FEBRUARY NEWS

PI CHI OMEGA ANNIVERSARY HIGHLIGHTS PURDUE CONFERENCE

West Lafayette, Ind. — The 65th Purdue Pest Control Conference had special significance this year as Pi Chi Omega, the industry’s international pest control fraternity, celebrated 50 years of service. (www.pctonline.com/articles/article.asp?ID=1325&IssueID=135)

A special reception was held at Entomology Hall to commemorate the anniversary. At the reception, Dr. Austin Frishman and Dr. William Jackson were named Pi Chi Omega lifetime members.

The fraternity also announced it added 21 new members and that it would be awarding five $2,000 scholarships this year. Pi Chi Omega has awarded more than $70,000 in scholarships since 1976. Bobby Corrigan, president, RMC Consulting, Richmond, Ind., won the first Pi Chi Omega scholarship in 1976 and he spoke of the impact it has had on his life.

"At one point I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to stay at Purdue," Corrigan said. "When I was told I was going to receive a $500 scholarship it made a difference in me being able to stay at Purdue and pursue pest control. That I am up at this podium today is a testament to Pi Chi Omega."

This year’s conference was dedicated to Richard Yashek, former executive vice president, J.C. Ehrlich Co. Inc., Reading, Pa. Yashek retired from the pest control industry in 1999 after a dedicated career that spanned 50 years. He has been an honorary member of Pi Chi Omega and has attended the Purdue Pest Control Conference for more than 30 years.

"Any time we needed help here at Purdue we could always call on Richard and he was always eager to help in all aspects," said Conference Coordinator Gary Bennett.

This year’s conference featured 45 presentations designed to educate pest management professionals on the latest technology and innovative and environmentally friendly pest management approaches.

A highlight of this year’s conference was a special ceremony honoring the Service Technician/Syngenta Technicians of the Year. This year’s winners were: Residential Technician of the Year Peter Bopp, Arrow Exterminating Co., Lynbrook, N.Y.; Commercial Technician of the Year Thomas Horton, International Exterminator, Co., Elk Grove Village, Ill.; and Termite Technician of the year Steve Adkins, Western Exterminator Co., Santa Maria, Calif.

"The Class of 2001 were progressive pest management professionals in the truest sense of the word," said Brad Harbison, managing editor, Service Technician. "It is a great honor for Service Technician magazine and Syngenta to recognize this year’s winners and all of the other service technicians that continue to play a critical role in the industry’s success."

The Technician of the Year awards program began in 1996 and has since honored 16 winners and 80 finalists.

PCOS HEAD T0 WASHINGTON FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Feb. 26 more than 500 PCOs from around the United States will travel to Washington, D.C., to discuss the pest control industry’s political agenda with senators and congressional representatives for the 14th Annual National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Legislative Day.

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), pest management in schools and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) phase-out of certain pesticides are among the topics to be discussed at this year’s event, which is sponsored by FMC Corporation, as well as Aventis Environmental Science, Bayer Corporation, Dow Agro-Sciences and Syngenta. As in the past, NPMA has arranged for registered attendees to meet with their state senators and congressional representatives. In addition, there will be a panel of speakers to discuss issues important to PCOs. Below are just some of the speakers scheduled for Legislative Day 2001:

• James Carville and Mary Matalin, one of the most talked-about couples in Washington, will give the keynote address. The couple first gained national attention in 1992 when Matalin was deputy campaign manager for former President George Bush and Carville was chief campaign manager for then presidential aspirant Bill Clinton. The couple will share their experiences in the campaign spotlight and look at what is currently happening in Washington.

• Judy Woodruff, anchor and senior correspondent for CNN, will give a presentation covering her 20 years in broadcast journalism. At CNN, Woodruff co-anchors "Inside Politics" and "CNN Worldview" with Bernard Shaw. She is also the prime anchor during CNN’s coverage of major events, such as summit meetings and political conventions.

• Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, president and founder of the American Council on Science and Health will also give a presentation. Dr. Whelan, an alumna of Yale School of Medicine and Harvard School of Public Health, has written more than two dozen books, including Panic in the Pantry, Preventing Cancer, Toxic Terror and a Smoking Gun and How the Tobacco Industry Gets Away with Murder.

For more information or to register for Legislative Day 2001, call 800/678-6722 or visit NPMA’s Web site: www.pestworld.org/legislative.

ZOËCON, EPA REACH AGREEMENT ON LABEL CHANGES

Schaumburg, Ill. — Zoëcon Professional Products has announced that its Catalyst Insecticide product will undergo a label change to reflect an agreement between Zoëcon’s parent company, Wellmark International, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The active ingredient in Catalyst is propetamphos, an organophosphate (OP).

The agreed-upon changes allow pest management professionals to continue using Catalyst for cockroach control in commercial applications. Catalyst has long been regarded as an effective clean-out product for commercial infestations requiring fast remediation, according to the company. Although the label revision will eliminate residential uses of Catalyst, the EPA decision makes Catalyst the only OP left for rotation of chemical compounds.

Catalyst will continue to be sold by Zoëcon with the current label through June 2001. Distributors of the product can continue to sell current-label Catalyst product through April 2002, and PCOs can continue to use current-label Catalyst products until their inventory is exhausted.

CENTEX HOMETEAM ACQUIRES THREE FLORIDA COMPANIES

DALLAS — Centex HomeTeam Pest Control (www.hometeamservices.com) has acquired three Florida pest management companies: Armor Pest Control of Tampa and Ocala, Walkup Pest Control of Orlando and Phoenix Pest Control of Tampa. The purchase prices of the transactions were not disclosed.

The acquisitions add a total of 7,150 customers and 40 employees to Home-Team’s pest management operations in Tampa, Ocala and Orlando. "These acquisitions will allow the company to expand while moving us closer to our goal of being a significant national player," said Bob Wanzer, president, Centex HomeTeam Pest Control. "We are pleased to welcome these customers and employees to Centex."

WATERBURY COMPANIES EXPANDS SALES TEAM

WATERBURY, CONN. — Waterbury Companies Inc. announced in January the addition of Cypress Sales to sell CB Professional Products. Also, Robert Stocker was promoted to national sales manager/western U.S. for structural pest control.

"Waterbury Companies continues to grow, and more sales and service demands require us to use the best people in our organization as we add experienced individuals from Cypress," said Mohamed Rachadi, vice president of professional products. "Our expanded sales organization affords us the luxury of offering better service to our distributors, more training for pest management professionals and placing major emphasis on Siege and Siege Pro."

The Cypress Sales organization, managed by Jerry Murphy, has been marketing and selling in the structural pest control industry since 1996. Cypress has five veterans including George Frank in the Northeast, Ted Sleek in the West, Ray Meyers in the Southeast, Dave Luker in the South Central and Jerry Murphy in the Northwest.

Cypress will be adding two new associates to manage the newly acquired CB responsibility. "We are confident that Cypress will add more depth and further help build the fine brands and product line of CB Professional Products," said Jerry Murphy, president of Cypress Sales. "With a team of seven professionals, plus Waterbury’s management there will be a rock solid group calling on the industry."

Robert Stocker, Waterbury regional manager in San Antonio became national sales manager, Western States and will work with Cypress Sales and current distributors.

The CB Professional Products Division consists of CB aerosol insecticides for flushing, contact and residual applications, boric acid dusts, Drax ant bait, the new CB441 ant bait system, as well as Siege Gel for roaches and Siege Pro fire ant bait.

CLARKE MOSQUITO CONTROL ACQUIRES ZANUS CORPORATION

ROSELLE, ILL. — Clarke Mosquito Control (www.clarkemosquito.com) recently acquired Zanus Corporation, a distributor of mosquito control products in the Western United States.

"This acquisition strengthens our position in an important region of the country," says Dr. J. Lyell Clarke, president of Clarke Mosquito Control. "The purchase will provide us with increased distribution in a number of key states."

Zanus Corporation distributes product in a number of western states, including California, Nevada and Utah. As part of the acquisition agreement, Zanus President David Sullivan will continue on at the company, serving as an ongoing consultant. Also joining Clarke from Zanus will be Bob Boggs, who will represent Clarke in Washington, Oregon and Northern California, and Steve Ingalls, who will oversee Nevada, Utah and Idaho. Mile Cavanaugh, who joined Clarke in July, will continue to represent Clarke in California and Arizona.

"I’ve represented Clarke products for a number of years now," said Sullivan, "and I look forward to continuing my relationship with them in a new capacity."

In addition to his new consulting duties, Sullivan will continue to serve as managing director of Pacific Biologics, an Australian mosquito control distributorship he co-owns with Clarke Mosquito Control.

"The acquisition by Clarke will allow me more time to focus on growing our Australian operations," said Sullivan. "There’s enormous potential in Australia and we plan to aggressively pursue business there."

Clarke Mosquito Control has offered services, products and equipment that aid in the control of mosquito populations since 1946.

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS

Springfield, Ill. — David Harris-John, corporate director of operations for Smithereen Exterminating Co., Evanston, Ill., has been elected president of the Illinois Pest Control Association (IPCA). The 52-year-old association is comprised of about 450 pest control companies.

Harris succeeds Judy Dold, president, Rose Exterminator, Northbrook, Ill., who becomes president of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) next July.

Bob Fergus, president of Advantage Pest Management, Effingham, Ill., was elected vice president of IPCA. Named the group’s secretary was Jon Hockenyos, president of Sentinel Insect Control, Springfield, Ill. Named treasurer was Ron Hodgkins, president of C&D Termite and Pest Control, Belleville, Ill.

Reelected regional vice presidents were Kurt Spurgeon, president, American Eagle Pest Control, Chicago, Ill.; Lee Earp, president, Lee’s Pest Control, Mapleton, Ill; and Jeff Haggerty, Rid-All Pest Control, Jacksonville, Ill.

Harris-John, a 30-year veteran of the pest control industry, has been a member of IPCA for more than 15 years.

HAWAII OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ELECTED

HONOLULU — The Hawaii Pest Control Association recently elected Bob Sieb, president of Bug Man Termite & Pest Control , Maui, as president of the organization. The first vice president is Bob Koide, president of Environ Control; second vice president is Ray Ah Chin, branch manager of Hawaii Pest Control/Orkin; third vice president is Shawn Murray, owner/operator of Aloha Termite & Pest Control; secretary is Alvin Fukuyama, president of State Termite & Pest Control; treasurer is Rodney Ono, president of Hilo Termite & Pest Control.

Tim Lyons, president of The Legislative Center Inc., continues to serve as executive director.

FIRM OFFERS WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT

St. Louis, Mo. — Compelling Communications, Inc. announces that Web site development has been added to the menu of services the company offers. "We are expanding into Internet Web site development to complete our menu of marketing services that include brochures, Web sites, advertising, newsletters, logos, letterhead, publicity and other marketing materials. By using our services for a company’s complete marketing needs, our clients reflect a consistent, high-quality, professional image to their customers," said June Van Klaveren, owner.

Compelling Communications Inc. specializes in helping service related companies market their services. Reach the company at 800/779-0067 or via its Web site: www.compelcom.com

COMINGS & GOINGS

Whitmire Micro-Gen has announced that Melissa Bachman has joined its staff as a technical support specialist. Bachman’s duties include answering technical calls and organizing field-testing for new products.

Aventis Environmental Science has appointed Peter H. Connelly the sales manager for the vector business of Aventis Environmental Science, North America.

Scott Smith recently joined the sales staff of Bell Laboratories as the technical sales representative for the Midwest.

WEBWATCH

The following is a list of new or updated industry Web sites. E-mail jdorsch@pctonline.com with new sites.

• Entomological Society of America: www.entsoc.org

• FleetBoss: www.fleetboss.com

• LG America: www.lgchem.com

• S.E.C.U.R.E. Insurance: www.secureins.com