There was a time when Seitz Brothers focused solely on exterminating.

But today, the Tamaqua-based business has a broader purview.Household pests, it seems, can be more than just rodents or termites. A "pesty" problem at a building might be radon or even asbestos."We're constantly problem solving," said owner Brian Seitz.Seitz learned last week he's been named winner of the 2016 Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year award.His business savvy in recognizing a need and filling a niche have been part of his success formula.Under his executive management, Seitz Brothers Exterminating and Environmental Services has expanded to include environmental remediation services that address problems such as those listed above, and others, such as mold.The operation employs more than 100 workers in Tamaqua, Trexlertown and Tannersville.Adding to his resume, Seitz and a partner recently launched Blue Lizard Vineyard in South Tamaqua, a new enterprise for 2016.One of the reasons for Seitz's success is his readiness, being proactive and recognizing potential trends and needs.For instance, he recognized that bedbugs re-emerged in part due to the diminishing use of pesticides in our area."We had them in the 1970s," he said. Today, they can show up just about anywhere, not only in home bedrooms and hotels or motels, but in places such as movie theaters, taxis and buses.Seitz stands ready to treat the problem."We use heat to get rid of them," Seitz says.Seitz Brothers was begun by Seitz's parents, Edward and Kathryn (Kitty) Seitz, who moved to Schuylkill County from Philadelphia in 1975.In 1976, the business moved to Locust Valley in Barnesville with the office in the couple's home.In the 1980s, they opened a pest control office on Route 54 in Barnesville in the old Marshall's Country Store location.Seitz and brother Jason joined the company after high school, maintaining family ownership and operation.Seitz's wife Kylie runs the Trexlertown office. In 2004, they opened another location in Tannersville, serving Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Stroudsburg.Seitz has since bought out his brother's share of the business and manages the operation from Tamaqua headquarters.He is active with TIDE, Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce as well as lending his support to community endeavors like the Tamaqua Community Arts Center and Tamaqua Summer Concert Series.He'll receive the award at the 64th Annual Community Dinner on Wednesdayat Mountain Valley Golf Club in Barnesville.Call 570-668-1880 for information.