[May News]

Bill abolishing the Texas Structural Pest Control Board passes House; on to Senate

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A bill that would abolish the Texas Structural Pest Control Board (TSPCB) and transfer its functions to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), passed the Texas House of Representatives  in late April. House Bill 2458 was passed in the House by a vote of 137-2 and has been sent to the Senate.

“We are sort of reeling now, because we had no idea it was going to get slammed like that,” Ken Myers, executive director of the Texas Pest Control Association (TPCA), told PCT following the House vote.

In recent years, the board had come under fire from many Texas PCOs for having shifted from being in compliance-assisted mode to 100 percent enforcement. Still, after some debate, TPCA threw its weight behind saving the board — with changes. TPCA concluded it was better to be regulated by TSPCB as opposed to TDA, a department less familiar with TPCA and its members.

“We met with Sunset Committee members last year and recommended that the board remain intact with changes,” Myers said.

The Sunset Committee voted 6-5 last year to abolish the board, and its recommendations were passed along to the House.

Despite the setback in the House Myers said TPCA will continue to lobby for the board in the Senate. — Brad Harbison

Industry mourns loss of Liphatech’s Mark Lacey

WILMINGTON, DEL. — Dr. Mark Lacey, a well-known pest control industry author and speaker who most recently worked for Liphatech, passed away unexpectedly on April 30. He was 58.

Lacey is perhaps best remembered as a frequent speaker on a wide variety of topics at local, state, regional and national meetings and as author of The Urban IPM Handbook, co-author of the PCT Field Guide for the Management of Urban Spiders and the PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-Infesting Beetles (Volume II), as well as numerous technical articles.

Since 2003, Lacey has served as district sales manager of Liphatech’s northeast territory. “Mark was virtually an icon in the industry and a tremendous asset to the company; he will be missed,” said Liphatech CEO Carl Tanner. “He was an extremely knowledgeable professional — and scientist at heart — who loved the pest control industry.”

Added Al Smith, director of marketing and business development, Liphatech, “Mark meant a great deal to Liphatech. When we hired Mark we looked at his extensive pest control background and experiences and decided that he was the right person to move into that position and hit the ground running.”

Prior to joining Liphatech, Lacey was a technical consultant for the National Pest Management Association (2001-03). He also was a former technical director for Paragon Professional Pest Control Products, and was president of the consulting firm International Pest Management Network. He also was a member of the American Entomological Society, Pi Chi Omega, Entomological Society of America and American Arachnological Society.  A 1971 graduate of the University of Delaware, Lacey earned both his master’s and Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell University.

Contributions can be made to Richardson Park United Methodist Church, Mathes and Maryland Avenues, Wilmington, DE 19804; or the Delaware Humane Society, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Dave Morris to lead T&O business for Dow AgroSciences

INDIANAPOLIS — In addition to his current role as commercial leader for the company’s Pest Management business, David A. Morris has been named commercial leader of the Turf and Ornamental and Technical Products business for Dow AgroSciences.

The move marks his return to the turf and ornamental group after having previously served as the marketing manager in the business for several years before becoming a global business leader for two different product lines.
In his new expanded role, Morris will manage both pest management and turf and ornamental sales and marketing activities nationwide. He will manage five district managers, a national account manager and three marketing specialists across the product portfolios.

ASPCRO annual meeting to be held in August

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) announced that its annual meeting will take place Aug. 25-29, at the Charleston Place Hotel, Charleston, S.C.
A highly regarded speaker lineup will discuss regulatory issues including mosquito misting, termite regulations and the future of certification and training. The conference also includes multiple opportunities to visit historic Charleston.
Visit http://www.aspcro.org/htm/2007meeting.htm to register for the conference.

NPMA Academy set for July in Tucson

FAIRFAX, VA. — NPMA Academy, sponsored by Syngenta Professional Products, features management sessions and networking opportunities for motivating and developing the pest management industry’s emerging leaders.
This year’s Academy, titled “Ready, Set, Grow,” takes places July 19-21 at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz. NPMA Academy provides opportunities for tangible business growth by challenging conventional thinking in a spirited, team-building environment. Some of the speakers at this year’s Academy include: Jean Seawright, president of Seawright & Associates; Gary Curl, president of Specialty Products Consultants; Terry Brock, president and CEO of Achievement Systems; and Republican strategist Kellyanne Conway.

Visit www.npmapestworld.org for information and registration information.

Cleveland association presents Tom Evans award to Steve Scherzinger

CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Pest Control Association (GCPCA) announced its executive leadership for 2007 at the group’s annual spring banquet in April.

“This is a great industry. There’s a very special place for the folks in Ohio. There’s a passion for what you do in Ohio,” said Bob Rosenberg, senior vice president, National Pest Management Association. “I congratulate you for all that you do.”

But Rosenberg told the assembled pest control operators that the industry could face challenges with the new Democrat-controlled Congress, which is pressuring President George Bush’s administration on a wide range of issues, including the environment. While Rosenberg acknowledged that many Democrats in Congress have been friendly to pest control industry issues, several of the Democrats now chairing committees have not. For example, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the new chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has tried to attach “non-industry friendly” school pest control legislation as amendments to existing bills. “Having Democrats in charge of the House is a very dangerous thing for us. The people who control the floor don’t like us,” Rosenberg said. “Who’s going to vote no for protecting children from pesticides?”

GCPCA announced its new officers at the meeting:

• Rich Kozlovich, Ohio 2000 Pest Management, president 
• Steve Kmetz, Certified Pest Control, vice president 
• Billy Kirchner, Jr., Cleveland Chemical Pest Control, secretary/treasurer 
• John Zuchelli, Central Exterminating, chairman of the board 
• Dave Bennett, Bugs Bennett Pest Control, board member
• Tim Hughart, Central Exterminating, board member 
• Molly Patton, Patton Pest Control, board member 
• Gary Caldwell, Acme Pest Control, board member
  

Also at the banquet, the Tom Evans Award was presented to Steve Scherzinger, president of Cincinnati-based Scherzinger Pest Control.
“I appreciate the award. I’m very proud to be the fifth person to represent Ohio as president of NPMA,” Scherzinger said. — Chuck Bowen

Pest control veterans test skills during ACE class

EL PASO, TEXAS — At the Texas Pest Control Association’s annual Greater El Paso Workshop in March, nine applicants tried out the first offering of a new class designed to prepare pest management professionals to pass the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) certification exam. Passing the ACE exam is required for certification under the Certification Board of the Entomological Society of America.

“It turned into a back-to-school day for the participants,” said Dr. Bob Davis, a board certified entomologist working for BASF Specialty Products and one of the organizers of the event.

“The class covered most of the topics pest management professionals need to pass the ACE examination. The fact that everyone was serious about learning made the whole experience fun for us too,” Davis added. “This was the first of what we hope will be many training courses to prepare PMPs to be certified. We told the guys that they were the guinea pigs today.”

Despite having extensive experience in pest control, nearly everyone found they had something new to learn and lots of old neglected knowledge that just needed a little refreshing.

“It’s a bit humbling to realize what you don’t know,” said Dennis Maloney, an IPM consultant and trainer from Amarillo, Texas. “Rarely have I been in a class with so many qualified teachers. I highly recommend the experience.”
In addition to Davis, six other volunteers pitched in to conduct the training. They included Dr. Mike Merchant, professor and entomologist with Texas Cooperative Extension, as well as sales representatives Martyn Hafley of FMC Corporation, Ronnie Holder of BASF Specialty Products, Scott Smith of Bell Laboratories, Dean May of Whitmire Micro-Gen Research Laboratories, and Ross Eckstein of DuPont Professional Products.
At the conclusion of the six-hour training, participants were given the opportunity to take the ACE exam.

“The exam was challenging, but fair,” said Maloney. “I definitely recommend downloading the ACE study guide, getting the study books and studying, studying, studying … before taking the exam.”

The ACE certification program, begun in 2004, is a credentialing program for pest control professionals with at least seven years experience in the pest control industry. According to Davis, all ACE applicants must provide proof of experience, agree to subscribe to the ACE code of ethics, must have an active pesticide applicator’s license and earn a score of at least 75 percent on the exam.

For questions about the ACE certification program, or to request a full-day ACE prep class as part of a continuing education program, contact the Entomological Society of America by calling 301/731-4535 or visiting the certification program Web site at www.entsoc.org/certification. — Michael Merchant, Texas A&M University

Permakil, BASF host bed bug seminar in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — The national bed bug resurgence has had far-reaching implications, impacting not only PCOs but other entities, including apartment managers. Generally speaking, apartment managers who have been educated about bed bugs are more cooperative and have a greater understanding of the value pest control operators bring to the table.

It’s for this reason that Permakil, along with BASF and the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association, held Bed Bug University April 24 in Sharonville, Ohio (in the Cincinnati area).

About 300 people, including 50 pest management professionals, attended the one-day seminar that featured presentations by University of Kentucky Entomology Professor Dr. Michael Potter, BASF Market Development Specialist Bob Hickman, and Kevin Brewer, an attorney from the law firm Katz, Greenberger & Norton.

Potter set the stage for the seminar by explaining just why he calls bed bugs “the perfect storm.” “You have a cryptic, blood-sucking parasite that bites people at night while they are sleeping. If that wasn’t enough they bite people in the most intimate of places — I don’t mean on their bodies — but places like bedrooms, where people go to get away from what life throws at them.

“Our arsenal of effective insecticides to control bed bugs is dangerously depleted. We’ve lost a number of highly effective products. To top it all off, when someone got bit by a bed bug in 1937 or 1942, it was another one of life’s little annoyances. Today when they get bit, they want to sue. This is not sub-Saharan Africa — people are not accustomed to being bit by a blood-sucking parasite.”

Potter then provided a history of bed bugs, explained popular control options and detailed some of his observations working with these pests in the lab and in the field. Potter encouraged apartment managers to hire pest management professionals because “detailed inspections require professionals” and because they also are equipped with the products and knowledge to do the job correctly.

One of Potter’s more interesting observations was that bed bug-related lawsuits are being filed not because of physical harm caused by bed bugs (bed bugs haven’t been shown to transmit diseases) but because of the emotional trauma they cause.

BASF’s Hickman spoke more in-depth about products used to control bed bugs. Hickman noted that bed bug treatments require a combination of non-chemical solutions (including exclusion, vacuuming, steaming and thermal eradication) as well as chemical solutions. Hickman said that today’s pesticides are not a “silver bullet,” and that each has advantages and disadvantages, which is why he recommended using a variety of pesticides. — Brad Harbison

PPMA launches new Web site, radio campaign

FAIRFAX, VA. — Homeowners seeking more information on ways to protect their home from pests and the health and property threats they pose can now visit www.whatisIPM.org for Integrated Pest Management information and techniques.

The Professional Pest Management Alliance’s latest national research study, conducted in January 2007 with Harris Interactive, showed that 67 percent of all respondents were not at all knowledgeable about IPM. The dynamic site features an interactive home that visitors can navigate for IPM techniques both inside and outside their home. Regular updates and enhancements will continue including news and information surrounding IPM in schools and businesses.
PPMA also announced the launch of the industry’s national radio campaign, which began in April and runs until  May 27. The focus of this national radio initiative is to raise awareness on the value of using professional pest management services. The call to action is to visit the NPMA consumer Web site, www.pestworld.org, for more information.

This campaign is running nationally on the CBS News Network, The Osgood Files, Dave Ross, The Business Radio Network including Wall Street Journal Daybreak, CNBC, DowJones and Marketwatch. In addition, new this year, PPMA has added the Point of Purchase Networks, which is in-store radio at more than 40 retail food and drug chains at more than 7,800 locations nationwide. Retailers include Eckerd, Kmart, A&P, Food Lion, Pathmark, Superfresh, Wegmans and more. Finally, PPMA is continuing its successful Radio Disney radio spots and Web presence. For additional information about the Professional Pest Management Alliance, visit www.npmapestworld.org/PPMA/.

PestEX 2007 draws international crowds

LONDON — Visitors from far and wide flocked to PestEX 2007, held in April at ExCeL, in the docklands area of London. Nearly 1,350 visitors from more than 30 countries attended the two-day event.

Organized by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), 67 exhibitors networked with visitors and showed off their new product developments. Digital products were strongly represented at this year’s event. A large portion of the exhibitors came from Europe as well as the United States. “PestEX has now established itself as the leading international event within Europe,” said Oliver Madge, chief executive officer, BPCA. “If you are a manufacturer or consultancy interested in trading overseas, PestEX is the place to be.”
In addition to the exhibition, PestEX contained a series of technical seminars. An entire seminar was devoted to the ever-increasing international problem of bed bugs. A recent survey has shown that reported bed bug infestations in London are rising at an alarming rate of 25 percent each year, a problem London is working to curtail prior to the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

PestEX also offered numerous networking opportunities. Attendees were able to admire the view of the old docklands area during the conference. — Frances McKim, BPCA

Residex manager to donate hair to ‘Locks of Love’

CRANFORD, N.J. — Pete Elbert’s pony tail is just one of the many things that makes him unique. Elbert, a Residex Jacksonville district manager, became a Residex employee almost two years ago when Residex purchased Elbert Specialty Products, originally founded by Pete and his father, Ed Elbert.
On June 25 at the Florida Pest Management Association Convention & Exposition, Elbert will put his pony tail on the auction block. The highest bidder will have the opportunity to cut his hair (in any style that he or she wishes). The hair and the winning donation will go to Locks of Love, a Lake Worth, Fla.-based non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

To bid on cutting Pete’s hair or to make a donation contact Bobby Kossowicz at 800/998-2847, extension 516. Residex operates distribution facilities in eight states with 17 locations. 

PCO News

Rottler Pest and Lawn Solutions, St. Louis, acquired the Missouri offices of Springer Pest Solutions of Des Moines, Iowa, as well the Missouri offices Summit Pest Control of Durham, N.C.

Viking Termite and Pest Control, located throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, acquired Knock-Out Pest Control. Founded by James J. Vigilante and based out of Parsippany, N.J., Knock-Out Pest Control primarily services commercial and property management accounts. Vigilante will remain with Viking in a consulting role.

RES•COM Pest Control, Tulare, Calif., held its annual Christmas party fundraiser late last year and the money raised by the gathering was donated to the Tulare Salvation Army. The fundraiser raised $65,000.

Orkin Pest Control, Atlanta, Ga., recently acquired the assets of four companies: Jim Batchelor Termite and Pest Control, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; JRG Exterminators, Millstone Township, N.J.; Jeepers Creepers Pest Control, Morgan City, La.; and General Pest Control Company, Durango, Colo.

American Pest Management, Takoma Park, Md., launched a company-wide blog initiative that will focus on pest control issues. Titled “Pest Control Community,” it can be found at www.americanpestmanagement.com. The blog includes 21 different authors, including five staff entomologists who share tips and techniques on how to control termite and other pests as well as alerts on local neighborhood bug outbreaks and how to control them. It also will include video clips from the field and images of various pests.

Gulf Coast Exterminating treated the historic Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Fla., using Premise for drywood termites. “This structure is valuable not only to Key West, but to the country,” says Michael Bairstow of Gulf Coast Exterminating. “We wanted to treat the Little White House with a product that would be effective quickly and provide long-lasting control to prevent any future damage from termites.”

Comings and Goings

Ron Nobile joined Residex as Southwest Florida district manager.
FMC Professional Solutions has announced a new organizational structure. Karen Westcott has been named marketing manager, FMC Professional Solutions. Neal Rightley has been named product manager — Pest Control Products. Mike Bonner has been named national sales manager — Pest Control. Rick Lewis has been named marketing and sales support manager — Pest Control. Michele Imel has been named territory business manager — Pest Control Northeast. Julie Spagnoli has been named manager of regulatory, planning and government affairs.

Massey Services, Maitland, Fla., announced the promotion of Karen Nix to residential pest prevention training and technical director.

Mike Tullos joined Charlotte, N.C.-based Black Pest Control as vice president of sales and marketing. Tullos  is responsible for all of the regional service centers in the Carolinas.

John Vermillion, founder and owner of The Bug Man Pest Control, was honored recently by the Indiana Pest Management Association (IPMA). During IPMA’s winter meeting, Vermillion was recognized for his 10 years of service on the Indiana Pesticide Review Board. The Board, appointed by the governor, oversees the sale, use and application of pesticides in Indiana.