[March News]

Orkin acquires Lester
Humphrey, California firms
ATLANTA — In January, Orkin finalized two acquisitions: Lester Humphrey Pest Control, Abilene, Texas; and Urban Entomology Associates, San Dimas, Calif.
Lester Humphrey Pest Control has been a family-owned pest control company for 62 years, servicing west Texas with two additional branches in San Angelo and Odessa. The company was founded by Lester Humphrey in 1944, and he expanded into west Texas to avoid the Dallas competition. Lester Humphrey Pest Control was most recently run by Pat Humphrey-Wicker, a 25-year industry veteran and a member of the National Pest Management Association Board, who will remain with Orkin to oversee the integration and manage the Lester Humphrey branches. The company will continue to operate as Lester Humphrey Pest Control, using their own logo, uniforms, vehicle decals and advertising.
“Lester Humphrey Pest Control is a very strong name in west Texas with an excellent reputation for quality service. By adding Lester Humphrey’s assets to our company, we have continued our efforts to acquire quality companies that add overall value, customers, employees and an excellent reputation to our company,” said Orkin President Glen Rollins. “We are very pleased that Pat Wicker will join us to help manage these top-quality branches.”
Urban Entomology Associates has been serving commercial accounts since 2002, when the company was founded by Jim Harmon. With expertise in specialty pest control, Urban Entomology Associates has performed pest management services for museums, libraries and school districts throughout the region. 
Urban Entomology Associates was previously owned by Harmon, a graduate entomologist from Purdue University, and his wife Gail. Both will remain with Orkin to oversee the integration and assist in the growth of the company’s specialty service accounts in the Los Angeles area and throughout the region.
Orkin will open a new service center at the firm’s former headquarters in San Dimas, where it will service existing Urban Entomology and Orkin customers.

FPMA gains support
for PCO exemption from
dig requirements
ORLANDO, FLA.— At their January meeting, the Board of Directors of Sunshine State One Call of Florida voted unanimously to support the exemption of pest control operators from the requirement of Chapter 556, Florida Statutes, Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act commonly known as “Call Before You Dig.”
Florida Pest Management Association Governmental Affairs Group Chairman D.R. Sapp Jr., accompanied by FPMA President-elect Jennifer Leggett-Thomas, FPMA Governmental Affairs Director Matt Dempsey, and attorney Dan Gerber of Rumberger, Kirk and Caldwell, met with the board of Sunshine State One Call of Florida to secure their support of the exemption. FPMA members Nick Dennis, All Seasons Pest Control, and Dale Godshall, Florida Pest Control and Chemical Company also attended.
Chapter 556, Florida Statutes, the Underground Utility Safety Law requires anyone planning to excavate around the area of a home to notify all utility companies whose lines may be involved to mark the location of the lines. In Florida, the notification process can be handled by calling Sunshine State One Call of Florida (SSOCOF). This non-profit organization, which is funded by utilities, takes the guesswork out of who to call. After receiving a call, SSOCOF passes needed information along to the various utilities involved. This process can take several days and require the rescheduling of pest control services for clients.
“We are amending their bill to specifically exempt Chapter 482, Florida Statutes, licensees (PCOs) from the requirement,” said Dempsey. “This exemption will save hundreds of thousands of dollars across our membership and the industry in terms of production time.”
Until the new law passes, PCOs should still contact Sunshine State One Call of Florida at www.callsunshine.com or 800/432-4770. Regardless of exemptions, service personnel and homeowners who do not “call before they dig” will still be liable for damage they may cause to a utility.
For more information, contact FPMA at 800/458-3466.

More honors and
recognition from
Purdue Conference
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. — In addition to the educational sessions, networking opportunities and product-filled showroom, the 70th Annual Purdue Pest Management Conference in January was an opportunity to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the pest management industry.
Those honored at Purdue included:
• Greg Campbell of Hatfield Pest Control, LaPorte, Ind. Campbell was recognized by Purdue and Gary Bennett in appreciation of Campbell’s efforts to promote continuing education throughout the pest control industry in Indiana. Campbell served two separate terms as president of the Indiana Pest Management Association.
• Veteran pest management professional Duane Edwards, who passed away in 1998, was inducted into the Indiana Pest Management Hall of Fame. Family members in attendance for a ceremony were Dave Edwards, owner of Eagle Pest Services, along with his wife and children.
• Univar and Dr. Bobby Corrigan presented a $1,000 check to the Indiana Pest Management Association for the organization’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. On hand for the presentation were Dr. Bobby Corrigan, RMC Pest Management Consulting; Tim Kaforke, Univar; Max Creek, POW Pest; and Syed Shah, Arab Termite & Pest Control.
• Purdue Professor Emeritus John Osmun, who joined Purdue University in 1948 and whose contributions include the development of a four-year curriculum in structural pest control at Purdue, was recognized during a special reception at the Purdue conference. Osmun is considered one of the most universally respected educators in the pest management industry.
Osmun’s career in pest control spans more than 50 years. Prior to arriving at Purdue, Osmun served as chief entomologist with the U.S. Army and a research entomologist with Merck & Co. Osmun joined the Purdue faculty in 1948 as an assistant professor of entomology, where he developed a four-year curriculum in structural pest control.
In the mid-1970s, Osmun left Purdue to become director of EPA’s Operations Division and he later served as a consultant to EPA. (He would later return to Purdue.) Osmun joined EPA during a time in which the agency’s role was placing more emphasis on setting standards. “I saw it as an opportunity to develop standards for applicators based on education,” Osmun said during January’s reception.
In looking to the pest management industry’s future, Osmun is optimistic. “You have the foundation of professional people working in the field, so I only see the industry getting better,” Osmun added.
Tom Turpin, a professor in Purdue’s Department of Entomology, emceed the ceremony. Along with Turpin, Osmun proteges Austin Frishman and Kathy Heinsohn spoke at the ceremony and both noted that one of Osmun’s enduring legacies is the number of Purdue entomology students he has impacted.
“John wakes up every day fighting to improve the industry,” Frishman said. “When you toss a pebble into a pond, the water ripples out. John’s contributions to the pest management industry continue to ripple out with a very positive effect.”

Sunair Services’ sales soar following Middleton purchase
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Sunair Services Corporation’s sales of $12,965,990 were up 154.5 percent (or $7,872,002) from the same quarter one year ago, the company announced recently.
Of those sales, $9,456,794 (or 72.9 percent) were attributed to the firm’s new lawn and pest control services segment. Net income (loss) for the quarter was $(364,543), compared to $372,405 reported in the first quarter of the previous year.
The company’s revenue in the first quarter increased primarily due to revenues received from acquisitions in the Lawn and Pest Control Services Division in fiscal 2005.
“Middleton, our lawn and pest control services brand, had another excellent quarter. They were able to continue to grow customer accounts organically, all while completing the acquisition and beginning the integration of Pest Environmental (aka Spa Creek Services), which closed Dec. 16, 2005,” said Sunair CEO John Hayes. “Our objective is to become a significant provider in the lawn and pest control services industry where we now service over 93,000 customer accounts.”
The company continues to incur costs, fees and amortization expenses in its home office that are associated with the establishment of its lawn and pest division.

Bayer ES announces call for entries for ‘Young Scientist of the Year’ contest
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Bayer Environmental Science, in partnership with the National Pest Management Association, announced the call for entries for the second Bayer Environmental Science “Young Scientist of the Year” contest, a scholarship and grant program for graduate students currently researching the pest management industry.
Applications and program criteria have been sent to colleges and universities around the country. In order to be eligible for the contest, an applicant must be a candidate for a master’s or doctoral degree at an accredited college or university.
“This entire industry, including academia, is Backed by Bayer and we feel it is important to recognize and encourage the next generation of researchers in our field,” said Michael Newhouse, marketing manager, General Insect Control and contest director.
Three finalists whose research advances knowledge on the biology, behavior, ecology or management of pest species will receive scholarships of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.
One individual selected as the “Young Scientist of the Year” will also receive a $10,000 grant to continue his or her research. In addition, a $1,000 scholarship will be donated to the general scholarship fund at the schools attended by each of the three finalists.
A panel of university and pest management industry professionals will determine the final awards, and the three finalists will present their research at the annual NPMA convention. The awards will be presented at PestWorld 2006 in Grapevine, Texas, in October.
For more information on Bayer Environmental Science or the “Bayer Environmental Science Young Scientist of the Year” program, call 800/233-6164, ext. 2496 or visit www.bayerprocentral.com.

Syngenta announces new head of Professional
Products division
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Rob Neill has been named vice president of Syngenta Professional Products for North America. Neill, formerly vice president of marketing for Syngenta Crop Protection, will oversee the Syngenta division that creates pest and vegetation management solutions for the golf, lawn and landscape, and ornamental industries.
“Rob has been instrumental in the development and execution of our business strategy in the U.S.,” said Valdemar Fischer, president of Syngenta Crop Protection in North America.
Neill has been with Syngenta and its legacy companies for more than 24 years, serving in global product management and overseeing marketing in the U.K. and Latin America.
Neill is a graduate of the University of Guelph (Canada) with a B.S. in agriculture and York University (Canada) with an M.B.A. He will be replaced by Travis Dickinson as vice president of marketing for Syngenta Crop Protection. Dickinson, who has been with Syngenta since 1986, has led business development for the Syngenta corn and soybean markets for the last two years.
Neill replaces Bill Lewis, who left Syngenta earlier this year to pursue other business interests.

Scimetrics targets
bubonic plague control, rats and fleas in Africa
WELLINGTON, COLO. — Scimetrics recently was a sponsor and company founder Richard Poché consulted for field research that could lead to control of bubonic plague in developing nations. Scimetrics and a grant from the CDC funded an independent laboratory, Genesis Laboratories, Wellington, Colo., which recently completed a field study in indigenous villages of northwest Uganda near the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Bubonic plague, carried by wild and commensal rodents, affects many people in east and southern Africa, especially Uganda and the DRC. Rodent disease epidemiologist Jeff Borchert led the field study with three Genesis scientists, including Jeff Mach and Timothy Linder. The black rat, Rattus rattus, was introduced to the area last century and now is an epizootic host of the disease. Commensal rats become infected with the disease by encountering wild rodents in the habitat surrounding villages. When infected rats die, their fleas are released into the environment and can seek humans and potentially infect them with the deadly disease. The field research was successful and could lead to low-cost plague control in these areas, Scimetrics reports.

BASF launches Termidor
All Star Technician Program
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — BASF said it recognizes the invaluable role that technicians play in the pest management industry and has launched a new initiative that will shine the spotlight on these unheralded stars of pest control — the Termidor All Star Technician Program, celebrating the dedication, skill and expertise of exceptional termite technicians.
BASF is accepting nominations for All Star Technicians from their supervisors and managers. In all, 16 grand prize winners will receive the “VIP treatment” as honored guests of BASF at the 2006 Major League Baseball All Star Game — including airfare, accommodations, entertainment and entry to the game, to be held July 11 in Pittsburgh. Select technicians will also be featured online and in Termidor marketing efforts throughout the year.
Staff managers can nominate their Termidor All Star Technician through a Web-based entry form — found online at www.PestControlFacts.com/allstar/ — by sending in a completed hard-copy entry form, available from BASF sales specialists or by downloading a version online.
The All Star Technician Program is the latest installment in BASF’s “Growing Beyond the Basics” initiative, which the company says fosters growth and profitability in the pest control industry.
Entries for the Termidor All Star Technician Program will be accepted through March 31. Winners will be announced May 1. Official rules can be found online at www.PestControlFacts.com/allstar/.

LESCO opens four new
Service Centers
CLEVELAND — LESCO continues growing its Service Center network, and pest management and turf professionals in Massachusetts, Ohio and California can get the products they need more conveniently than ever, the company says. The newest LESCO Service Centers are in West Wareham and Walpole, Mass.; Vandalia, Ohio; and Concord, Calif.
LESCO now has more than 300 Service Centers across the country, including 18 in Ohio, 17 in Massachusetts, and nine in California. Nationwide, LESCO has more than 300 Service Centers in 39 states. The company said it plans to continue driving its growth and better serving its customers by increasing the number of Service Centers 10 to 15 percent this year.

NPMA announces
International Travel Group
FAIRFAX, VA. — The National Pest Management Association announced the creation of the NPMA International Travel Group. Each year, NPMA said it will select an international pest management meeting and plan a pre-conference or post-conference trip for its members in conjunction with that particular meeting.
This year, the first-ever NPMA International Travel Group will visit Sydney, Australia, July 21-26 as a prelude to the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers Association convention in Brisbane, Australia, July 26-29. FAOPMA is the leading convention and trade show representing the pest management industry in Asia and the Pacific Rim. The FAOPMA conference will feature sessions on termites, vector control, rodents, cockroaches, red imported fire ants, methyl bromide replacements and a keynote presentation from the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stephen Johnson.
Arriving in Sydney on July 23, U.S. travelers will have time to explore the city as well as take part in customized guided tours, including an excursion to the Blue Mountains, Australia’s Grand Canyon. As part of their NPMA International Travel Group registration, members will also enjoy a NPMA-hosted welcome reception and other pest management related field trips while in Sydney. From Sydney, members will then travel to Brisbane to attend the conference.
For more information about the NPMA International Travel Group and to view a sample itinerary, as well as associated costs, visit www.npmapestworld.org/events or contact Dominique Stumpf at 703/352-6762 or dstumpf@pestworld.org.
For more information about the conference in Brisbane, visit www.faopmaustralia.org. Information is also posted on www.npmapestworld.org/events.

Cliff Mohrhaus launches consulting company
ATLANTA — Cliff Mohrhaus, a 35-year industry veteran with experience in management, sales, marketing, research and purchasing, has launched a new consulting service for the pest management industry.
Mohrhaus most recently served as vice president of Professional Products for Control Solutions from 2004-05, and as Verdicon’s business segments/strategic account manager from 2003-04. He also held sales and management positions at Dow for nearly 30 years.
Mohrhaus is skilled at working with a diverse mix of clients including manufacturers, distributors and end users, and he will use this experience to customize a consulting service based on client need. Mohrhaus said he will be serving multiple markets within the pest control industry. “Fundamentally, I want to help the customer solve their problems or fulfill their needs,” he said. “I’ll collaborate with the client and, based on their needs, they’ll determine if I’m the right person to supply this (service). I want to do less selling of me and more helping of them.”
Mohrhaus can be contacted at Mohrhaus Consulting, (Office) 678/352-0358, (Cell) 404/783-0987, clmbalt@aol.com.

Southern Mill Creek
Products of Ohio opens
St. Louis office
CLEVELAND — Southern Mill Creek Products of Ohio has opened a sales outlet in the St. Louis, Mo., area. The new office is located at Southern Mill Creek Products of Ohio, 99 Weldon Parkway, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, phone 877/686-4764 (toll-free), 314/872-7450 (local), e-mail smcpoh17@sbcglobal.net.
Kathryn Rodery will serve as branch manager, while Miles T. Wilson was named sales representative for this new sales outlet.

Randy Moser starts
work/life balance
consulting service
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Randy Moser, former professional pest management market manager of Syngenta Professional Products, has launched TMMG, a consulting service to assist individuals find a better work/life balance.
Moser, who recently retired from Syngenta, became interested in work/life balance three years ago after health problems forced him to re-examine his work/life balance.
TMMG features the LifeZone Team, a group of professionals who coach individuals on how to “optimize their lifestyles to balance competing responsibilities.” The LifeZone team provides the tools and coaching necessary for making changes. TMMG offers the LifeZone Balance Series to companies and/or individuals.
For more information contact TMMG, 336/812-9899, info@lifezn.net.

NPMA, Smigel partner for sales training workshops
FAIRFAX, VA. — The National Pest Management Association and Lloyd Smigel, a pest management industry sales expert, have partnered to present “Sales Techniques for Greater Profits: A Hands-On Training Seminar.” This series of one-day sales workshops this month are designed to help pest control companies and their employees grow and profit together through proven, tried and tested sales techniques that work in the pest management industry, NPMA says.
Sales Techniques for Greater Profits, instructed by Smigel, president of Care Management Consultants, will cover topics such as consultative sales, sales strategies for employees of all levels and how to close the deal. Presented in an interactive environment that encourages audience participation, attendees of these one-day seminars will get a practical approach to sales.
Sales Techniques for Greater Profits schedule and locations include:
• March 14: Embassy Suites Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, Ga.
• March 16: Embassy Suites in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
• March 21: Embassy Suites Phoenix Airport, Phoenix, Ariz.
• March 23: Embassy Suites in Irvine, Calif.
For more information or to register for a workshop, visit www.npmapestworld.org.
NPMA and Pest Control magazine are marketing partners for the Sales Techniques for Greater Profits seminars.

DuPont scientist awarded
7 millionth U.S. patent
WILMINGTON, DEL. — The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent & Trademark Office announced it has awarded U.S. Patent 7,000,000 to DuPont senior researcher Dr. John P. O’Brien for inventing “Polysaccharide Fibers.” Polysaccharide fibers are cotton-like fibers derived from biologically based renewable resources.
O’Brien, 54, has been a polymer chemist with DuPont since 1978. He holds 15 patents, including this one, for his research in the areas of advanced composites; high-performance fibers, including developmental work on DuPont Kevlar; and bio-based materials.
DuPont continued its tradition of turning science into solutions in 2004 by entering the pest control market with the introduction of Advion Fire Ant Bait.

Nixalite launches
new Web site
EAST MOLINE, ILL. — Nixalite recently relaunched its new interactive corporate Web site. This site has many new features, including a special log-in for bird control contractors and distributors. The site offers an online planning center where users can enter project information and with a click of a mouse, instantly get custom installation drawings for jobs, Nixalite says. Place orders online, receive instant quotes, download product information or just visit to see what’s new and on sale at nixalite.com
Register at www.nixalite.com in order to receive pest management professional and distributor discounts.

Odor control companies
announce merger
TORONTO, CANADA — Odor control companies Hydralogic Systems, Ecolo Odor Control Systems, and NuTech Environmental merged in December under a new Division of Hydralogic Systems — HLS Ecolo.
“We’ll support any dealer or distributor that’s looking for new revenue from their existing clients and markets,” said Paul Chapple, vice president of sales for HLS Ecolo. “The whole package is here — the products, technology, marketing support, and true science — with solutions that really deliver.”
Initial expansion plans focus on Canadian and U.S. markets. “We’re already in 37 countries with the best name in the odor business — and we have no intention of ignoring our international markets,” Chapple said.
For more information visit www.hlsecolo.com.

EcoSMART botanical
pesticides awarded honor at top investment conference
FRANKLIN, TENN. — EcoSMART Technologies was selected as the most promising investment opportunity by attendees at October’s Cleantech Venture Forum VIII in Washington, D.C. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the conference, which brought together venture investors and venture-grade, emerging clean technology investment opportunities.
“We’re honored to have been selected as the most promising investment opportunity by this forum,” said Steve Bessette, EcoSMART’s president. “The event is respected by the financial community and attended by participants in sustainable industries, government and financial sectors.”
EcoSMART’s formulations are derived from plant oils that harness nature’s own defenses against insects and other pests. Its line of interior and exterior formulations is effective against a broad spectrum of insect pests and provides both quick knockdown/kill and residual control, the company says.
“We believe that the market has unmet needs,” said Bessette. “EcoSMART is the company that can provide the cost-effective, patented products to help everyone from pest management professionals to farmers fight pest and weed problems organically.”
Worldwide, the Cleantech Venture Network serves more than 900 affiliate investor member firms and holds two forums in North America each year. More than $4.5 billion has been invested in “cleantech” ventures since 2002, $370 million of which has been raised by presenting companies at Cleantech Venture Forums.