August News - News from Around the Pest Control Industry

ROB LEDERER, NPMA Executive VP, APPEARS ON CNBC

Lederer cited pest-associated health threats such as the increase in West Nile virus cases and published reports establishing cockroach allergens as an asthma trigger in children.

"Clearly because of the weather and the trends, bugs and insects will be on the move and as a result of the public health concerns, this industry is hotter than its ever been," Lederer said.

WASHINGTON — The nation’s No. 2 environmental protection official resigned, just about a month after her boss, Christie Whitman, departed.

EPA Deputy Administrator Linda Fisher submitted her resignation June 26 and left office July 11.

"I am proud of the work this agency has done to preserve and protect our precious natural environment and the health of the American people, whom we all have the honor to serve," Fisher said in her resignation letter to President Bush.

Whitman’s resignation was effective June 27.

BIRMINGHAM, U.K. — The PestEx 2003 exhibition, held June 3-4 in Birmingham, UK, was an international marketplace for pest control professionals. Among the 65 stands were exhibitors from the United States, United Kingdom, Poland, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Hungary. More than 1,000 visitors representing these and many other countries attended the event.

In addition to the exhibition, there were a series of topical seminars. Social responsibility in the pest control industry was debated, with the keynote address presented by Benjamin Gomez of Univar Mexico. Gomez highlighted the significance of the Orlando Protocol wording, as this is a clear statement of the principles to be upheld within the industry.

"Pest control is a social enterprise, an activity which improves the quality of life for others," he said. "It is the duty of the industry to let people know what we do and how well we do it."

The benefits of pest control products were discussed by Peter Trotman, Eagle Pest Control, Cheltenham, UK. Trotman, sponsored by the British Pest Control Association, Sorex and Bayer, related his sometimes harrowing experiences of rat and cockroach control in a remote hospital in the Gambia, West Africa.

U.S. exhibitors included: PCT Magazine, Kness Manufacturing, Rockwell Laboratories, B&G, Bell Laboratories, JF Oakes Sales & Marketing, National Pest Management Association and Univar.

— News item provided by Frances McKim, editor of Professional Pest Controller, the journal of the British Pest Control Association.

ALPHARETTA, GA. — Hal Coleman has always marched to the beat of a different drummer. How else do you explain an individual who left his position as a structural pest control inspector with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to own and operate his own pest control company?

Coleman, owner of North Fulton Exterminating, Alpharetta, Ga., since 1990 and secretary-treasurer of the Georgia Pest Control Association, was an inspector from 1974-84. He is using this unique perspective to help bridge the PCO-state inspector communication gap. Coleman developed a training session titled "Have You Ever Been Kissed By Your State Inspector?" which offers a comprehensive examination of the challenges faced by both PCOs and state inspectors. Just recently, this course was approved by the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission and Coleman said he is planning to give this presentation at various training meetings beginning this year.

"State inspectors deal strictly with the violation and they have a very slanted view of PCOs because all they see is the violation," Coleman says. "Similarly, PCOs only see inspectors as the enemy — like an enforcement agency that comes crashing through their doors with a search warrant."

Coleman says this type of course is more important than ever now because there are increasing numbers of pest control operators in Georgia, meaning state inspectors oversee more PCOs and thus have less face-to-face contact.

"It used to be that state inspectors would be out in the field more and developing relationships with PCOs, so we could have a meeting of the minds and work out the problem," Coleman said. "Now, with the increased numbers of PCOs and the advent of Web sites and cameras the job has become highly technical, but less personal."

Coleman added that although the job of state inspector is now more technical than it was 30 years ago, many of the challenges remain the same. For example, Coleman says many pest control companies still send too many technicians into the field who are not properly trained and often don’t send experienced technicians to double check their work because they become too busy with other responsibilities.

Coleman, a certified instructor, has developed a reputation as an interesting, colorful speaker. Other presentations he has given include "The Fine Art of Pest Control" and "Urban Wildlife Control as an Add-On Service." He draws on his own personal experiences to create amusing presentations that focus more on the business aspect of pest control. "I try to put a little different spin on the same subjects," Coleman says. "In my urban wildlife class, for example, I’ll try to explain how to turn a gray squirrel problem into money. In other words, how do we solve a customer’s problem and make money at the same time?"

Coleman often draws on humor to make his point. A self-proclaimed humorist, Coleman performs for private companies, local community groups and others. The character he plays is Milton Crabapple — a backwoods guy who wears a top hat who tells jokes and stories of alligator and turtle wrestling. Doctors, lawyers, preachers, politicians, hunters and just about anyone else are all fair game for Coleman.

In addition to his live performances, Coleman is a well-known radio personality who regularly offers pest control advice on a number of radio programs, including home improvement programs.

— Brad Harbison

MILWAUKEE — Liphatech’s latest formula involves the restructuring of the company’s focus and resources and may have an even greater impact.

"Because of last year’s sale of Liphatech’s rodent control business to DeSangosse, we now are able to concentrate solely on developing and marketing products and technologies that lead the rodent control industry," said Carl Tanner, CEO of Liphatech. "Historically, we’ve been at the forefront in meeting regulatory challenges and developing many of the more commonly used rodenticide active ingredients. Now that rodent control is our only order of business, there is great excitement as we move toward the future."

Tanner has more than 20 years of experience in the sale and marketing of products designed to promote public health, including seven years as Liphatech’s vice president of sales and marketing for North America. He says he believes he is up to the challenge of leading the "new" company.

"Under the old Liphatech umbrella, we were able to grow our rodenticide and inoculant businesses simultaneously while sharing combined resources," said Tanner. "That’s a remarkable achievement, considering that most agricultural or specialty businesses declined significantly during the same period."

Tanner has created a team to carry out the "new" company’s mission:

• Al Smith, director, marketing and business development — Smith will continue to facilitate the company’s marketing direction, but also will be responsible for new product development and forging alliances with related industry companies.

• Ray Finke, director, sales — Finke’s main responsibility is overseeing the North American sales force and serving customers in the professional pest management, animal health and agricultural market segments.

• Kelly Bornhofer, director, administration — Bornhofer is developing Liphatech’s relationships with private-label partners, as well as managing Liphatech’s state-of-the-art information system.

• Jay Horn, finance manager — Horn has considerable expertise in managing operations in corporate and multi-plant environments, with a strong focus on improving manufacturing productivity.

• Tom Schmitt, regulatory compliance manager — Schmitt ensures all company products meet federal and state regulations.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Pest management professionals have a new Web resource providing pest control information from Syngenta — www.impasse.com.

The new Impasse.com Web site gives users access to the most comprehensive information about Impasse products, including the latest Impasse news, termite facts, industry links and technical datasheets. The new site is now divided into three customized sections — builders/architects, consumers and pest management professionals, enabling users to effortlessly access only the most relevant information that fits their needs.

In addition, site users will be able to use a "PMP Finder" feature in order to conveniently locate the nearest pest management professional offering Impasse products. A similar finder allowing users to find builders using Impasse products will be part of the site, as well.

The Impasse.com Web site will continue to expand with new product and industry information that will be geared towards specific audiences.

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Structural Pest Control Division is alerting homeowners and pest control operators in the Spindale and Ruth areas of Rutherford County to a potential new threat – Formosan subterranean termites.

"We have had isolated infestations of this imported pest throughout the past 15 years, but the recent number of infestations indicate this pest is now established in the Spindale area, and possibly in the neighboring community of Ruth," said Carl Falco, director of the Structural Pest Control Division. "These aggressively destructive pests can cause substantial damage to a home in as little as a year, so we are advising homeowners and pest control operators in these areas to be on the lookout for their presence.

"Our division will be conducting a survey of the area, and once complete will develop a map of the locations of this pest in the county."

Falco added that the division is asking pest control operators report evidence of Formosan termites so the division will be better able to track the spread.

NCDA&CS has worked collab-oratively with a local pest control company and N.C. State University Entomologist Dr. Michael Waldvogel in monitoring this area for infestation.

Light traps had been set out and monitored at some sites but established infestations had not been detected. About 10 years ago their presence in the town of Spindale was confirmed by NCSU through specimens collected by local pest control operator David Spillman of Goforth Services Inc. That structure was successfully treated and there had been no further evidence of the pest until recently when Spillman located several trees infested by Formosan termites. A follow-up inspection and survey of the area with Dr. Waldvogel and NCDA&CS inspector Larry Conner revealed numerous infested trees and landscape timbers along a walking trail between the towns of Spindale and Ruth.

"Native species of termites generally feed on dead trees and processed wood," Falco said. "However, Formosan termites have a horrific appetite and can use new food sources as long as there is a water source nearby. Their diets consist of anything that contains wood fiber, such as homes, buildings and live trees, as well as crops and plants."

PCOs who believe they have encountered this pest are asked to contact the Structural Pest Control Division at 919/733-6100.

CLEVELAND CHEMICAL PEST CONTROL CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Chemical Pest Control Inc., a fifth generation, family-owned company, is celebrating its 100th year in the pest management business.

Cleveland Chemical Pest Control began in 1898 with the formation of the Chamberlain-Haber Chemical Co., Cleveland, which sold pesticides, industrial cleaning compounds and other chemical specialties. In 1903, in response to customer requests on how to use the NIP-On ant/roach pesticide, the company opened one of the first pest control companies in Northeast Ohio.

William P. Kirchner currently serves as general manager and secretary-general. John B. Jackson is the company’s president, while Ed Nye serves as vice president. Ward Freeman is general manager of subsidiaries Glenridge Pest Control, Mentor, Ohio; and Hageman Pest Control, Twinsburg, Ohio.

Four Cleveland Chemical Pest Control employees are past presidents of the Greater Cleveland Pest Control Association while three have been president of the Ohio Pest Control Association.

CLEVELAND — The Ohio Pest Control Association WDI Committee was honored at the annual awards banquet hosted by the Greater Cleveland Pest Control Association. The four-member committee received the Tom Evans Award for the role it played in authoring the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Wood-Destroying Insect Training Manual. Members of the committee included Jay Moran, president of Abel Exterminating, Dayton, Ohio; Ron Belknap, owner of Capital City Exterminating Co., Worthington, Ohio; Carl Hinderer, technical director of Southern Mill Creek Products of Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lonnie Alonso, president of Columbus Pest Control, Columbus, Ohio.

Speaking at the awards ceremony was Jim Buchy, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Buchy, a former Ohio legislator, pointed out that 97 percent of all businesses in the state employ less than 100 people, including a significant number of pest management firms.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy," he said. "Thank you for your investment in the free enterprise system in Ohio, in addition to your investment in your families and those you employ."

— Dan Moreland