[News]

Valera Jessee elected to GPCA Hall of Fame

Valera Jessee is welcomed by Jeffrey Bodine Sinyard to the GPCA Hall of Fame.

Norcorss, Ga. — In a surprise announcement at the Georgia Pest Control Association Conference in Athens, Ga., in January, Valera Jessee, GPCA executive director, was elected into the GPCA Hall of Fame.

Jessee joined the GPCA staff 27 years ago and has worked with 27 different presidents, boards and committees. “Her greatest talent,” according to Jeffrey Bodine Sinyard, “is her ability to work with different personalities and styles in a friendly, pleasant manner to achieve mutual goals.”

The Hall of Fame award (previously known as honorary members of GPCA) acknowledges the work that an individual has done to grow the Georgia pest control industry and GPCA. Jessee is the first to be elected to the newly named Hall of Fame.

“There has been no one more deserving than Valera to receive this honor and I consider her not only a colleague but a good friend,” said Dow AgroSciences’ Eunice Hall. “Her contributions to GPCA and the pest control industry in Georgia are unmatched.”

Coworker Connie Rogers said she attributes the success of GPCA to Jessee’s professionalism and integrity.

Chuck Carney, Cook’s Pest Control, said, “The recognition of Hall of Fame member for a lady who has given so much of herself to the Georgia Pest Control Association is just a small way to say thank you for what she has done and continues to do. We all wanted to thank Valera with this special recognition.”
 

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BedBug Central Announces New Location for Third North American Summit

Lawrenceville, N.J. — BedBug Central announced the third annual North American Bed Bug Summit will be held in a new location: Las Vegas. The two-day Summit, “BedBug University: North American Summit 2012,” will be held Sept. 6-7 at the Red Rock Casino and Spa in Las Vegas.

During the Summit, attendees will hear the latest research and strategies for bed bug control, legal protection and treatment cost containment. The Summit will also focus on applied research and practical usage of the information.

According to Phil Cooper, president and CEO of BedBug Central, the 2012 Summit will not only focus on recruiting leading entomologists and bed bug experts internationally, but also will continue to create opportunities for attendees to interact and network with experts on a one-on-one or small group setting at an affordable rate.

“The Summit’s mission has always been to bring together leading experts and manufacturers in the bed bug industry and deliver unrivaled information for our attendees,” said Cooper. “We also want to create a greater interaction between experts and the attendees, while offering unique and successful networking opportunities for attendees, experts and exhibitors.”

The Summit will continue its popular EXPOcentral, which will feature more than 75 bed bug product manufacturers. In addition, BedBug Central has brought back its free Beer Tasting Reception and Night Out with the Experts.

Early bird registration is now in effect at $525 per person until April 1. After that date, registration is $595 per person. For more information or to register for the Bed Bug University: North American Summit, visit www.bedbugcentral.com/summit.
 

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E-town Exterminating Celebrates 35 Years in Business

Elizabethtown, Ky. — How does the owner of a successful pest control business commemorate 35 years in business? For Roy Rich, founder of E-town Exterminating, the answer was simple: Bring together 300 long-time customers, real estate agents, builders and local dignitaries to celebrate with a barbecue luncheon, which is exactly what the firm did this past September at the E-town headquarters in Elizabethtown, Ky.

The luncheon was Rich’s way of saying thanks to the people and the industry that have supported him throughout the years. Unlike many PCOs, Rich started his career not as a businessman or service professional, but as a regulator. After graduating from Campbellsville University in 1967, he worked for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture as pesticide director.

“I worked with a lot of pest control operators and saw what a wonderful industry pest control was, and I liked it,” he recalled.

So, in 1967 Rich left the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to accept a managerial position at Orkin in order to receive hands-on training. At the same time, his ultimate goal was to go into business himself one day.

After working for Orkin, Rich decided to venture on his own, and in August 1976 he founded E-town Exterminating. “We started with me, my wife Brenda, and two other technicians,” he said. “I would sell new business during the day and work the initials at night and my wife managed our office in our house.”

Keeping not only customers but employees happy has been the secret to E-town’s success. Rich said the company now has 22 employees, several of whom are 30-plus-year employees. “We are probably the most proud of us being a family-owned operation,” he said. “We feel we provide an atmosphere that is friendly to our employees and customers.

Tommy Reeves, vice president of Oldham Chemicals Company, is an admirer of the Rich’s customer-centric approach. “They’ve treated every customer since the first day they opened their doors for business with exceptional care,” he said. “They treat their customers like family.”

Roy and Brenda Rich’s son, Shawn Rich (age 40), grew up in the business, and has had the unique opportunity to witness all aspects of the operation, including its struggles and successes. Shawn Rich graduated from Georgetown College in 1994, did a short stint with Massey Services, Oveido, Fla., and then returned to E-town as a full-time employee later that year.

“Experience is our best teacher and owning any small business can either make or break you,” he said. “When I graduated from high school my dad told me I had to do two things before I could work for the business. I had to graduate from college and work for another company [Massey Services]. I am grateful the experience this gave me.”

Like many family-owned business E-town Exterminating is undergoing a generational succession. After working for the company in various capacities beginning in 1994, Shawn Rich became CEO in 2003 as Roy Rich gradually handed over most of the day-to-day responsibilities to his son. And despite stepping back from the daily operations of the business, Roy Rich remains a strong industry advocate, a role that has been critical to the success of the pest control industry in Kentucky. Says Reeves, “He’s a politician extraordinaire. He’s always represented the pest control industry in the state of Kentucky very effectively both at the state and national level.”

Under the leadership of tech-savvy Shawn Rich, the company has been infused with new technology, including upgraded computer capabilities. “I feel the mission has stayed the same but our services have evolved with new technology from pesticides to the Internet,” he said.

While Shawn Rich is excited about the future, the company’s main focus is sustainability. “Obviously we want to grow our company so that it will stay healthy in the future, but we want to still stay a local company,” he said. “I feel we have been so successful here because we have been so entrenched in our community.”

 

In Memoriam: Don Stroope

Waxahachie, Texas — Don Stroope, founder of Stroope Pest Control, Waxahachie, Texas, passed away on Dec. 8, 2011, at his residence at age 86.

Stroope founded Stroope Pest Control in 1950, which is still serving Waxahachie, Ellis County and the surrounding area under the leadership of daughter-in-law Kelly Stroope. In addition to running a successful pest control business, Stroope was one of the leading advocates for the pest control industry in Texas. He was the first chairman of the Texas Structural Pest Control Board (in 1971) and served as director of the Texas Pest Control Association.

Longtime friend and colleague Larry Novi, manager of Arrow Exterminators’ Dallas service center, said Stroope was “always willing to serve the industry and TPCA, especially in a time of crisis. He was active politically and his contacts and influence [with legislators] was very important to the pest control industry in Texas.”

Stroope also was a driving force in establishing the Endowed Chair in Urban and Structural Entomology at Texas A&M University, held by Dr. Roger Gold.

Stroope was born and raised in Waxahachie, one of 11 children. After graduating high school he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1943, serving in the Okinawa/Pacific Campaign during WWII. He was honorably discharged in 1947. Stroope attended Texas A&M on the GI Bill and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s of science degree in entomology. Shortly thereafter he founded Stroope Pest Control.
 

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PestSure Elects New Officers

Dallas, Texas — H. Russell Ives, president of Rose Pest Solutions in Troy, Mich., recently was elected president of the pest control insurance group, PestSure, succeeding Victor Hammel, who is retiring after 31 years as a director and, most recently, president of PestSure. Ives was also elected president of CPS Insurance Co., the reinsurance company in Hamilton, Bermuda, which is the financial arm of PestSure.

“It is indeed an honor to be selected for this responsibility, which has been so excellently carried out for many years by Victor Hammel. Through his efforts, and those who formed and led PestSure since its founding 31 years ago, we have a thriving captive insurance company, owned and operated by pest management professionals, on sound financial footing and solidly positioned to meet the insurance needs of our industry well into the future,” said Ives, who joined the board of PestSure and CPS in 2003, and has most recently served as its treasurer.

Also elected were Phil Clegg, president of Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control, as vice president and chairman of the Underwriting Committee; Michael Rottler, president of Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions, as treasurer; Jim Aycock, president of Cook’s Pest Control, as chairman of the Investment Committee; and Matt Nixon, president of American Pest Management in Fulton, Maryland, as chairman of the Loss Prevention Committee.

In addition, Todd Burke was appointed as PestSure chief operating officer, succeeding Rex Jennings, who announced his retirement after serving in that role since 1986. Burke, who is responsible for all PestSure operations, oversees a staff of 12 in the Arthur J. Gallagher offices headquartered in Dallas. PestSure insures 80 pest control companies with revenues of more than $1 billion and more than 10,000 vehicles.

 

Jeff Johnson Receives VPMA’s Industry Stewardship Award

Virginia Beach, Va. — Jeff Johnson, vice president of operations and general manager, A-Active Termite & Pest Control, Virginia Beach, Va., received the Virginia Pest Management Industry Stewardship Award from the Virginia Pest Management Association.

Johnson was honored at a special reception in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 7. The award recognized Johnson for “outstanding service and dedication as steward to the pest management industry.” These efforts included organizing an Associated Certified Entomologist exam testing site in Virginia as a means to increase the number of ACEs in Virginia.

Johnson is the 13th recipient of this award in the organization’s 60 years and the second person from A-Active to have received it. Kevin Kordek, president of A-Active, received the award in 2007.
 

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Univar Opens Cancun Office

Austin, Texas — Univar Professional Products & Services (PP&S) opened an international operation in Cancun, Mexico. It is the company’s fourth location in Mexico. Univar PP&S first opened in Mexico in 1996 and also has locations in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.

“It has been a great adventure establishing the largest distribution company in the pest control industry in Mexico,” said Benjamin Gomez, Univar’s director general of Mexico operations. “With the addition of Cancun, we are positioned to take advantage of the growing needs of a booming tourist area as well as the overall growth of Southeast Mexico. It will allow us to better serve our customers with the products and services they have come to expect.”
 

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Envincio Relocates to Cary, N.C.

Cary, N.C. — Envincio, a manufacturer of professional pest control products, has consolidated operations and relocated to Cary, N.C. The company formerly was known as Prentiss.

Envincio is building infrastructure in the area to support development and the marketing of new products, the firm says. The company is also introducing Essentria FIFRA 25(b) exempt insecticides and the EPA-registered botanical insecticide brand family, Envi. Company initiatives include expanding the traditional pyrethrum-based Elite brand, re-branding the rest of its portfolio and restructuring its geographical sales focus.

Envincio also operates a manufacturing facility in Georgia.
 

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Avitrol Redesigns Website

Tulsa, OKLA. — Avitrol has redesigned its website, www.avitrol.com. The site features a more user-friendly interface and provides access to labels, MSDS sheets, product literature and a list of frequently asked questions about Avitrol products. The new site also includes interactive maps where visitors can view state registrations and locate distributors.

 

PCO News

Please send press releases about your firm to jdorsch@giemedia.com. The Bug Man Pest Control, Murfreesboro, Tenn., recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The business was started by Dan and Vicky Cassidy in the fall of 2001 with one man and a truck. After acquiring Advantage Pest Control in Lebanon, The Bug Man is now serving Rutherford and Wilson Counties, as well as numerous other cities in the Middle Tennessee area. The firm was voted “Best Bug Zapper” in the Murfreesboro Post’s Besties awards.   George Smith, Kids House Board Chair 2009-11, presents Andrea Massey-Farrell of Massey Services with the Kids House Community Partnership Award. A team of more than 65 team members from Massey Services, Orlando, Fla., participated in the American Heart Association’s annual 5K Heart Walk in September. The team contributed more than $16,000 to help in the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke. In other Massey Services news, Gator IMG Sports Marketing selected the firm, Orlando, Fla., along with Dow AgroSciences and the Sentricon System, as the official pest prevention partners of the Florida Gators through July 2014. Sentricon is Massey’s co-op termite partner in the selection. As a sponsor of the Florida Gators, Massey Services receives promotional rights including limited use of university logos, state-wide television and radio, web presence, event signage and print. Additionally, the company received the Community Partnership Award from Kids House of Seminole and partnered with Orange County Public Schools to provide pest prevention services throughout the district this year. A-Active Termite and Pest Control Company of Virginia Beach, Va., was named by Inside Business/The Hampton Roads Business Journal as a “Best Place to Work” in the Small Business category. The nomination covered topics such as work environment, culture, turnover, employee satisfaction, fair and equitable treatment, compensation, benefits, community service and employee training opportunities. As a leader in green pest management, Dean Burnside, president and CEO of Macy’s Termite & Pest Control of southwest Florida, was invited to speak at the 2011 “Residex/DuPont Gettysburg Adventure.” His contribution allowed him to educate more than 50 pest control operators from throughout the country on DuPont’s termiticide. In addition, he shared some of the best management practices that Macy’s uses to engage their customers and prospective audience.

IPM Symposium To Be Held in March

Memphis, Tenn. — In March, an international group of scientists will descend on Memphis for the seventh International IPM Symposium. Held every three years, the symposium drew more than 700 people in 2009. At this year’s event, pest professionals, educators and researchers will discuss the benefits of IPM.

The IPM Symposium will be held at the Memphis Cook Convention Center March 27-29, bringing together hundreds of PMPs and scientists. More information and registration is available at www.ipmcenters.org/ipmsymposium12.
 

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New Insect Control Resource Web Page Available

Schaumburg, Ill. — The Zoëcon Professional Products division of Central Life Sciences has launched a comprehensive insect control resource page for pest management professionals at www.zoecon.com. The resource provides a variety of easy-to-navigate how-to videos, product information and resources to assist in addressing and resolving customer insect control issues, including:

Multimedia: how-to videos with tips for product application, usage sites, preparation and follow up.

Product information: extensive individual product information and a comprehensive Pest Control Resource Guide.

Marketing materials: marketing and sales materials PCOs can brand and distribute under their company logo, including a flea control press release template and four ad slicks.

Helpful links: links to industry associations such as the National Pest Management Association, PestWeb by Univar, industry magazines and the National Bed Bug Registry.