NPMA Votes to Extend Length of BOD Terms

FAIRFAX, Va. — The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) held its Annual Membership Meeting virtually on Oct. 28. Although the meeting is traditionally held in conjunction with NPMA PestWorld, since this year’s event was held virtually, so was the membership meeting.

The NPMA Board of Directors, including President Scott Steckel, President-Elect Justin McCauley, Treasurer Marillian Missiti and Secretary Faye Golden hosted the meeting. McCauley presented 2019-20 audited financial reports and Missiti reviewed NPMA’s 2020-21 budget.

The biggest news out of the meeting was related to two motions to change NPMA bylaws. The first motion included a change to the bylaws to make it more clear when access to membership benefits will expire and how to reinstate membership, as well as several changes to “clean up” language in the bylaws. It also included a proposal to add an international representative on the NPMA Board of Directors (with a voting role).

The second motion allows the 2020-21 NPMA Board of Directors to extend their term by one additional year (2021-22 election) “in light of changes due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” the amendment read. That means all members of the Board of Directors will serve in their rolls from 2020-2022.

Both motions passed unanimously. The Zoom meeting had around 100 attendees, while another 40 NPMA members voted previously via proxy. Visit https://buff.ly/378z5uo to read the changes.

In other news from the virtual event, NPMA presented its annual industry awards during a virtual award ceremony. The following individuals and organizations were recognized: NPMA Chairperson of the Year: Kevin Lemasters, chair of NPMA’s Public Policy Committee, EnviroPest, Windsor, Colo.; Women of Excellence Award (sponsored by Target Specialty Products): Andrea Brubaker, American Pest, Fulton, Md.; NPMA Committee of the Year: Leadership Networking Community Council, formerly the Leadership Development Group; NPMA Gives Award: Rentokil North America; PestVets Veteran of the Year (sponsored by FMC): Marie Horner, Arrow Exterminators, Mcleansville, N.C.: Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Rentokil): Solomon Airhart, Aruza Pest Control, Charlotte, N.C. — Jodi Dorsch

Industry Mourns J. Bryan Cooksey Jr.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — J. Bryan Cooksey Jr., longtime owner of McCall Service (now led by his sons), passed away on Oct. 27. He was 88.

After a stint in the U.S. Army (1953-55), Cooksey enrolled at the University of Florida. He graduated with a bachelor of agriculture degree in 1956 and a master’s degree of agriculture in 1958 (Entomology and Agronomy).

He started his career as an assistant county agriculture agent in Escambia County, Fla. He was next hired as a branch manager for a railroad contractor in Jacksonville. He left that job and opened his first pest control business in Jacksonville Beach, which he later sold to Terminix International. He joined that firm as a branch manager in Jacksonville and later became the company’s training director based out of Memphis.

He then joined McCall Service, which only sold heating oil at the time, to start the firm’s pest control business. He quickly grew the pest control operation and was promoted to president of the company. In the late 1980s he was able to buy the business outright.

His sons bought the business from him and continue to own and operate it today as they expand it throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The company ranked #48 on the most recent PCT Top 100 list.

Bryan is survived his wife of 62 years,

Jane Williams Cooksey, and children Beverly Mulholland (Sean), Bryan Cooksey III (Teresa), Catherine Patton (Patrick), David Cooksey (Nicole) and John Cooksey (Leyda).

Veseris Launches New Corporate Website

AUSTIN, Texas — Veseris has launched a new corporate website, www.veseris.com. The company says this new resource provides a fuller picture of who Veseris is — and how it’s making a positive impact on professional markets across North America. The website also details the company’s new distinct mission, vision and guiding values, the firm added.

Veseris.com delivers information about all the markets the company serves throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico, including links, locations and contacts. Visitors also can access background information on the company’s history, leadership and careers.

The site launch and accompanying video are part of Veseris’ broader series of digital enhancements, the company adds. Veseris also updated its online industry resource PestWeb to feature an events calendar, a more user-friendly locations page, and stronger integration across its online tools and services. Upgrades to the company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and ecommerce systems are slated for 2021.

“In the past, we’ve always been a part of a larger company and didn’t have the chance to define our own mission, vision, and values,” says Karl J. Kisner, director of corporate strategy at Veseris. “Now that we’re an independent company, we’re proud to reveal the common purpose that’s always guided our business — being the strongest advocate for our customers, coworkers and suppliers.”

NCPMA To Hold First Virtual PCT School

RALEIGH, N.C. — Registration is now open for the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) 2021 Pest Control Technician’s (PCT) School. The event will be held virtually Jan. 25-28, 2021.

Registration for the 2021 PCT School is now open on the association’s website. The 2021 PCT School will feature sessions designed to provide continuing education credits for pest management professionals.

The 71^st Annual PCT School will feature nationally recognized speakers leading educational sessions for PMPs.

“We may not be meeting in person this year, but the 2021 PCT School will continue and will include the best of what North Carolina’s pest management professionals have come to expect from our winter school. We are looking forward to continuing our more than 70-year history of bringing the best training and speakers to North Carolina’s pest management professionals,” said John Adkins, NCPMA president and chair of the PCT School Committee.

A full schedule of sessions is available at www.ncpestmanagement.org/pctreg.

FMC Announces Winners of PestWorld True Champions Trivia Challenge

PHILADELPHIA — FMC Professional Solutions recently announced the winners of the FMC True Champions Trivia Challenge, hosted at the virtual NPMA PestWorld. Winners showcased their knowledge of urban pest management, FMC products and popular culture. They will receive prizes including Cabela’s gift cards and upgraded True Champions Rewards program status.

Winners include:

• David Moor of Dodson Pest Control in Lynchburg, Va.
• Cory Goeltzenleuchter of McCall Service in Jacksonville, Fla.
• Andrew Taylor of Plunkett’s Pest Control in Minneapolis, Minn.
• Mark VanderWerp of Rose Pest Solutions in Troy, Mich.
• Jim Zylstra of Tuff Turf Molebusters in Byron Center, Mich.
• Kim Kelley-Tunis of Terminix in Memphis, Tenn.
• Glen Ramsey of Rollins in Atlanta, Ga.
• Justin Marlowe of McCauley Services in Bryant, Ark.
• Kevin Hathorne of Terminix Service in Columbia, S.C.
• Martin Overline of Aardvark Pest Management in Philadelphia

FMC also launched a 20-ounce package size of Scion insecticide with UVX technology, continued support of PestVets and announced the upcoming celebration of the Talstar 25^th Anniversary.

“The pest control industry is very technical and competitive,” said Tom Wharton, FMC national sales manager. “The Trivia Challenge was a great way to give our industry partners a chance to compete and show off their technical knowledge while also getting them engaged with our booth and PestWorld plans. We thank everyone who joined us at PestWorld and participated in the Trivia Challenge.” To learn more, visit www.fmctruechampions.com.

Catchmaster, Texas A&M Researching Flies and COVID-19

BAYONNE, N.J. — AP&G Co. has been working closely with members of the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University by providing Catchmaster fly control products to support efforts to study flies near COVID-19 positive households.

Catchmaster products, including Gold Stick Fly Traps, Fly Jars, Fly Bags and Window Fly Traps, were recently donated by AP&G Co. and deployed at COVID-19 positive households. The samples of flies will be tested for SARS-CoV-2. The goal of the research is to determine if flies can be used to detect areas of active transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited to see our Catchmaster fly products being used in the research by Texas A&M University. Nothing beats seeing our products working in the field, especially when they are tied to research of this importance,” said Jonathan Frisch, vice president of sales and marketing.

The Catchmaster team has been working closely with Gabriel Hamer, Ph.D., associate professor, and Christopher Roundy, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University to provide the appropriate products for sampling flies. In addition, Sarah Hamer, Ph.D., DVM, associate professor of epidemiology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and her team, are deploying the traps inside and around COVID-19 positive households.