Ensystex Founder David Nimocks III Passes Away

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — David Nimocks III, founder of Ensystex and former president of Terminix Company of North Carolina (Fayetteville, N.C.), died on Aug.13. He was 64.

A native of Fayetteville and a 1976 North Carolina State University graduate, Nimocks was instrumental in growing Terminix Company of North Carolina into one of Terminix’s largest independently owned franchises. Nimocks, a third-generation PCO, most recently was a member of the Terminix corporate board of directors.

In 1994, Nimocks founded Ensystex and the manufacturing firm began developing what would become the Exterra Termite Interception and Baiting System. Introduced to the PCO market in 1998, Exterra has protected more than 100,000 homes and businesses in the United States, and hundreds of thousands more across the world, according to the company. Exterra is the flagship product of Ensystex, which has grown to become a manufacturer of general pest control and turf and ornamental products, as well as termite control products.

Nimocks’ three sons — Ray, Josh and Tyler Nimocks — said in a joint statement, “Dad taught us the importance of taking care of people: employees and customers alike. Ensystex was born out the interest to protect the pest control operator from increasing costs on the supply side while also providing willing and friendly support. He instilled these ideals in us, and they will always be at the core of the Ensystex mission.”

Ken Kendall, who has been with Enystex since its 1994 founding and currently serves as vice president of technical services and government affairs, called Nimocks an “intensely smart” leader. “His mind was always looking for improved ways of doing business. This intensity also came out in the compassion he showed to the Ensystex family. If you were to ask the Ensystex family, they would tell you that David was one of the best bosses, if not the best boss they ever had.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the David Ray Nimocks III Charitable Endowment at the Cumberland Community Foundation, P.O. Box 2345, Fayetteville, NC 28302, or online at www.cumberlandcf.org.

PCT, Syngenta Announce Crown Leadership Awards Class of 2018

 

VALLEY VIEW, Ohio — PCT and Syngenta announced the following industry professionals will be honored as 2018 Crown Leadership Award winners in this milestone 30-year anniversary of the program:

• Dave Fisher, Rentokil Steritech, Reading, Pa.
• Jerry Gahlhoff, Rollins Inc., Atlanta
• Karl Kisner, Univar Environmental Sciences, Austin, Texas
• Dan Collins, Collins Pest Management, Evansville, Ind.
• Dr. Faith Oi, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

“It’s been 30 years since PCT and Syngenta began recognizing individuals who have contributed positively to the growth and development of the structural pest control industry, and I believe this year’s class carries on the tradition of that inaugural class, as well as subsequent classes,” said PCT Publisher Dan Moreland.

PCT and Syngenta will honor this year’s winners in October at a special ceremony to be held during NPMA PestWorld 2018 in Orlando, Fla. Also at the ceremony, PCT and Syngenta will present a “Lifetime Achievement Award” to a past Crown Leadership winner, as voted on by previous Crown Leadership award winners.

If you know of a member of the pest control industry you would like to nominate for next year’s awards, email Dan Moreland at dmoreland@gie.net.

WorkWave PestPac User Conference in November

HOLMDEL, N.J. — Registration is open for WorkWave’s 2018 PestPac User Conference, being held on Nov. 5-8 in New Orleans.

WorkWave will hold its annual PestPac User Conference to bring its PestPac users together to gain knowledge, power their networks and enjoy entertainment with their peers and WorkWave executives. This year’s event features a new agenda with more than 20 new classes added since last year.

“The PestPac User Conference provides the unique opportunity for our customers to all come together and connect on important industry topics, while learning from each other and from WorkWave’s experts and leadership team,” said Mike Profit, chief product and service officer at WorkWave. “It also allows WorkWave executives to speak with members of our user community face-to-face and gain valuable insight on our products, so we can further develop them to exceed the needs of our customers.”

This year’s conference will have more than 42 sessions tailored to various levels and jobs, enabling its attendees to walk away with the knowledge needed to boost their bottom line and operate their business with confidence, WorkWave says. Conference attendees also will have the opportunity to network with PestPac experts, senior leadership and other PestPac users, as well as gain insight into WorkWave’s upcoming initiatives and learn best practices from other members of the industry.

To register for the 2018 PestPac User Conference, visit www.workwave.com.

Rollins Inc. Makes New York Stock Exchange History

NEW YORK — Aug. 10, 2018, marked 50 years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for Rollins Inc.

To celebrate the occasion, R. Randall Rollins, chairman of the board, and Henry B. Tippie, lead director, participated in the closing bell ceremony, making NYSE history for being the only two directors present for a company’s initial listing and its 50th anniversary. The NYSE also honored the men by inducting them into the NYSE Hall of Innovation for their remarkable impact on the industry, Rollins reported.

In honor of this event, the company hosted an Analyst Day and an exhibit in Experience Square, located outside the NYSE. The exhibit featured a replica of the bicycle used for transportation during World War II due to gasoline regulations, as well as a replica of a wagon from the same era that the company used to advertise. Several other brand representatives made appearances at the events, including the Northwest Mouse, and Tess, a bed bug-sniffing dog from Western Pest Services.

“This is a great achievement for us. We are proud of our heritage, including remaining at the forefront of the pest control service industry since acquiring Orkin in 1964,” said R. Randall Rollins.

The 204^th longest-listed company on the NYSE, Rollins says it has achieved many meaningful milestones in the past 50 years related to acquisitions, franchise expansion and training.

Since 1968, Rollins has grown from a few U.S. operations to a global consumer and commercial services company with more than 700 operations in 55 countries.

A.C.E. Program Launches Online Application

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — In response to increasing demand from the pest management industry, the Entomological Society of America Certification Corporation has launched an online application for its Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) program — eliminating paper and mailing costs for applicants and speeding up the approval process.

After certifying more than 1,000 pest management professionals since 2004 and receiving countless more applications, the ESA Certification Corporation (ESACC) offers the online ACE submission form as a new convenient option and welcome change for applicants, who will be able to submit their information and get approved faster than ever before, ESA says.

“The online application is the result of much dedication and a lengthy process to ensure that the application is as simple and straightforward as possible. This really brings the program into the 21^st century,” says Chelle Hartzer, BCE, director of the ESACC Certification Board.

For almost 15 years, the Associate Certified Entomologist program has allowed pest management professionals to distinguish their expertise in Integrated Pest Management. According to ESA, as the program grows, the new application will streamline the process.

To learn more about the online ACE application process and to apply, visit https://www.entocert.org/ace-application-process.

PCOC Announces 15th Annual Banner Contest Winners

LIBERTY, Mo.— The Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) announced the winners of the 15th annual Fumigation Banner Bonanza Contest, sponsored by Douglas Products and Vikane gas fumigant. The contest recognizes the promotion of structural fumigation through job site signage. This year, 62 companies submitted banner entries.

Xtreme Pest Control of Escondido, Calif., won first-place honors. A judging panel of communication professionals commented that the winning banner was bold, easy-to-read and eye-catching. It also included an offer for a free inspection and social media sites for endorsement and reviews.

In second place was Ecola, Los Angeles, Calif. Judges liked the clean and organized design plus the combination of a Monarch butterfly, a smiling woman and the tagline: “Powerful Termite & Pest Control as Gentle as a Butterfly.”

The Bugman, Anaheim, Calif., was awarded third place based on a creative and bright design with information that was simple and easy to read.

Receiving an honorable mention was The Termite Guy, Santa Ana, Calif., for use of a bold design, a prominent offer of a free inspection and a humorous cartoon graphic.

Participating fumigation and pest management companies submitted photos of their banners, which included their business name, logo and contact information. Judging of the banners was done by a panel based upon drive-by readability, visual impact, contact information and conveying a professional image. Pest control companies with winning banners were awarded prizes in the following amounts: first place, $1,250; second, $1,000; and third, $500.

“Sponsoring PCOC’s banner contest is a way to recognize companies for working hard to project a positive industry image to the public,” says Heather Kern, commercial leader for Douglas Products, manufacturer of Vikane. “Jobsite banners on tented structures is a proven way for companies to reach homeowners and lend credibility to the importance of structural fumigation to protect properties from drywood termites.”

For more information about fumigation with Vikane, visit termitetenting.com and fumigationfacts.com.

Stuart Aust Announces New M&A Consulting Firm

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. — Stuart Aust, former owner of Bug Doctor Nationwide/Bird Doctor Worldwide, announced the launch of The Aust Group, a mergers and acquisition consulting firm.

Aust has advised numerous mergers and acquisition transactions in the pest management industry. With his expertise and knowledge, Aust will consult and mentor other interested business owners, he said.

The Aust Group is located at 345 Route 17 South, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Stuart Aust can be contacted by phone at 201/630-8415 or by email at stuart@theaustgroup.com.

On July 18, the firm made it official as they hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony with the opening of the new office in Upper Saddle River. Joanne Minichetti, mayor of Upper Saddle River, was in attendance.

Target Specialty Products Raises Funds For PCOC Defense Fund

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Target Specialty Products, along with co-sponsor Bell Laboratories raised $16,396 through the annual silent auction at the Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) Annual Expo in Lake Tahoe, Calif. The funds will support the PCOC Defense Fund, which supports public education throughout the state. The company is an active supporter of PCOC, a trade association and advocacy group based in West Sacramento, Calif., that deals with critical issues facing pest control operators in the state.

“We’re proud to support the invaluable work PCOC does to improve industry standards and benefit pest management professionals throughout California,” said David Helt, president of Target Specialty Products. “This annual fundraiser is a great way to support their work dealing with critical issues that affect our industry.”

PPMA Enhances Pestworldforkids.org

FAIRFAX, Va. — The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), recently announced functionality and design updates to its children’s website, pestworldforkids.org. The educational website, originally developed for children in grades K through 8, now features additional learning materials for youngsters ages 3 through 5. The new content is designed for use in day care, preschool and pre-K programs.

Additional updates include a revamped “Critters Crafts” section with downloadable instructions and a general reorganization of the website’s educational content by grade level. These upgrades come four years after the group relaunched the website with a fresh look, responsive design and an educational gaming section.

“Our kid’s website remains an invaluable tool for both teachers and parents as it provides children with an ad-free environment to learn about bugs in the classroom and at home. The fact that we don’t allow advertising or external linking on pestworldforkids.org is one of our biggest selling features,” said Cindy Mannes, executive director for PPMA. “We anticipate that the new and updated learning resources will be met with a warm welcome as we enter back-to-school season. We encourage industry members to join us in showing their support for science education by sharing pestworldforkids.org on their social media pages and with their communities.”

PPMA Mainframe subscribers have access to a PestWorldForKids.org badge that they can download and add to their company website to display their affiliation and support of this educational programming. PPMA also developed a customizable PowerPoint deck on pest control for investors to present in schools located in their areas of service. The visual and informative slides can be customized with a company logo and other pertinent information.

For more information about PPMA and its consumer programs, visit www.npmapestworld.org/ppma.

CO2 Returns for Third Year

RALEIGH, N.C. — Pest control, lawn care and others in service industries will gather in Raleigh, N.C., on Dec. 4-7 to attend the third annual CO2, an owner’s summit hosted by Coalmarch Productions, a pest control and lawn care marketing agency.

Officials say CO2 will provide owners with insight on future trends and effective tactics to stay a step ahead of the competition. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from other leaders in the industry, as well as ask questions and engage with speakers and panelists.

Conference speakers include a variety of seasoned professionals in the service industry and digital marketing, including:

• Donnie Shelton, owner of Triangle Pest Control and Coalmarch Productions, Raleigh, N.C.
• Dan Gordon, managing director of PCO Bookkeepers, Newton, N.J.
• Maria Mayorga, director of strategy of Coalmarch Productions, Raleigh, N.C.
• Bobby Jenkins, owner of ABC Home & Commercial Services, Austin, Texas
• Dr. Hamilton Allen, technical and training director of Senske Services, Kennewick, Wash.

This year’s conference will feature an opportunity to visit Bayer Research Facility and an interactive workshop with Dan Gordon and Donnie Shelton about developing key performance indicators (KPIs). To register, visit www.coalmarch.com/co2.