JULY NEWS

FLORIDA PASSES LEGISLAITON TO ADD NINE NEW INSPECTORS

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — An amendment to the statute regulating the pest control industry in Florida (Statute 482) has created nine new inspector positions within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control, as well as a pest control enforcement advisory council. On May 30 Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed the amended version of Statute 482.

In order to finance the changes set forth in the amended statute, pest control licensing fees in Florida were increased by $150.

The campaign to amend Statute 482 was divisive among the four associations comprising the Florida Professional Applicators Alliance (FPAA): Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA); Certified Pest Control Operators Association (CPCO) of Florida; Certified Operators of Southwest Florida (COSWFL) and Florida Turfgrass Association (FTGA).

CPCO of Florida and COSWFL were in favor of amending the statute, while FPMA and FTGA were opposed.

CPCO of Florida President-Elect Richard Meahl and CPCO of Florida Executive Vice President Mel Edelstein lobbied Florida legislators to amend the statute after FDACS agreed that the fee increases would be used for new inspectors and the advisory council. The authority to increase or decrease licensing fees is defined in a rule to Statute 482, meaning FDACS could have raised the licensing fee without industry approval.

CPCO of Florida and COSWFL argued that the licensing fee increases were a small price to pay for gaining new inspectors and a pest control enforcement advisory council. According to Meahl, FDACS currently does not have enough inspectors to adequately patrol for illegal operators. Florida has 47,000 pest management employees and only 15 inspectors, in contrast to Georgia, which only has 4,000 pest management employees but 23 inspectors.
“There are outlaws in every industry and there are definitely outlaws in the pest control industry — those who do less than quality work for a premium price,” Meahl said. “We want the extra enforcement and we want the ‘teeth’ in the extra enforcement. If we have to get this by paying for it ourselves, so be it.”

Ray Libretto, vice president, COSWFL, concurred.

“Our members lose a small fortune to illegal operators,” Libretto said. “Unfortunately the inspectors are so overworked they just don’t have the time to enforce the laws. By getting new inspectors we will probably stop some illegal operators, helping us increase business and protect more homeowners.”

FPMA President Bryan Cooksey said his organization agrees that FDACS needs more inspectors but he says FPMA preferred a more conservative approach to adding inspectors, and thus smaller licensing fee increases. Cooksey said FPMA believed that the number of complaints against pesticide applicators in Florida didn’t justify such a significant increase.

“We felt a 5 to 10 percent licensing fee increase on an annual basis would be reasonable based on the way the economy has been going since September 11,” Cooksey said. “We also felt that if (FDACS inspectors) doubled in size they might run into quality control challenges with new employees. Anytime you grow that much you are going to have management problems as far as consistencies in the field and interpretations of the rules and the standards.”

Cooksey added that FPMA was concerned that new inspectors wouldn’t be able to target the illegal operators since most illegal operators are unlicensed.
Wayne Gale, bureau chief, FDACS Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control, said the majority of the new inspectors will be located in South Florida, where there are more pest control and lawn care companies. He said the addition of the new inspectors gives the department greater flexibility.

“It will allow us to pull people from the office and have them work on special operations like targeting specific areas of enforcement, such as termite pretreats or lawn care maintenance,” Gale said. “Right now it is difficult to take care of the complaints in the office and have special enforcement operations.”

Also included in the amended statute was a requirement to create an 11-member panel consisting of eight pest management professionals, a DACS employee, a member of academia (e.g., a university researcher) and a Florida citizen. Although this panel would not have a vote, it would have an opportunity to provide FDACS with input and act as a liaison between homeowners, the pest control industry and regulators.

“I think the increased communication between us and associations will give them a better idea of the enforcement process and I look at it as a way for improved two-way communication,” Gale said. “It will give us accountability to industry as well because we’ll be reporting to the council on a regular basis.”

FPMA also was opposed to the addition of the advisory council. Cooksey said FPMA likes the fact that the council will open up the lines of communication with the FDACS commissioner, but the association was concerned that this requirement could turn into a “political animal.” Specifically, FPMA was worried that the committee could become stacked with anti-business people during a period in which an anti-business government is in place.

“As long as good people are making good decisions as to who to sits on the council, it works well,” Cooksey said. “What happens when it is not adequately staffed or not positioned by good people making good decisions?”

A final “sticking point” for FPMA in its endorsement of revised Statute 482 was the appropriation of funds for pest control research support. In years past funds generated from licensing fees and fines were set aside solely for research support. In the most current revision of Statute 482 funds are to be set aside for research support and education. FPMA is concerned that education is too broad-based and that a number of entities will be competing for these funds.

Gale said FDACS will immediately begin seeking candidates for the new inspector positions and will begin notifying the associations to provide nominations for the advisory council. He said he expects the new inspectors and the new council to be in place by October. — Brad Harbison

TERMINIX PROMOTES GOLDENBERG

MEMPHIS, TENN. — Norman Goldenberg has been promoted to senior vice president of government/public affairs and technical services of Terminix.
A 41-year veteran of the pest control industry, including 12 years with Terminix, Goldenberg works with regulatory agencies, state and federal legislators and industry associations to promote the pest control industry.
After joining Terminix in 1990 as director of government affairs for ServiceMaster Consumer Services and vice president of government affairs for Terminix and TruGreen Chemlawn, Goldenberg was named vice president in 1997.

“Norm is certainly deserving of this promotion, and I am pleased to make this announcement,” said Albert Cantu, president and chief operating officer, Terminix. “His knowledge and expertise in the pest control industry is well recognized, and he has made valuable contributions to Terminix in the years he has been in our company.”

Goldenberg, who has a bachelor of science degree in entomology from the University of Florida, was twice recognized by PCT magazine, in 1993 and 2000, as one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Pest Control Industry” and in 2000 as the Professional of the Year. He was honored in 1997 with the Pioneer Award from the Florida Pest Control Association.

“I appreciate this recognition from Terminix,” Goldenberg said. “My career has taken me all over the country and has given me the opportunity to meet and work with some of the best people in the industry.”

A past president of the National Pest Management Association and current treasurer for the Professional Pest Management Alliance, Goldenberg applauded the industry for “raising the bar on good customer service.”

INDUSTRY MOURNS DEATH OF WESTERN'S J. EDWIN SAMETH

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — J. Edwin (J.E.) Sameth, a leader in the pest management industry and founder of Western Pest Services, died May 20. He was 94.

Sameth began Western Pest Services 75 years ago and developed the company into a major provider of pest control services and a respected industry leader. “My father guided Western Pest Services by his own personal ethics and high quality standards. He believed in hiring the right people, who would provide top-notch service to customers. Those standards have brought Western very successfully to its pinnacle as the premier pest management company in the industry today,” said Robert Sameth, son of J.E. Sameth and president of Western Pest Services.

At the age of 17, J.E. Sameth left his Bluefield, W.Va., home, parents and six siblings, and went looking for work to help support the family. He headed to New York where he found a job with an import/export business and then spent several months working with a cousin in New York who ran an exterminating business.

On February 1, 1928, 20-year-old J.E. Sameth; his sister Ailene, 17; and their father Maurice opened the doors of Western Pest Services.

The company is celebrating 75 years in business this year. Today, Western offices are located throughout the Eastern seaboard, with 30 branch offices from Maine to Florida.

Beyond Western Pest Services, Sameth was one of the co-founders of Copesan, the alliance of regional pest management companies throughout North America. He served as president of the National Pest Control Association from 1950-51. He was president of Western Pest Services, and later Western Industries, its parent company, from its inception until 1978. He was chairman of the board of trustees from 1978 until his retirement in 1998.
J.E. Sameth is survived by his children, Robert (Bob), Richard (Dick) and Jeanne S. Burke, all executives of Western and active in the pest control industry.

DALE BELKNAP, FORMER NPMA BOARD MEMBER, PASSES AWAY

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Dale A. Belknap, former owner of Capital City Exterminating Company, passed away May 6. He was 79.
Belknap was active in pest control associations at the local, state and federal levels. He served as president of the Ohio Pest Control Association in 1958 and on the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Board of Directors. Belknap was also originator and first president of the Pest Control Association of Columbus.
He retired from Capital City Exterminating Company in 1987. Donations may be made in Belknap’s memory to Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 S. Sunbury Road, Westerville, OH 43081.

ASPCRO MEETING TO BE HELD AUG. 24-28

TUNICA, MISS. — The 2002 Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) Annual Meeting will be held August 24-28 in Tunica, Miss.

“The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is excited about hosting this year’s meeting,” said John McCauley, president of ASPCRO.
Scheduled speakers at this year’s meeting include: Dr. Brian Forschler, University of Georgia; Dr. Faith Oi, University of Florida; Dr. Roger Gold, Texas A&M University; Dr. James Jarratt, Mississippi State University; and Attorney Greg Crosslin.

Some of the topics that will be covered include: pest control and public health; termiticide registration; termite DNA mapping; toxic mold; and termite bait research.

The opening session features a special presentation titled “Pest Control at Ground Zero,” by Dr. Lester Spell, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and Mike Baessler, technical director, Terminix International.

The conference will be held in the Grand Veranda Hotel and Convention Center at the Grand Casino Tunica, which is the largest gaming resort between Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

For more information, contact John McCauley at john.mccauley@kyagr.com or 502/564-7274.

UNIV. OF KENTUCKY ANNOUNCES 32ND ANNUAL PROGRAM

LEXINGTON, KY. — The 32nd Annual University of Kentucky Pest Control Short Course will be held Sept. 24-26 in Lexington, Ky. The conference once again includes a money-back satisfaction guarantee. To reinforce the conference theme, Focus on the Future, each participant will also receive a complimentary entomology-quality hand lens.

Featured topics include a mosquito management workshop, ant control tips that work, how pests enter buildings, emerging trends in termite litigation and control, and practical IPM in schools. Included among the 25 featured speakers are Bobby Corrigan, George Rambo, Mark Lacey, Greg Crosslin, Mark Shperdigian, Gene White, Dave Shangle and Karen Vail.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael F. Potter, Department of Entomology, S-225 Agric. Sci. Bldg. N., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, phone: 859/257-5955, fax: 859/323-1120, e-mail dthorpe@uky.edu.

B&G EQUIPMENT COMPANY, CHAPIN ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA. — In June, B&G Equipment Company and Chapin Manufacturing announced the merger of their product lines for professional pest control in an effort to supply the industry with the best possible equipment at the most economical price, the two companies said.
Effective June 1, 2002 the product lines of both companies merged.

The following changes have taken place: All sales and marketing responsibilities, including order processing and handling for equipment sold into the professional pest control marketplace, will become the responsibility of B&G. The sprayer and termite product lines will be merged into one and marketed under the B&G name. Some specialty products, such as the Chapin foamers, will continue to be offered and sold through B&G under the Chapin name.

In regards to spare parts requirements, for previously purchased Chapin Equipment, B&G and Chapin will work together to continue to offer these parts to fulfill all repair needs.

Customers with questions can visit B&G’s Web site at www.bgequip.com or call 800/544-8811.

NPMA TO OFFER PEST MANAGEMENT JOB FAIR

DUNN LORING, VA. — The Pest Management Foundation — a charitable organization affiliated with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) — will offer the first-ever Pest Management Job Fair on Friday, Oct. 18 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando.
Held in conjunction with Pest Management 2002 (Oct. 16-19), NPMA’s annual convention, the Job Fair is an opportunity for pest management professionals, pesticide manufacturers, product suppliers, state regulatory agencies and others involved in the pest management industry to recruit employees. Exhibiting at and attending the Job Fair will be free of charge.
For more information, e-mail the Pest Management Foundation’s Gene Harrington at gharrington@pestworld.org.

WOODSTREAM ACQUIRES ANIMAL REPELLENT LINES

LITITZ, PA. — Woodstream Corporation, manufacturer of Havahart brand products, announced in April the acquisition of Deer-Off and Bulb Guard animal repellents from Deer-Off Inc., Stamford, Conn.

“Deer-Off and Bulb Guard utilize superior patented technology to achieve an excellent level of efficacy and are terrific additions to the Havahart line of live animal cage traps and liquid, granular, and electronic deterrents,” said

Woodstream President Harry Whaley. “The addition of Deer-Off and Bulb Guard to the Havahart offering strengthens our position among consumers and trade distribution channels as the leader in caring control for wildlife solutions.”

BASF LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — BASF Professional Pest Control has launched a new Web site with top-to-bottom features for pest management professionals nationwide. The site provides product, industry and technical information, as well as professional advice, research data and contact information. The Web site is available at www.pestcontrolfacts.com.

ARROW ANNOUNCES TWO ACQUISITIONS

ATLANTA, GA. — Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators recently announced the acquisition of Bugs Termite and Pest Control of Knoxville, Tenn., and D’Buggers Pest Control of Glendale, Ariz.

Both companies will be merged into existing Arrow branch locations in Knoxville and Phoenix respectively.

Arrow has 38 offices in four states with revenue in excess of $57 million. The company has made 63 acquisitions in the last 13 years.

NATURZONE SELLS TWO NEW FRANCHISES

SARASOTA, FLA. — Travis Wellbrock and Mark Studtmann announced that NaturZone Pest Control, Sarasota, Fla., has sold two franchises, one in St. Louis and the other in Jalisco/Aguascalientes in the Republic of Mexico.
Studtmann and Wellbrock are the principal owners and operators of Natur-Zone Pest Control. Franchises are offered through NWF Inc. (NaturZone Worldwide Franchises), owned fully by the two men. The company was founded in 1988 in Southwest Florida.

SPECKOZ LAUNCHES SITE 

ALPHARETTA, GA. — In April, Speckoz Inc. announced the launch of its new Web site, www.speckoz.com.

“Speckoz.com was a truly collaborative effort within the board with Tom Wright of B&G Chemical and Equipment and Rick Veatch of Veatch Chemical serving along with myself as a Web site steering committee for the Board,” said Thomas Forshaw III, chairman of the board of Speckoz. 

LOUISINANA COMPANY BUYS BLUE DIAMOND EXTERMINATING

MANDEVILLE, LA. — Robert Kunst of Fischer Environmental Services and Bill and Susie Stapleton of Blue Diamond Manufacturing and exterminating in May announced the acquisition of the Mississippi locations of Blue Diamond Exterminating.

Blue Diamond, which specializes in the annual service of multifamily housing divested all of its Mississippi accounts but still retained its locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia and Florida for this time. “This is a perfect match for us as we wanted to concentrate more on the manufacturing of our MRF 2000 bait and Fischer already has a large and effective presence in the treatment of multifamily housing units,” Bill Stapleton said.

“We hope that the future holds additional areas that we can find of mutual interest with other areas that Blue Diamond services,” said Kunst, president of Fischer Environmental Services.

BELL LABORATORIES GRANTED TWO PATENTS

MADISON, WIS. — Bell Laboratories Inc. was recently granted two patents for current product innovations:
• Protecta Sidewinder and Protecta Mouse Bait Stations — a patent has been granted for the side opening of the stations as a “use” patent. No other company manufactures a bait station that has a side-opening lid with rodent entrances flush against the wall, the company says.
• New Trapper T-REX and Trapper Snap Trap — a patent has been issued to Bell for the interlocking wrap-around teeth. These teeth, deemed “interdigitating,” or “between fingers,” are unique to the rodent snap trap market. Bell’s Trapper T-REX and Trapper Snap Trap are easy-to-set and reusable plastic snap traps for rats and mice.

These two patents represent a chain of patents still pending for Bell Laboratories’ products (i.e., the integrated bait cup on Trapper T-REX and the sliding lid of Trapper 24/7 Multiple Catch trap are awaiting patents).

LSU TERMITE TRAINING CENTER NAMED IN HONOR OF LOIS CAFFEY

BATON ROUGE, LA. — The Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors in May officially named the university’s termite training center the LSU Lois Caffey Termite Training Center in honor of Lois (Stevens) Caffey.
Caffey, the corporate secretary-treasurer for Adams Pest Control, Alexandria, La., was recognized for her dedication and leadership in helping to get the center built and serving as its administrator.

A 1999 PCT/Syngenta Professional Products Leadership Winner, Caffey’s 40+ year involvement in the pest control industry includes serving as president of the Louisiana Pest Control Association. She is a former NPCA Committee Chairperson of the Year Award winner and the first recipient of the Professional Women in Pest Management Woman of the Year Award.