[WHERE ARE THEY NOW?]: Harvey Gold

Nearly seven years after an uneasy public break from the industry, Harvey Gold reports that there is life after the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) — a good life.

"It wasn’t easy at first," Gold said. "Losing 11 years of our lives in a sudden forced departure is an unexpected life change."

Gold and his wife, Roberta, had always planned to retire to Oak Grove in the northern neck of Virginia, so he decided early on not to let his unexpected dismissal from the National Pest Control Association in 1995 knock them too far from that path. In fact, Gold says that his new situation inspired him to take the leap to pursue his retirement right away. "We decided we had had enough of doing for others," Gold said, "and it was time we did what we wanted to do for ourselves."

The Golds’ first order of business was to begin designing their dream home on the river. "Our house took 21 months, but it was worth the wait. There’s one level for us and when they visit, one for our children, five grandchildren and our many guests. It is an unusual design and all the living spaces face the water and the sunrise," Gold said. "We can see across to Maryland and to the horizon."

Gold says that he and his family often enjoy the local wildlife from their boat docked right out back. "Duck, herons, ospreys and eagles come and go all day long." The Golds’ have attached the moniker "Sunrise" to their estate because, as Gold explains, "it signifies a new beginning."

That new beginning began long before work on their new home was completed. During the nearly two years it took to finish the house Gold found time to do consulting work for several clients. In addition, he authored two children’s books. "My writing," Gold says, "led to working with local authors and Roberta and I chairing the First Mid-Atlantic Writer’s Conference in May of 2001. And, we have just completed the 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Writers Conference."

As if that didn’t keep him busy enough, Gold says that he found time for a little maintenance of both his body and soul. He ran a health club, got himself in shape and decided to become more active in his synagogue. "We now have the means to help, so we became involved in the building of a new synagogue to accommodate the growing membership in Fredericks-burg, Va.," Gold says. Two years ago, Harvey and Roberta helped create the 60 musician Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, a teaching and performing orchestra.

In 1998, Gold decided to go back to teaching and he is now an adjunct professor of biology and environmental science at the Rappahannock Community College and the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School. "My years of experience in environmental research and regulatory and legislative matters makes this an enjoyable experience and the selected superior learners that make up my classes keep me young."

Unable to break away from political issues, last year Gold began lobbying for the Builders Association in Fredericks-burg. "Local and state legislative activities are much more satisfying than those on the national level because they move so quickly and you can see the results of your efforts in months not years," he said.

PEST CONTROL MEMORIES. Since his departure from NPMA Gold says that he hasn’t broken all of his social ties to the industry. "We do keep up with some of the former staff. We remain very close with Debbie Conner and her family. We still keep up with Joel Paul, Kittie Rothschild, Mary MacDowell, Richard Kramer and Roger Doucette. Of the membership, Joe and Mary Wilson, Jimmy and Shirley Cotton and Jay Nixon have remained friends."

Upon reflecting Gold explains that after 11 years in association management, it would be impossible to boil his accomplishments down to one, most significant experience. "The work I did rebuilding NPCA and the staff (after being hired) is a major highlight," Gold says.

The development and introduction of joint membership, Gold says, was also an important accomplishment for him. Growing the annual convention and tradeshow both in size and scope was also a major contribution. And, most people won’t remember that Roberta, as a volunteer, created the Bug Store which was successful up to the time of our departure."

But, one of the most important contributions Gold cites were the negotiations with EPA over the removal of the much-used chlordane and heptachlor from the industry. "I believe the results were in the best interest of the public and it allowed the membership and the industry to keep their business running without severe and sudden harm," Gold says.

Now Gold is enjoying the fruits of a life dedicated to work. Though still plenty busy, his life has changed significantly since his departure from the NPMA. "I’m grateful for what we have now," Gold says. "Things are good here in the Northern neck. Life is now what we’d hoped for."

The author is a writer for GIE Media, parent company of PCT magazine. He can be reached at wnepper@pctonline.com.