[March News]

Stan Howell to Lead Global Pest Management Business at Dow

INDIANAPOLIS — Dow AgroSciences announced that Stan Howell has assumed the responsibilities of vice president of Global Pest Management. Howell replaces Elin Miller, who announced she is leaving Dow AgroSciences to pursue personal interests.

Howell, vice president of North America, Dow AgroSciences, will be merging Miller’s responsibilities into his current position, which involves responsibility for Dow’s crop business, turf and ornamental, range and pasture, and industrial vegetation management businesses.

Howell will be returning to a position he formerly held at Dow. He served as vice president of Global Pest Management for Dow AgroSciences prior to Miller. "I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with the business, including the folks here at Dow AgroSciences and the customer base," he said.

Howell said his goal is to continue to grow the Sentricon business. "We think that we have a very innovative termite solution in Sentricon. We remain very excited about that product and we’re looking forward to moving it forward," he said. "Also, we recently received our Profume registration and we are excited about getting that product launched."

Miller will be transitioning out of Dow AgroSciences by the end of the first quarter ’04. In a statement, Miller explained her decision: "I am excited about the future and opportunities for the pest management business. As I always say, it is the people that are the true measure of a solid business. I’m confident we have a strong team in place to help deliver on our strategy," she says. "It is with this knowledge and confidence that I share with you that I have elected to leave Dow AgroSciences. This is a very exciting time for my family as we pursue different personal interests."

Miller was chosen to lead the Global Urban Pest Business Unit for Dow Agro-Sciences in 2000. The company reorganized in 2002 and Miller became vice president of Global Pest Management. Earlier in her tenure with Dow, Miller was global vice president of public affairs for Dow Chemical.

In addition to her duties as vice president of Global Pest Management at Dow, Miller serves as Chairman of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) and the President’s Cabinet of California Polytechnic University.

Dan Untiedt of MGK will become chairman upon Miller’s departure. He is now vice-chair of RISE.

World’s largest termite swarms; BASF launches Inside-Out

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Termites are an all-too-familiar sight to millions of American homeowners, but never have they seen one as large as the 20-feet high, 60-feet long inflatable termite that will be descending upon 21 cities as the Towering Termite Tour, sponsored by Termidor Termite Control, swarms coast to coast this spring.

Wrapping in Sacramento on July 1, the Towering Termite Tour will travel to more than 8,000 miles to 15 states on a mission to showcase the good, the bad, and the just plain strange sides of these hungry, destructive pests. Within the belly of the 20-foot bug (69,000 times the size of a real termite), families will find colorful science exhibits and interactive games aimed at educating children — and their parents — about termite biology and the newest methods being used to protect homes from the dramatic damage termites can cause.

Admission to the tour is free in each city.

The tour schedule can be found at www.ToweringTermiteTour.com.

In other news at BASF, the company recently announced the creation of Inside-Out, a program for ant and cockroach control. With Inside-Out, pest management professionals have two products to use: Termidor for nonrepellent ant control outside, and Phantom for nonrepellent ant and cockroach control inside.

For more information about the program, visit www.pestcontrolfacts.com.

Eric Snell forms new consulting & research company

BARNESVILLE, GA. — Eric Snell has left his position as director of research, marketing, and sales for pest control products with B&G Equipment Company, and has announced the formation of Snell Scientifics LLC, a research and consulting firm for the pest control industry.

The main focus of Snell Scientifics is to meet the needs of chemical companies (and other product companies) with consulting support, hands-on discovery research, patent work and technical marketing support, he said.

Snell said he plans to support pest control companies and food manufacturers on a research level by performing lab and field research as well as consulting work.

Snell can be contacted at Snell Scientifics LLC, 472 Cannafax Road, Barnesville, GA 30204, 770/358-4591.

HomeTeam Pest Defense acquires Garden Plus

DALLAS, TEXAS — HomeTeam Pest Defense announced it has acquired Garden Plus Pest Control & Termite of Pittsburg, Calif.

The acquisition adds 13,500 customers and 98 employees to HomeTeam’s pest management operations in California. "This acquisition will allow the company to expand while focusing on customer service," said Bob Wanzer, president of HomeTeam Pest Defense. "With a 30-year history in California, we are pleased to welcome Garden Plus customers and employees to HomeTeam. We’re all excited about the opportunity to continue our growth with such a well-run and established company."

The company will continue to handle sales, service and customer care through the Garden Plus offices located in Fairfield, Pittsburg and Santa Rosa. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Tullius Company, a merchant-banking firm located in Portland, Ore., represented and acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Garden Plus Pest Control.

Dow announces Profume registration; launches new termite bait

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Jan. 26 accepted a Federal Section 3, FIFRA registration for ProFume gas fumigant, developed and manufactured by Dow AgroSciences LLC for postharvest control of insect and rodent pests infesting cereal grains, dried fruit and tree nuts in mills, processing plants, storage facilities and transportation vehicles for these commodities.

"Many millers and processors have been anxiously awaiting this product registration," says Drew Ratterman, marketing specialist, Dow AgroSciences. "They view ProFume as an effective product they can easily incorporate into their current operations."

Postharvest insect pests that infest structures used for storage and processing of grains and dried fruit and tree nuts can cause substantial economic and quality losses. ProFume provides fumigators, millers and processors a reliable solution for stored product pest control in the postharvest fumigation market. Efficacy research, including field trials, shows ProFume provides broad-spectrum control of all life stages without negatively affecting the equipment or the facility.

ProFume is being offered through a cooperative program based on a high level of product stewardship. Dow AgroSciences account representatives and ProFume fumigators work together to utilize innovative tools and thinking in order to create customized fumigation plans that meet the specific needs of individual fumigation customers. Training programs, both classroom and in the field, will educate users on label application parameters and safety guidelines for ProFume.

For more information about ProFume gas fumigant, visit www.ProFume.com.

In other news at Dow AgroSciences, the company announced the development of Recruit IV, a new termite bait designed to enhance the Sentricon System, during the company’s annual AO meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla. Recruit IV was developed to deliver faster elimination and to reduce monitoring visits by pest management professionals. Dow AgroSciences says it is hopeful Recruit IV will receive EPA approval by the end of this year.

More than 270 authorized operators attended the three-day event. In addition to the Recruit IV announcement, attendees got a first-hand look at new Medieval-themed Sentricon television ads that began airing on cable television stations (e.g., ESPN, HGTV, CNN) and also received marketing and service tips from prominent AOs such as Harvey Massey, Massey Services, Orlando, Fla.

Arrow Exterminators: 2 new offices, 2 acquisitions

ATLANTA, GA. — Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators has kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration by opening new branch offices in Marietta, Ga., and Warner Robbins, Ga., and by acquiring pest control businesses in Perry, Ga., and Nashville, Tenn.

Arrow also announced that it has acquired Bennett Pest Control in Perry and will fold that business into the new Warner Robbins branch. Harpeth Pest Control in Nashville was acquired in October to expand business in Arrow’s existing Nashville operation.

Arrow Exterminators Inc. has revenues of $68 million and 47 offices in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, Texas and Nevada.

Industry mourns Charles Houghton, NEPCA founder

HINGHAM, MASS. — Charles Wilson Houghton, longtime owner of Safety Fumigant Co., and founder/past president of the New England Pest Control Association (NEPCA), died Dec. 22, 2003, at age 93.

Houghton was involved in the pest control industry for parts of eight decades. He consulted the Army and Navy on pest control issues during WWII. He was founder of the New England Pest Control Association and president from 1939 to 1940; president of the National Pest Control Association from 1960 to 1961.

Houghton received the Bartlett W. Eldredge Award for distinguished service from the New England Pest Management Association at age 90.

Houghton perfected early use of fumigants for ship, railroad and historical building fumigations. He was president of Safety Fumigant from 1965-1980.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Chapel by the Sea, Captiva Island, FL 33924; or the First Congregational Church, 329 Main St., Yarmouthport, MA 02625.

EcoLab completes European pest elimination acquisition

ST. PAUL, MINN. — EcoLab Inc. announced it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Nigiko, a Paris-based provider of commercial pest elimination services throughout France. Nigiko primarily operates through Amboile Services, which is one of the leading providers of pest elimination services in France. Nigiko pest elimination sales are approximately EUR 45 million ($55 million). No other details were announced.

EcoSMART products named National Organic Compliant

FRANKLIN, TENN. — EcoSMART Technologies’ line of minimum-risk pesticides and herbicides meet the criteria defined in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program. All EcoEXEMPT products, which are exempt from Federal EPA registration under FIFRA 25(b), are approved for organic programs and can be used where organic foods are shipped, processed or stored. The products are marketed under the brand name EcoEXEMPT.

The National Organic Program (NOP) was developed to facilitate domestic and international marketing of agricultural products that are organically produced and to assure consumers that such products meet consistent, uniform standards. Any farm, wild crop harvesting or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced must adhere to the national organic standards.

EcoSMART currently markets several minimum-risk products under the EcoEXEMPT brand, including a dust (EcoEXEMPT D), a concentrate that can also be used for fogging (EcoEXEMPT IC), a granule (EcoEXEMPT G) as well as a herbicide concentrate (EcoEXEMPT HC). The company plans to add several aerosols to its minimum-risk line in 2004.

EcoSMART Technologies’ main office and laboratories are located in Franklin, Tenn. For more information, call 888/326-7233 or visit www.ecopco.com.

North Carolina Pest Control Association awards scholarships

DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Pest Control Association awarded two $1,500 scholarships to North Carolina State University students pursuing pest management concentrations.

Patricia McKeithan Alder, a master’s degree candidate in entomology, received the award to assist with her thesis work in comparative treatment strategies to control Argentine ants. Patrick Rivenbark, a student at N.C. State’s Agriculture Institute, started his degree by taking classes in turfgrass and animal science, which led to courses in horticulture and pest management.

For more information about the scholarships, visit www.ncpca.org.

Orthene Crack & Crevice pressurized residual label revision reminder

ST. LOUIS, MO. — In 2001, the manufacturer of acephate and EPA came to an agreement to revise the manufacturing label for indoor residential use. Acephate is the active ingredient used in Orthene Crack & Crevice pressurized residual. Whitmire Micro-Gen revised the Orthene label in 2001 and has been marketing the product with a revised label since October. Distributors may continue to sell the product with the indoor residential label until their stock is depleted. End users may continue to buy and use existing stock of the indoor product with the residential label until it is depleted.

For more information, call 800/777-8570, or visit www.wmmg.com.

Watch All Pest Management hosts NEPMA meeting at new headquarters

WEYMOUTH, MASS. — Watch All Pest Management has relocated its headquarters to a new building in Weymouth, Mass.

Owners Steve Comrack and Peter Certa moved into the new building about 2½ years ago, but they recently showcased the facility by hosting the New England Pest Management Association’s 70th meeting. All of the evening’s dinner funds were donated to the NEPMA Mark Weintraub Scholarship fund. More than $2,000 was raised.

Compelling Communications Redesigns Web Site

ST. LOUIS, MO. — Compelling Communications recently announced a complete redesign of the company’s Web site, www. compelcom.com.

Users can also click into the company’s sister site, www.TheEdgeUp.com where they can get customer service information and order the new book, The Edge Up.

Rottler acquires Proguard Pest & Termite Control

ST. LOUIS, MO. — In November Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions and Proguard Exterminators signed an agreement whereby Rottler acquired Proguard for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition of Proguard gives Rottler a third branch, a location in Ellisville, Mo. All of Proguard’s employees have been given the option to work for Rottler and, for the time being, will be based out of Ellisville, according to the company.

SYMBIOT CREATES ONE2ONE COACHING SOLUTION

LEXINGTON, KY — Symbiot Business Group, administrators of national pest management, landscaping and interiorscaping networks, announced the creation of One2One Coaching, a business consulting service utilizing recognized experts, said Drew St. John, president and chief operating officer.

Beginning in January, Symbiot Partners and Sales Partners were able to schedule two-hour telephone consultations with experts in business operations, technology, human resources, business strategy and more. Consultations can be purchased in subscriptions of one, two or four sessions per year. "These consultations are exclusively for Symbiot Partners and Sales Partners who need specific, targeted help from an expert," St. John said. "With One2One Coaching, you can pick your expert based on your needs, and receive their advice without having to pay for their air travel, hotel, or meal expense."

Consultants for the One2One Coaching include: Bruce Wilson and Tom Oyler of Wilson-Oyler Group; Barb Helfman of Creative Consultants; Tim Shields and Brent Totman of CompuScapes/Requisite Solutions; Larry Fish of GreenSearch; and Steve Glover, Symbiot CEO

For more information visit www.symbiot.biz.

Comings & Goings

Joe Malinowski has joined B&G Equipment Company in Jackson, Ga., as the vice president for the Professional Products Group.

Whitmire Micro-Gen recently announced three new hires. David Nardolilli has been added to the company’s sales team as regional technical specialist for the Mid-Atlantic territory consisting of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Ed Marshall has been named regional technical specialist for the Midwest region including Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. Mike Symmes was hired as regional technical specialist for the West coast, specifically California, Nevada, the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.

J.F. Oakes Sales & Marketing recently announced the addition of Warren Vannest to its sales team. He will be responsible for product sales in the professional pest control industry in the Southeastern states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and eastern Tennessee.