[2007 Leadership Profiles] Gene Harrington

As a teenager, Gene Harrington loved to play soccer. His love for that game, and all sports, led him to set a goal to become a sports writer. “I went to the California University of Pennsylvania and wrote two articles about the baseball team,” he says. “I discovered it would be very boring.”

Even though he abandoned that career path, Harrington continues to enjoy sports, still playing soccer and basketball, and hiking and running with his wife Kelly.

The teamwork aspect associated with sports and the drive to win, instilled in Harrington then, fused with another interest of his — public policy.

“My dad got me interested in legislative affairs. He was adopted,” Harrington says, “and he lobbied to make it easier for adoptees to access birth records. Seeing him involved in stuff like that was a big influence on my life in terms of getting interested in political legislative activities.”

EARLY CAREER

After transferring to the University of Maryland and majoring in journalism, he interned three summers on Capitol Hill, starting out filing press clippings, and moving on to writing correspondence and meeting with constituents.

After graduating in 1992, he worked full time as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota. Agricultural, environmental and natural resources were a few of the issues he wrote about. Some of his correspondence was reviewed by seven people, so he learned quickly about writing for his audience.

“But then I was looking for another challenge,” he recalls. Answering a blind ad for a legislative advocate/lobbyist, he interviewed with Bob Rosenberg of the National Pest Control Association, now called the National Pest Management Association.

“I thought it was the perfect job interview. I hit a home run,” Harrington says. But his second interview, he felt, had “error” written all over it. “I met with Bob, the HR department and former Executive Vice President Harvey Gold.” Unbeknownst to Harrington, everyone in the office called him Mr. Gold, but Harrington shook his hand and called him “Harvey.”

Harrington’s lobbying skills then took over, as he telephoned Rosenberg every week to land the position of manager of government affairs with NPMA. He admits he had taken one entomology class in college, but at that point, knew very little about the pest control industry.

Rosenberg sensed a determined person, and hired Harrington in May 1994. Two years ago, Harrington was promoted to director of government affairs. “Gene brings a set of traits that make him different,” Rosenberg says. “He combines passion, integrity and hard work. It’s not uncommon for him to be in the office until midnight or 1:00 a.m. Anyone can be a lobbyist, but he believes passionately in the issues.”

While interviewing for the position at NPMA, Harrington recalls finding information about the organization in the pre-Internet days was a challenge. But lessons learned from his father while he researched about adoption have proven a valuable tool for Harrington.

“He dragged me to law libraries. He taught me about the universe of resources out there. The research weapons I have,” says Harrington, “are 50 times more powerful than what my dad had. I learned at an early age how important research is and to be hungry for information.”

Inquisitiveness and research helped acclimate him to the world of pest control, but another factor were PCOs. “I developed professional friendships with PCOs and they helped me. They are my advisors,” Harrington says.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

In the beginning, Rosenberg concentrated on federal issues while Harrington dealt with state legislatures. While Rosenberg still concentrates on EPA issues, the federal/state “arrangement has evolved,” Rosenberg states. “We both know the issues and what to do and it becomes a matter of who is best suited to the issue or who has the time.”

Harrington breaks down their working relationship even further. “I think that he is probably a little more extroverted. He does a little more of the phone work, while I do more research and writing. He supplements the research we do online.”

In his current capacity, Harrington represents the views of the pest management industry and becomes the face and voice of the industry. Legislators on both the federal and state levels consult with him regarding pest management issues. Also, Harrington speaks at conferences and submits letters to editors throughout the country, including The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Examiner and Washington Post.

His typical daily routine can include doing research, writing for NPMA’s e-newsletter and print publications, disseminating information, and coordinating responses. In addition, he drafts state and federal bills, amendments and regulatory provisions; monitors legislation and regulations; testifies before agencies and legislatures; prepares testimony for association members who will be speaking before Congress or state legislatures; and coordinates grass-roots efforts to support, amend or defeat legislation.

“You can always call him to get a clear picture as to how suggested legislation or proposed regulation will impact our industry,” says Jerry Keown, vice president, Presto-X Company in Omaha, Neb., “and in cases where there is an adverse impact, he will coach you through the process of defeating or opposing these efforts.”

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

Typically legislatures deal with issues concerning termites, fumigation, mosquitoes, wildlife control, labor, transportation and consumer protection. And Harrington prefers to guide the discourse instead of simply reacting. “If you determine what trends might be, you’re able to find information. The job is not just finding out what’s going on, but telling the right people what’s going on,” he stresses. “We have to get that information to people in a timely fashion.”

Lonnie Alonso, president of Columbus Pest Control, Columbus, Ohio, recognizes Harrington’s dedication to this philosophy. “He is consistently on top of issues for the states, even stuff that one would think we should know of, he knows before us and then advises us.”

“Without him,” says Dick Stevenson, president of Modern Pest Services, Brunswick, Maine, “we would be buried under regulation that we hadn’t even thought of. I have been impressed by his ability to remember details several years old that have been instrumental in our keeping Maine regulation more reasonable than it ever would have been without him.”

But Harrington’s contributions to the industry go much further than that. Seven years ago he became the executive director for the Pest Management Foundation, which manages research projects benefiting PCOs, such as spider, mosquito and yellow jacket research. As executive director, Harrington oversees fund-raising for the entity.

“Gene’s commitment to the pest management industry through government affairs and the Pest Management Foundation has been nothing less than outstanding,” says Donnie Blake, president of OPC, Louisville, Ky. “Specifically, Gene has taken the reins of the Pest Management Foundation and has created a research vehicle for the entire industry.”

VICTORIES AND CHALLENGES

Harrington doesn’t keep a win-loss tally, but competition definitely keeps him motivated. “A few years ago there was a bill signing in West Virginia for a bill that created an exemption for West Virginia PCOs from a contracting law they were being subjected to,” he states. “I got to stand with the governor and PCOs during the signing. That was a good day.”

Bruce Carter, president of Carter Services, Farmington, N.M., remembers the not-so-glamorous aspects of Harrington’s job. “Several years ago, Gene helped us in New Mexico on a critical regulatory issue and he and I tromped around the state for three to four days, meeting with officials to explain the issue. It was at that time I found a deep respect for his professionalism and abilities to handle these issues.”

Like any great athlete, Harrington views losses with disappointment, but understands he cannot win every time. That never tempers his enthusiasm or dedication, however. “Pest control can be not very popular in legislatures,” Rosenberg says, “and Gene prevails. That takes extra skill and effort. At the end of the day, we don’t win everything, but we do OK.”

Harrington sees a shift from a good legislative regulatory climate in the past 10 years to a more difficult relationship in the coming years. “Federal evaluation of pesticides is going to be stiffer and more rigid,” says Harrington. “Evolving label language on product currently used is the biggest challenge. Certain use patterns we have today will not be with us in a few years if we don’t communicate to the EPA how the products are used and why they don’t pose a threat to public health and the environment.”

Toward this end, the team concept is one that resonates with Harrington today. He and Bob Rosenberg have honed their skills, anticipating each other’s moves, much like a shortstop and second baseman turning a double play. “I certainly appreciate working for the NPMA,” says Harrington. “It’s an organization totally committed to the pest control industry and enhancing it. It’s been a lot of fun.”

He includes PCOs on the team as well. “I’m able to work with good, hardworking small-business people to craft and develop rules or laws that more fairly regulate their business practices,” he says. “The work I’m doing benefits their businesses and families because a lot of pest control companies are family-run businesses.”

Trick or Treat

It seems Gene Harrington was destined for a life in the political realm. His father works for the federal government, and introduced Harrington to the legislative arena early in life.

In 1980, at the age of 12, when boys could be dressed up like football players or rock stars for Halloween, Harrington probably received quite a few questions as to his costume when he knocked on doors in his neighborhood.
“Trick or treat,” shouted Harrington, dressed as independent presidential candidate John Anderson.

Government Pace

Dealing with federal and state legislatures presents contrasts. “By and large, state legislative issues move at a much faster pace,” says Gene Harrington. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Because of this, he must stay focused on bills that are moving through state legislatures. “In that respect, it’s more exciting to work on state issues because things are happening quickly and progress is more tangible,” he states.

On the other hand, federal legislation tends to become bogged down. “I think you can classify movement from the EPA in geologic time,” laughs Bob Rosenberg. In fact, a regulation dealing with federal certification training for applicators was proposed the first month that Rosenberg started with the NPCA (now the NPMA). “I’ve been here almost 20 years, and it has not been adopted yet.”

The Harrington File:

Employer: National Pest Management Association

Location: Fairfax, Va.

Position: Director of Government Affairs

Career highlights: Graduate of the University of Maryland; named Executive Director of the Pest Management Foundation in 2000; staff liasion for NPMA’s Minorities in Pest Management, Wildlife Division and Fumigation Division; and account manager for the New Mexico Pest Management Association

Personal: Wife Kelly (married two years)