PCT to Host Virtual Mosquito Conference

The pest control industry owes much of its recent growth to the rapid expansion of several vertical niche markets, including mosquito control, which has seen a significant upturn in business thanks to more aggressive marketing on the part of business-savvy PMPs and ongoing media coverage of the threat posed by mosquito-borne illnesses. This combination has resulted in a growing number of PMPs offering mosquito control services during the past few years. If you’re considering entering this potentially lucrative field, or would simply like to learn more about the most effective mosquito treatment protocols and marketing techniques, you’ll want to attend the PCT Virtual Mosquito Conference scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, and sponsored by Syngenta and MGK (both Platinum level sponsors) . The program will feature several leading mosquito control experts who will offer valuable insights about this important public health pest.

Mosquitoes & Vector-Borne Disease: Educating Customers vs. Fear Mongering, Dr. Phil Koehler, Endowed Professor, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

In this informative keynote session, one of the country’s leading university educators and urban entomologists will share his “real-world” insights about the health threat posed by mosquitoes and review what the industry is doing to combat vector-borne disease outbreaks. With a Ph.D. from Cornell University, Koehler is a much sought-after speaker at industry educational events. A former medical entomologist with the U.S. Navy, Koehler is an endowed professor of urban entomology at the University of Florida who divides his time between university extension work, research and teaching.

“Smarter” Mosquito Control, Larry Motes, Director of Operations, Gregory Pest Solutions, Greenville, S.C.

Gregory Pest Solutions is a leading provider of mosquito control services in the Southeast, offering a comprehensive program designed to protect families and pets throughout the mosquito season. The company’s Smarter Mosquito Control service program starts with an inspection followed by a customized treatment plan that includes vegetation management, exclusion and targeted pesticide applications. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Motes is past president of the South Carolina Mosquito Control Association and a former board member of the Georgia Mosquito Control Association.

The Role of Marketing in Driving Mosquito Sales, June Van Klaveren, Owner, Compelling Communications, Chesterfield, Mo.

June Van Klaveren, a veteran marketer with more than 25 years of industry experience, will provide PMPs with practical advice on how to grow their mosquito business through effective marketing. With a client base of pest control companies across the United States, Van Klaveren has worked with PMPs to create a wide array of marketing materials designed specifically for the mosquito market, including flyers, door hangers, invoice stuffers, postcards and custom e-communications.

Mosquito Control: An Essential Public Health Market, Dan Moreland, Publisher, PCT Magazine

Dan Moreland, publisher of PCT magazine, is an award-winning journalist who has covered the professional pest management industry for more than three decades. In this session, Moreland will provide an overview of key trends in the mosquito market.