[Convention Extra] News and Notes

Awards celebrate 20 years of industry leadership and dedication

This fall marks the 20th anniversary of the PCT/Syngenta Professional Products Crown Leadership Awards, which are presented annually at NPMA PestWorld. 

The awards spotlight individuals who have contributed positively to the growth of the structural pest control industry, as well as established ties with fellow business leaders, civic groups and customers in their local communities.

“At Syngenta we’re honored again this year to sponsor the Crown Leadership Awards as we have done each year since 1998,” said Scott Reasons, head, Syngenta Home Care and Garden. “The Awards’ criteria — leadership, integrity, promoting the growth of our industry and developing positive relationships — are an excellent fit with Syngenta’s approach to the structural pest control industry.”

From the first, eight-member awards class in 1989, to this year’s class of 11 inductees, the Crown Leadership Awards have consistently sought to honor the best and brightest in the pest management industry. This year’s award winners are:

• Ed Blumenthal, termite training and technical director, Massey Services, Orlando, Fla.
• John Chapman, director of technical services, Terminix International, Memphis, Tenn.
• Dennis Jenkins, president, ABC Pest and Lawn Services, Lewisville, Texas; and Sandy Jenkins, matriarch of the Jenkins family
• Valera Jessee, executive director, Georgia Pest Control Association and UPF&DA, Norcross, Ga.
• Kevin Kordek, owner, A-Active Termite and Pest Control, Virginia Beach, Va.
• Todd Leyse, president, Adam’s Pest Control, Hamel, Minn.
• Jack Marlowe, president, Eden Advanced Pest Technologies, Olympia, Wash.
• Phil McCloud, “director of magic,” McCloud Services, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
• Don Reierson, researcher, Department of Entomology, University of California-Riverside
• Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, vice president of technical services, Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to honor more than 200 industry leaders since the first Crown Leadership Awards ceremony was held nearly two decades ago. The industry owes a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the key role they’ve played in the ongoing advancement of the pest management industry,” PCT Publisher Dan Moreland said. “We also owe a debt of gratitude to Syngenta Professional Products for sponsoring the event for so many years. It isn’t very often that you have the same corporate sponsor for an event for two decades. The fact that Syngenta has been willing to support the Crown Leadership Awards for 20 years is indicative of their commitment to the industry and pest management professionals as well.”

Win a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

FMC Professional Solutions will be giving away a custom-detailed Harley-Davidson Fat Boy to one lucky pest management professional at the fourth FMC Afterburner Party at PestWorld. The Fat Boy will be given away to a PCO during the “invitation only” Afterburner Party, sponsored by FMC, on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. PCOs attending PestWorld 2008 will be pre-mailed entry cards for the giveaway and can bring them to the FMC booth (No. 621) during show hours. The winning pest management professional must be present at the Afterburner Party to win.

What’s new with PCT? PCTOnline.tv

Be sure to stop by PCT’s booth (No. 933) to learn more about our latest Web initiative, www.pctonline.tv, a one-stop site for enriching your business know-how and communicating with your peers. The site, a companion to www.pctonline.com, lets users build their business resources and increase their technical knowledge. Since launching the site, we have received multimedia content from users, including pest management professionals, manufacturers, university researchers and others. We encourage you to become frequent visitors and contributors to the site, so keep posting your favorite videos, podcasts, YouTubes, or sending these multimedia files to Brad Harbison at bharbison@giemedia.com.

DuPont to present new product via ‘technical launch’ at booth

For the first time, information about Arilon insecticide will be presented to the public, at DuPont Professional Products’ booth (No. 715) at PestWorld. The product is not for sale, so the information presented will focus on its technical points and chemistry. This introduction is called a “technical launch,” which means the product has been submitted to EPA for registration and registration is pending.

DuPont Arilon insecticide, containing the active ingredient indoxacarb, is a non-repellent, liquid spray that targets many insects and offers 100 percent control of numerous ant and cockroach species plus other nuisance pests, according to the manufacturer. With EPA registration pending, Arilon contains new formulation chemistry that has been extensively tested through university research programs, DuPont Professional Products reports. And, the product’s excellent environmental profile will make it highly suitable for broad use applications, DuPont says

To learn more about indoxacarb, attendees can attend Thursday’s 10:15 a.m. educational session called “New Classes of Chemistry and Modes of Action for Termite and Pest Management,” which will be presented by Drs. Clay Scherer and Mark Coffelt of DuPont Professional Products. Several years ago, DuPont modified its discovery process and introduced two new molecules to the market — each forming a new class and each being designated as “Reduced Risk” compounds by EPA. Indoxacarb is in the oxadiazine class and chlorantraniliprole is in the anthranilic diamide class of insecticides. A summary of how chemistry becomes  an insecticide, and early efficacy potential of these two new technologies will be presented.

Editor’s note: DuPont Arilon is not registered for sale or use in the United States. No offer for sale, or use of this product is permitted prior to issuance of the required EPA and state registrations.

Free bed bug educational brochure at Zoëcon booth

Bed bugs are re-emerging and presenting a challenge to many pest management professionals. Zoëcon Professional Products offers Gentrol as an effective tool in the fight to control bed bugs. Gentrol is an odorless, non-repellent formulation with the active ingredient (S)-Hydroprene, an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents immature bed bugs from becoming normal reproductive adults. For more information and facts about the effects that Gentrol has on bed bugs, visit the Zoëcon booth (No. 1007) for a free educational brochure. Brochures also can be requested at www.zoecon.com or by calling 800/248-7763.

Now playing at the Syngenta booth

Visitors to the Syngenta booth (No. 607) will find more than the newest product information. They’ll be treated to regular showings of the film “Die Pests, Die!” an entertaining yet informative training DVD highlighting the new Optigard Flex insecticide, a non-repellent, general pest product that allows indoor and outdoor application as a liquid or foam, with no limitations on application timing. The movie-themed booth also will feature the PestPartners concession stand offering popcorn and the opportunity to register for the PestPartners rewards program. Visitors can take home a piece of pest control motion picture history with their own Hitchcock-style movie poster featuring a Syngenta product. Also, on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Mark Hoppe, with Syngenta Crop Protection in Stein, Switzerland, will present for the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) on the ongoing arms race between chemistry and pests, better known as insecticide resistance. He will discuss how and why resistance develops, and what pest management professionals can do to maintain the upper hand.

PCT announces new conference

The PCT Media Group announces its next multi-day conference: “PCT Growing Your Business Summit: Successful Growth Strategies in Challenging Economic Times.”

The three-day event will be held Feb. 11-13, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. The conference will help pest management professionals grow their businesses in challenging economic times via a discussion of expanding a company’s service offerings. Both residential and commercial pest management market opportunities will be discussed.

Visit www.PCTGrowingYourBusinessSummit.com for more information.

Bell displays new Trapper Professional Wood Snap Traps

Bell Laboratories will showcase its new Trapper Professional Wood Snap Traps at its booth (No. 415). The new traps are available for both mice and rats. This is the first time Bell has offered professional wood snap traps. The traps are made from a single piece of solid wood and utilize an extended trigger to ensure more effective captures. Holes in the trigger also let pest professionals attach nesting material, such as cotton or dental floss, for situations where food is plentiful. The trigger also features a built-in cup to hold attractants. The traps are easy to set and fit close to the edge of a wall, to prevent rats or mice from bypassing traps as they travel along walls.

Diversified Plastics Industries to showcase access panels

Visit Diversified Plastics Industries booth (No. 900) to learn about the variety of access panels the company offers. The bath trap is a source of potential callbacks and retreats when overlooked during the inspection and treatment process when dealing with termites. E-Z Access plastic access panels from Diversified Plastics Industries are attractive, economical and easy to use in the inspection and treatment of bath traps and other critical areas considered construction hot spots, the company said.

B&G showcases its newest products

B&G Equipment Co. has a full line of pest control products at its booth (No. 615), including a trio of new products that will be demonstrated. B&G has taken its Versafoamer 4000 and re-engineered it to create the new Portable Aerosol System (P.A.S.), which can be used to flush pests out of their hiding places using air only, used with liquids only for crack-and-crevice treatments, or with an aerosol for deep penetrating treatments in wall voids or other harborages.

The IPM Case provides PCOs with a place for everything and everything. The TM-1 termite monitor can be imprinted with a PCO’s company name and installed at their residential accounts.

Check out J.T. Eaton’s new offerings

Visit the J.T. Eaton booth (No. 1101) to learn more about the company’s latest product offerings. Available in orange, yellow, brown, green, black and white, the new galvanized steel powdercoated mouse traps and bait stations can help build your brand by showcasing your company’s corporate colors, or be a deciding factor when a client wants a trap to blend in with its environment. J.T. Eaton Kills BedBugs and Crawling Insects powder is made from diatomaceous earth (DE). There is no pyrethrin added. The new formulation, available in four- and 10-pound containers as well as seven-ounce puffer bottles, can be dusted into cracks and crevices that bed bugs tend to frequent. J.T. Eaton’s JAWZ line of heavy-duty rat snap traps not only are reusable, they’re made with 80 percent recycled plastic. The traps can be set by foot, eliminating the worry of catching a finger during the placement process.

Free Dust Solution Guide available from Bayer Environmental Science

The newest addition to the Bayer Solution Guide series, the Dust Solution Guide, is now available. This training manual contains information pest management professionals can use to effectively incorporate dusts into their treatment arsenals and provide excellent penetration into hard-to-reach areas, fast knockdown and long-term results, the company said. The guide features dusting recommendations for various pests, environments where insecticide dusts are appropriate and application tips to help PCOs apply dust more effectively. The guide includes sections detailing features, benefits and advantages of dust formulations; the proper way to apply insecticide dusts to achieve superior coverage and control crawling pests; and equipment recommendations. Stop by booth No. 1021 to learn more. 

Amvac to showcase Wisdom and Deadline T&O

Stop by Amvac’s booth (No. 521) to learn about its products, including: Wisdom TC Flowable — a termiticide containing the active ingredient bifenthrin; Wisdom Lawn Granular — a granular formulation of bifenthrin to control various ants (including fire ants), mole crickets and other insects on lawns in landscaped areas and perimeters around structures; Wisdom EZ — a specially formulated product with a unique biodegradable, and water-dispersible granular base; and Deadline T&O — a high-end slug and snail bait product.

Grab MicrobeMax Dollars

Waterbury Companies announces the launch of CB MicrobeMAX Volumetric Drain Foam and Continuous Cleaning System for drain flies. MicrobeMAX is a non-genetically engineered bacterial system designed to leave a clean scent while eliminating fats, oils and grease, scum buildup and odors in drains, cracks and crevices and on surfaces. Available in two sizes, the 20-ounce aerosol can treats up to seven drains, while the continuous cleaning system replaces the old five-gallon system. MicrobeMAX is safe for all pipes, grease traps, septic systems and sewers. Stop by booth No. 815 to grab some MicrobeMAX dollars and to learn more about the new Waterbury Companies introductory offer.

Mattress Safe achieves accreditation

Mattress Safe (booth No. 1111) has successfully accredited its mattress and box spring encasements as “Bed Bug Certified.” This initial testing for the “Bite Test” and the “Penetration and Escape Test” was performed during a four-week period. Mattress Safe reports that the same trials were allowed to continue for a period of one year (utilizing the initial subjects), and not one bed bug escaped.  All specimens are now dead. To see these initial tests in detail or for more information visit www.mattresssafe.com or call 888/405-5335.

Learn about Truly Nolen franchise opportunities

Stop by booth No. 1125 to learn about becoming a Truly Nolen franchisee. Truly Nolen has been providing family-friendly pest solutions for 70 years. The mouse logo is found coast to coast and around the world. The company brand is powerful and effective and is still available in many areas. Truly Nolen knows how to find and keep customers and they share that knowledge with its franchisees.

Get a free sample of InVict Gold Cockroach Gel from Rockwell Labs

The first product in Rockwell Laboratories Ltd’s new imidacloprid-based line of products is now here. Visit Rockwell Labs at booth No. 327 to pick up a free sample of new InVict Gold Cockroach Gel. The product is formulated for extremely rapid control of roaches. It utilizes a bait matrix that combats bait aversion and maximizes control, the manufacturer reports. Bait rotation with different formulation types is important to combat bait aversion and poor control. InVict is accepted quickly by both “normal” and “bait averse” roaches. The formulation is convenient to use and has excellent consistency — it doesn’t run in the hottest weather, yet it is still easy to dispense in cold weather. InVict Gold Cockroach Gel comes packaged in boxes of five 35-gram syringes.

Tamlyn offers retrofit weep hole covers

Weep holes on masonry wall construction, while necessary to vent moisture, are an open door to a home or building for pests. Once inside pests can chew on wires, eat food and spread pathogens like Salmonella or transmit Lyme disease. Tamlyn’s Retrofit Weep Hole Covers have an adjustable feature that allows usage with all brick sizes, stone and block. The covers help maintain good indoor air quality objectives accepted by US EPA/Green Building Programs while allowing weep holes to drain/vent. Visit Tamlyn at booth (No. 210) to learn more.

Learn about new BOR-RAM WP

Visit Sostram at booth No. 1025 to learn about BOR-RAM WP. Following the 2008 launch of BOR-RAM, Sostram’s glycol-borate termiticide, insecticide and fungicide, the company has introduced BOR-RAM WP, a new disodium octaborate tetrahydrate formulation. BOR-RAM WP is a wettable powder formulation borate product that can be applied inside or out as a spray, foam or dust to protect wood and other labeled materials from wood decay fungi, wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants and termites. It can be used alone as a termiticide, insecticide or fungicide or with other termite control products such as baits and soil treatments. BOR-RAM WP is available in 1½-pound bags and 25-pound pails.

NPMA celebrates 75th anniversary

Washington, D.C., is the National Pest Management Association’s home and the city that hosted NPMA’s first annual convention in 1933. This is a city that makes history, and at PestWorld 2008 the professional pest management industry will celebrate its own as the 75th anniversaries of the association and the convention are commemorated.

On Oct. 2, 1933, in Washington, the decision was made to formally endorse the National Association of Exterminators and Fumigators Inc. — a national association to unite and represent the exterminating and fumigating service industry. This was accomplished at the first annual convention with an attendance of 50 participants from Maine to Texas.

In 2008, NPMA returns to this beautiful city just weeks before one of the most historic presidential elections in U.S. history with thousands of pest management professionals from around the world.

Throughout the four days of PestWorld, NPMA will celebrate its anniversaries with special events and special moments. And in honor of the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the National Pest Management Association and the PestWorld convention, the association will step back in time to the 1930s for a memorable evening of “Puttin’ on the Glitz,” a black tie-optional dinner and dance, sponsored by Nisus Corp. Entertainment for this special event will feature the award-winning big band, Doc Scantlin & His Imperial Palms Orchestra. Labeled as the “best band in town” by the Washington Post, Doc’s 17-person ensemble offers musical entertainment from the 1920s to the 1940s.
Also during this year’s convention, NPMA will give special thanks to those who have led the association over the years, including past presidents and member companies, as well as share nostalgic moments of its history.

Living Past Presidents of NPMA

• William J. Spitz 
• William E. Blasingame Sr.
• John R. Cook Sr.
• Harold S. Stein Jr.
• H. William Ives 
• Norman Goldenberg 
• Douglas R. MacPherson 
• T. Roy Young III
• Robert J. Dold 
• Vernon L. McKinzie 
• Phillip G. Clegg 
• Rufus (Bubba) L. Tindol III
• Lawrence S. Musgrove
• Phil W. Gregory 
• Norman Cooper  • Linden L. Griffin
• W. Jay Nixon 
• Lawrence R. Treleven
• Robert L. Kunst 
• Richard E. Sameth 
• John S. Patton 
• Ward A. Combs II
• Bonnie Everts 
• Judy Dold 
• Bobby Jenkins 
• Donnie Blake 
• Phillip Augustine 
• Steve Scherzinger 
• Bernard N. Holst Jr.
• Michael Rottler