NPMA Presents Industry Awards to Naumann, Phillips and Rosenberg

— During a morning general session at PestWorld in October, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) honored several industry leaders during its annual awards program.

Deni Naumann, Copesan Services, received the 2015 Women of Excellence Award for her leadership and contributions to the development and growth of other women in the industry.

The 2015 Young Entrepreneur Award was presented to Stanford Phillips of Northwest Exterminating, Atlanta, in recognition of his stewardship of the industry. Additionally, three individuals were acknowledged as “Rising Stars” and received Young Achiever Awards. They were Andrew Richardson, Edge Pest Control; Joey Toth, Pitbull Pest Control; and Daniel Collins, On Point Pest Control.

NPMA’s highest honor, the Pinnacle Award, went to NPMA CEO Bob Rosenberg in recognition of his contributions to the success of NPMA and the industry as a whole. “Whether we are aware of it or not, there is not one person in this audience who hasn’t been positively impacted by Bob,” said NPMA President Russ Ives. “His enthusiasm for this industry, and the people in it, is infectious, and I cannot be more pleased to have the opportunity today to present him with this award.”

Three Industry Leaders Recognized at Univar International Reception

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At the Univar International Reception during NPMA PestWorld, Benjamín Gómez Guerrero, director of Latin America, Univar ES, presented three Global Ambassador Awards to acknowledge and thank those who have made an impact on the global industry.

The Ambassadors Class of 2015 includes:

• Motokazu Hirao was recognized for his work with Matasushita Electric Works to fund the first 20 professional pest management companies in Japan who responded to the country’s enormous rodent population. Hirao has devoted his life to improving the professionalism of the industry throughout the world.
• Mirko Baraga, a former pilot who used to risk his life spraying fields in his homeland of Argentina, but has since moved away from airplane pesticide applications to become a leading influencer of IPM in Latin America. Baraga specializes in food industry plants, teaching thousands of fellow PMPs.
• Bertrand Montmoreau is chairman of the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations. There have been many attempts to unify European nations over the years, but where others have failed, Montmoreau has succeeded. He took 27 disparate national organizations and consolidated them into one unified body — while finding a way to work with NPMA and his colleagues in pest management around the world. Just this year, NPMA and CEPA hosted a joint conference on global commercial food safety.

Bayer Appoints Ildem Bozkurt to Head of PPM Business

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, announced Ildem Bozkurt as the new head of Professional Pest Management (PPM) and Vector Control for the U.S. Chris Pienaar, who formerly held the role, will be elevated into a new position as global lead for transformational innovation, in which he will focus on strategic development across the Environmental Science business, including professional pest management.

Bozkurt, who has experience in the pest industry, has been with the Environmental Science division at Bayer for more than 10 years. Most recently, she led at the international level, serving as head of the global specialty actives business. She has been in the life sciences industry for more than 20 years and brings extensive leadership and business development experience to the professional pest management team.

“This is truly a transformative time for Professional Pest Management as we prepare for the next generation of employees and consumers in our industry,” Bozkurt said. “We have an exciting opportunity to bring forward new perspectives and help shape the future of pest management, and I look forward to partnering with our customers to drive their businesses forward and elevate them to even greater success.”

Agri-Turf Raises $40,000 for American Cancer Society

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — More than 100 golfers turned out for Agri-Turf Distributing’s inaugural Malcolm Stack Charity Golf Tournament hosted at Tustin Ranch Golf Club, in September. Participants represented suppliers and applicators in the specialty ag chemicals industry. This year’s tournament was supported by Bell Laboratories, Brandt, UC Irvine Health, Wilbur Ellis, Cool Terra and Zoecon.

The tournament is named after the late Malcolm Stack, a leader in the pest control industry and founder of Bell Laboratories. This year’s tournament also was dedicated to the memory of the late Tom Meany, founder of Orange County Pest Control, and a leader in California’s pest control industry.

Golfers played shotgun best-ball, then returned to the clubhouse for an evening of hospitality, a silent auction and barbecue dinner. The event raised more than $40,000 for the American Cancer Society. “This event far exceeded our expectations,” said Kristen Thompson, senior director of community engagement for the Orange County American Cancer Society. “We are so appreciative of Lon Records and the Agri-Turf team for organizing a turnkey tournament. The funds raised will support cancer research and patient support programs.”

PPMA Board Approves 2016 Media/PR Plan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) board of directors in October approved the budget for the group’s 2016 media/public relations plan.

The meeting, which was the first meeting for new Executive Director Cindy Mannes, was held prior to the opening ceremony for NPMA PestWorld in Nashville.

Bobby Jenkins, sitting in for PPMA Chairman Tommy Fortson whose travel was delayed on his way to Tennessee, said, “It’s great to have Cindy Mannes back as PPMA executive director.” Mannes replaced Missy Henriksen, who left NPMA to fill a similar role at the “green” industry’s National Association of Landscape Professionals. Jenkins touted Mannes’ unique industry experience, which includes previous stints at an industry manufacturer, a pest management firm and as an association executive at NPMA. “I don’t know anyone else who has that kind of experience,” Jenkins said.

“It is good to be back. Thank you all for your support and for the kind notes and words of encouragement,” Mannes said. “I am very proud to be serving this industry. It gets in your blood and I love this industry.”

Mannes reported that in 2015, PPMA had 370 investors and operated on a $2 million budget. From that $2 million budget, PPMA secured $100 million worth of advertising value (which was up from $70 million last year).

That $2 million budget includes investments in various advertising and public relations efforts. Components of the 2016 program will include:

• A continued partnership with Bob Vila.
• Continued efforts promoting Bed Bug Awareness Week, Termite Awareness Week, Rodent Awareness Week and Pest Management Month (April).
• Continued airport display advertising.
• Content syndication.
• Continued Facebook advertising.
• Display advertising.
• The filming of a new public service announcement.
• Continued focus on the commercial pest management audience.
 

“It’s important for PPMA to have an integrated approach,” Mannes said. “Because people are in different places, we need to be in different places. We need to be where everyone is. We need do to everything to reach as many people as possible.”

PPMA also announced the rollout of a refreshed fundraising effort with the rebranding and marketing of the PPMA Perks programs into a subscription service called Mainframe. 

Mainframe is an online digital agency powered by PPMA. This exclusive subscription service enables pest management companies to access comprehensive marketing materials to jumpstart or supplement exiting marketing, public relations, social media and advertising efforts. Mainframe is updated every month for timely and seasonal marketing campaigns and outreach.

PMPs participating in this program, which requires a minimum investment of $79.99 a month via credit cards charged monthly, includes unlimited access to:

• Advertising kit templates
• Press release templates
• Social media content
• Marketing toolkits for all national “Awareness Week” activities
• Consumer research
• Infographics
• Pest photos
• Crisis communication guidelines
• Media talking points
• B-roll
• Presentations
• New how-to series

“With a commitment of less than $80 a month, not only will you have access to these crucial marketing assets but you will also automatically become an investor of PPMA and receive the benefits and recognition that comes with being an industry leader helping to move us all forward,” according to published materials from PPMA.

PPMA serves as the consumer education arm of the National Pest Management Association. Learn more at http://npmapestworld.org/ppma/.