braman every day.”

Wright’s path into pest management began with a deep interest in entomology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in entomology from the University of Florida and her master’s degree in entomology from the University of Arkansas. She is also a board-certified entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

At Braman, Wright plays a critical role in maintaining the company’s long-standing commitment to training and scientific excellence. She trains new and veteran technicians on pest biology, behavior, and identification; prepares them for state licensing exams; and provides continuing education credits. She also educates clients and the public on pest prevention and control strategies.

Her expertise extends beyond the classroom. Wright is known for her skill in identifying pests from limited evidence — including fragments, droppings, and unclear smartphone photographs — helping ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment recommendations.

AGAWAM — Braman Termite & Pest Elimination announced the hiring of Allison Garriss as its new director of Human Resources (HR). An SHRM-CP-certified HR leader with more than a decade of experience, Garriss brings a strong background in talent strategy, employee relations, and organizational development to support Braman’s continued growth.

In her role, Garriss will lead all aspects of HR, helping to strengthen workforce development, enhance recruitment and retention, and support Braman’s long-standing mission to serve customers with professionalism, safety, and reliability. Known for her ability to translate business needs into people-centered solutions, she will play a key role in shaping Braman’s culture.

“Allison brings the expertise, leadership, and energy we need as we continue to expand,” Braman CFO Josh Lazarus said. “Her experience building strong, compliant, and supportive workplaces makes her an ideal fit for our organization and our commitment to our employees and the communities we serve.”

Garriss previously held HR leadership roles at Carr Property Management and O’Connell Care at Home, where she led major initiatives in compliance, onboarding, employee engagement, performance management, and organizational change. She also brings experience from the nonprofit, education, and healthcare sectors, along with a master’s degree in organizational management from Springfield College.

“I’m excited to join Braman and support a team that values its people as much as its customers,” Garriss said.

AGAWAM — Braman Termite & Pest Elimination, a family-owned and operated business serving residential and commercial customers across Southern New England since 1890, announced the promotion of John McCarthy from account manager to sales director.

“John has been with us for over a year now and quickly proved himself ready for additional responsibilities,” said Jerry Lazarus, third-generation owner of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “With his extensive experience and a commitment to customer satisfaction, he’s the perfect choice to lead our sales team.”

In his new role, McCarthy is directly responsible for leading and developing Braman’s sales team while cultivating customer relationships for long-term customer satisfaction and growth. This includes developing long-range sales goals and objectives, as well as sales plans and tactics to meet and exceed those goals.

McCarthy joined the Braman team in 2022 with 22 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles within the pest-control industry, including sales and service manager, branch manager, and district manager. He is a member of the National Pest Management Assoc.

AGAWAM — Braman Termite & Pest Elimination, a family-owned and operated business serving residential and commercial customers across Southern New England since 1890, announced the upcoming retirement of Senior Vice President of Business Development Robert Guyette.

“Rob’s contributions to Braman are too numerous to count — from the way he mentors and connects people to his dedication to our customers to his impressive work ethic,” said Jerry Lazarus, third-generation owner of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “I can’t say enough about him. He has been a tremendous asset to our company from both a business and culture perspective, and we will miss him greatly.”

During his more than 17 years at Braman, Guyette said he is proudest of achieving his ACE (associated certified entomologist) certification, one of the biggest professional challenges he has ever faced. Prior to joining Braman as general manager in 2006, he was production manager at HP Hood in the milk and ice-cream divisions for nearly 26 years. He recently transitioned into his current role in preparation for retirement.

A self-described networker, Guyette said he will miss the people the most. He has no specific plans for retirement but is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren as well as his hobbies, bowling and fishing.

“Retiring is bittersweet; I may or may not be counting the days until December 28,” he said. “It’s what you work your whole life for, but I have mixed emotions about it. I have been honored to take care of our customers — it’s always about them, not the money. And I get to go to bed every night knowing I have never done wrong by anyone. I love mentoring, and I hope I have helped at least one person in their career. I just like to work and make things better — that’s always been my heart and my passion, and I like to say I give 150%.”

AGAWAM — The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central New England announced the recipients of the 2023 Marketplace Excellence Awards, naming Braman Termite & Pest Elimination the winner of the Western Massachusetts Award for Marketplace Excellence, Mid-sized Business.

Based in Agawam, Braman serves residential and commercial customers across Southern New England, with additional Massachusetts locations in Auburn, Hampden, Lee, and Waltham, as well as Bloomfield, Conn.

“Our success was founded in 1890 on three key principles: pride, honesty, and quality,” said Jerry Lazarus, the third-generation owner and operator of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “These are the ideals we live by. While any business can say this, this recognition by the BBB underscores our commitment to these values.”

The BBB award recognizes both high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, and suppliers and a history of ethical business practices and community involvement.

Braman is a member of the National Pest Management Assoc. and has earned the association’s QualityPro and GreenPro designations. Its pest-control technicians are all licensed, certified, insured, and trained to observe all relevant federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to the services they provide.