NPMA Appoints Dominique Stumpf to Replace Bob Rosenberg as CEO

FAIRFAX, Va. — In February, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Dominique Stumpf, the association’s chief operating officer, to the position of chief executive officer. Stumpf replaced Bob Rosenberg, who’s been at the association for 27+ years. The transition occured on March 16, following NPMA Legislative Day.

“It’s overwhelming right now,” Stumpf told PCT. “I’ve been inundated with calls and texts and emails. I’ve been getting lots of support, lots of words of encouragement, lots of ‘happy to have you on board.’ People all over the world, and in different parts of the industry, have been reaching out. News travels really fast!”

NPMA President Russ Ives made the announcement immediately following the ratification by the NPMA Board of Directors. NPMA bylaws state two-thirds of the board of directors must sign off on the new hire. There are 26 members on the board; 23 were on the call. The vote was unanimous.

Highlighting Stumpf’s career and years of experience with the association, Ives said, “The NPMA Executive Committee and Succession Planning Committee began working on this in August 2013. This process allowed us to focus on what we needed in a CEO to continue to meet NPMA’s objectives and strategies for future growth and continued success. Stumpf’s 19-year track record speaks for itself as a proven, results-oriented leader with a passion for our industry. We unanimously agreed that there is no better or more qualified candidate to take the reins and work cohesively with NPMA staff and industry members alike.”

Rosenberg’s replacement has been on the industry’s mind since 2013. In September 2012, Rosenberg was named acting executive vice president of the association, following the abrupt resignation of Executive Vice President Rob Lederer. Lederer had been with NPMA for 17 years.

But, the path to hiring a new CEO for the association took longer than anticipated, and in October 2015 PCT reported NPMA would not be naming the new CEO, despite a previously published deadline.

Ives, in an email to the NPMA Board of Directors on Sept. 14, 2015, wrote “…even a carefully planned timetable and precise execution do not always yield the desired outcome on schedule. The committee’s goal had been to have a new CEO in place by the end of the year, with the hope of being able to introduce that person in Nashville (in October)…that target date will not be met.”

But with additional time and a more aggressive recruiting approach that included using an executive search firm, the “cream rose to the top,” Ives told PCT. “This was a very through process. It was done in a very careful and considered and detailed way by a committee of folks who have contributed in great ways to the association in the past and will in the future. I am appreciative of the work the committee — especially Succession Committee Chair Chuck Tindol — exercised in all of this. This is the right decision for the organization. I am really looking forward to where this will lead.”

A NEW ROLE. As the former chief operating officer, Stumpf’s role encompassed a variety of functions, including meetings, communications, marketing, membership, education and human resources. She also served as the executive director of the Canadian Pest Management Association and the Structural Pest Management Association of Ontario, and staff liaison to NPMA’s Leadership Development Group and Professional Women in Pest Management. Throughout her tenure, Stumpf has had a broad scope of engagement with all stakeholders within the NPMA community, giving her a unique perspective and understanding of the needs of the industry, an NPMA press release said.

In her new leadership role, Stumpf will be responsible for the financial health and growth of NPMA, as well as continuing the strong, personal relationships of the association with members, state associations and affiliated organizations and other key stakeholders, like federal and state regulators.

According to Tindol, who also is the incoming president of NPMA, “Under Dominique’s leadership as COO and during this process, she has helped the entire NPMA team stay focused and energized. Her passion, integrity and ‘work hard, play hard’ style will keep NPMA on track for the future.”

Tindol told PCT, “I’m proud of the succession planning committee and I’m really proud of Dominique. She earned this job. She flat-out earned it. We ‘put her through the ringer,’ asking specific questions about the future of the industry that they couldn’t ask candidates not as familiar with the industry.”

“She brings as much enthusiasm and energy and passion as anybody I’ve ever met,” Bob Rosenberg told PCT. “I couldn’t be more positive about the future of NPMA and the industry with her selection.”

Stumpf said, “I’m extremely honored to have this opportunity to continue to serve the pest management industry in a broadened capacity. I’m confident that the association’s growth, financial health and mission will continue as strong today as ever before under the guidance of our board and in the capable hands of the existing staff.”

“My favorite thing about NPMA is serving this industry. From the day I was hired I believed in what we do as an industry,” Stumpf told PCT. “In my nearly 20 years, we’ve had a lot of changes in how we provide service and our industry’s perception and my knowledge has expanded a lot more than a little. I’m a believer — this is not just a job for me. The pest management industry is something I have a passion for and believe in.

“I’ve had 19 years of being in the navigator’s seat,” she added. “Now I’m in the driver’s seat.” — Jodi Dorsch

Green Gorilla Named ‘Best New Product’ of FPMA Expo

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Green Gorilla Pro Line VI 1½-gallon unit was named “best new product” at the Florida Pest & Lawn Care Expo and Pest Pac User Conference, held Jan. 18-21, at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista.

The unit, developed and manufactured by ForeFront Product Design, uses Smart Pressure Technology to precisely control pressure automatically, eliminating manual pumping.

The award “validates that the pest control industry recognizes the value and benefit of innovative, intelligent, delivery systems in the marketplace,” said Joe Malinowski, senior vice president of business development (pest control), ForeFront Product Design.

The Green Gorilla Pro Line VI 1½-gallon unit was selected by the Florida Pest Management Association Board of Directors after a review of all products exhibited at the show.

Inspect-All Services Flies High With UAV Technology

Conyers, Ga. — Inspect-All Services is among the early adopters of drone, or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), technology. The company says it plans to provide its Greater Atlanta customers with pest and wildlife evaluations, as well as real estate home inspections, using its new drone and mini-drone.

“Whether it’s providing customers with infrared thermal imaging for pest detection or sending them an email with a photo of the technician who will arrive at their home the next day, we always want to be one step ahead when it comes to technology,” says Brian Lunsford, co-owner and president of Inspect-All. “Our new drones promise to give customers clear photographic evidence of exactly what is going on at their homes. UAV technology is an outstanding complement to standard inspections.”

The benefits of using a drone, according to Lunsford, include pinpointing wildlife entry points located in areas technicians can’t easily inspect, such as inaccessible areas on a roof. The high-quality photographs and video images the UAV captures enable the technician to assess a range of issues and devise a plan to resolve those issues.

“We are testing the drone in a variety of scenarios, with different types of homes and weather conditions, and the results have been amazing,” Lunsford reports. He adds that although it isn’t difficult to learn how to fly a drone, intense training is necessary to ensure technicians’ adherence to safety and privacy standards.

“We contracted with a private consulting firm to make sure we are following all of the proper steps to fly commercially under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012,” he explains. “The Section 333 exemption will allow us to legally perform drone inspections at residences and businesses.”

© GordZam | Thinkstock.com

UF/IFAS Scientists Write Document Explaining Zika

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Zika virus is spreading and it’s likely pest control customers are asking questions about mosquito control and prevention.

“We should remain vigilant and informed,” said Jorge Rey, entomology professor and interim director of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL) in Vero Beach, Fla., part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Public concerns about Zika triggered UF/IFAS scientists to write a new Extension document to explain the virus. The document can be found online at http://bit.ly/1QTLDqO. FMEL scientists also have crafted a new question-and-answer document for their website, http://bit.ly/1O0eLbi.

Additionally, scientists at FMEL are applying for research funding to work on the Zika virus, Rey said.

“The geographic expansion of Zika virus and associated epidemics in the Pacific region and the Americas have stimulated new research plans at the FMEL to improve our understanding of Zika virus and reduce the risk of transmission,” he said. “We have submitted a request to the European Virus Archive to obtain the Asian lineage of Zika virus circulating in the Americas. Faculty at the FMEL are collaborating with other universities and organizations to improve our understanding of host-vector-Zika virus interactions and develop new diagnostic tools for the detection of this virus. We are applying for funding to the National Institutes of Health.”

Rey co-authored the new paper for the UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) in which UF/IFAS faculty members outline the origins of the Zika virus, how it is transmitted and what we can do to prevent it. Six other FMEL faculty members helped write the Zika paper.

FMEL scientists do not yet know how well Aedes aegypti — the Yellow Fever mosquito — and Aedes albopictus — the Asian tiger mosquito — transmit the Zika virus to humans. But they’ve spent many years studying the mosquito species and how they deliver other viruses, namely chikungunya and dengue, Rey said.

There are no vaccines yet to protect against Zika. Vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are not likely to be available for several years, according to the paper. Thus, protecting yourself from mosquito bites is your best prevention method. For example, use mosquito repellents and protective clothing. Also, avoid areas where mosquitoes are abundant.

ChemChina to Acquire Syngenta for $43 Billion

BASEL, Switzerland — Syngenta, the Swiss-based agricultural company, announced that ChemChina has offered to acquire the company in an all cash deal, valuing it at more than $43 billion. Syngenta said it will remain globally headquartered in Switzerland and is committed to ensure it will be business as usual for customers, pest management professionals, business partners, employees and the communities it serves in the U.S. and globally.

Syngenta issued a press release with what it called “key facts”:

• Syngenta will continue to be a strong competitor in the marketplace.
• Syngenta management will continue to lead all aspects of the business, including delivering high-quality products.
• This transaction ensures ongoing R&D investment across technology platforms and across all industries.
• The transaction ensures continued choice for growers at a time when considerable consolidation is taking place in the agricultural industry.
• It will still be business as usual for Syngenta employees and customers who will have access to the same high-quality portfolio of seeds, traits and crop protection products from Syngenta.

McCloud Services Hosts Pest Invasion Next Month

South Elgin, Ill. — McCloud Services’ annual Pest Invasion Integrated Pest Management and food safety seminar will take place on April 26 at the Drury Lane Conference Center & Theater in Oakbrook, Ill. The all-day seminar features valuable information on topics related to pests and other contamination concerns for the food supply chain of custody, including public health importance and FDA regulations, food-borne illness and security.

“Returning from a record year in 2015, we are expecting this year’s attendance to be well over 300 professionals from the food, pest management and environmental health industries,” said Chris McCloud, president and CEO of McCloud Services. “Our great line-up of speakers are covering a range of timely and relevant topics essential to the food safety industry and we are looking forward to another great seminar.”

This year’s featured speakers and topics include:

• Dr. Robert E. Brackett, vice president and director — Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology (topic: Food Safety Modernization Act Update)
• Rod Wheeler, founder/CEO — The Global Food Defense Institute (topic: Food Security and Pest Management)
• Matthew Frye, Extension educator — Cornell University (topic: Harboring Secrets: Parasites and Pathogens of NYC Rats)
• Joe Barile, technical services coordinator — Bayer Environmental Science (topic: Domestic and Peridomestic Cockroach Species of the U.S. and Their Control)
• Dr. Hal King, founder/CEO — Public Health Innovations (topic: Food Safety Management: Implementing Active Managerial Control Principles in a Food Retail Business)

For more information on Pest Invasion 2016 visit http://bit.ly/1KX4pyc.

PPMA Calls for Industry Participation in National Pest Management Month

FAIRFAX, Va. — The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is celebrating the pest management industry during National Pest Management Month in April. This annual designation acknowledges the pest management industry’s ongoing commitment to the protection of public health, food and property from common pest threats. Using various media relations and social media tactics, PPMA will work to promote the pest management industry and the invaluable work pest professionals do to protect homeowners and their investments.

“The pest management industry is essential to protecting property and family from the potential disease and destruction caused by various pests,” said Cindy Mannes, executive director, PPMA. “Not only do professionals have the tools and knowledge needed to educate homeowners, they can provide simple home improvement tips that can help ward off future pest problems and provide an incredible value to their customers.”

PPMA is working to promote and celebrate the pest management industry with the launch of various media relations and social media campaigns. Industry members are encouraged to join in the celebration by devoting their social media pages to National Pest Management Month and using the hashtag #NPMM in all posts and interactions on social properties, including Facebook and Twitter.

PPMA also developed an exclusive toolkit for Mainframe subscribers to utilize as a resource during their publicity efforts. The toolkit is available for download on www.ppmamainframe.org and contains a customizable press release, suggested social media content, and other materials to help companies communicate about National Pest Management Month. For more information about PPMA and its marketing programs, visit http://www.npmapestworld.org/ppma.

Brandenburg NA Opens New North America Facility

Earth City, Mo. — Brandenburg NA is expanding its reach across the United States by now shipping insect light traps, glueboards and bulbs, and servicing customers more efficiently, thanks to the opening of its new 50,000-square-foot office and warehouse facility in Earth City, Mo.

This is Brandenburg NA’s first major facility expansion in the United States since opening its initial office five years ago in St. Louis, Mo. But its roots in the United States and North America stretch back much further. Since 1991, companies here have come to rely on Brandenburg NA for professional insect control systems, the firm says. Brandenburg NA is the North American arm of the Brandenburg group of companies, a UK-based manufacturer of flying and biting insect control systems and air sterilization products.