[News]

Bob Vila Tapped as Spokesman for National Pest Management Month

FAIRFAX, Va. — As April draws near, the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association, will mark National Pest Management Month. This observance, celebrated for more than 30 years and recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, brings attention to the professional pest management industry for its role in protecting public health and property from significant pest threats.

For the second consecutive year, PPMA is partnering with one of America’s leading home improvement experts, Bob Vila. An instantly recognizable figure in the home improvement industry, Vila has spent more than 30 years offering remodeling tips and tutorials on a variety of television series including “This Old House” and “Restore America with Bob Vila.”

Vila has been tapped once again to conduct a series of interviews with journalists across the country via satellite on April 1. Vila will advise homeowners on how best to prepare their homes against spring and summer pest invaders.

During the remainder of the month, PPMA will work to educate consumers through mainstream and social media channels about the dangers of pests to health and property and the importance of working with pest management professionals to mitigate those threats.

PPMA invites all industry members to help mark this month on their websites, through consumer communication and by using the hashtag #NPMM in their social media posts. Additionally, PPMA has developed an exclusive toolkit for investors to use in their publicity efforts. The toolkit contains a customizable press release, social media posts, photographs, pest facts and other materials designed to help companies mark this observance.

All materials are free to PPMA Guardians and Contributors and are available to download on www.ppmatools.org, the group’s exclusive online marketing hub for investors. For more information about PPMA and all its marketing programs, visit www.npmapestworld.org/ppma.
 

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Josh Bloom Wins Nisus’ ‘Worst Commercial Kitchen Photo Contest’

ASTORIA, N.Y. — Josh Bloom, quality assurance manager of Standard Pest Management, Astoria, N.Y, was announced as the winner of the Nisus “Worst Commercial Kitchen Photo Contest” for his submission of what he calls a “sludge-filled” corner of a food production facility located near a grease trap.

“It was a client that did a high volume of cooking every day and sanitation just got away from them,” Bloom said. “We actually were not over there for a fly inspection, rather a rodent and deficiency inspection, and we came across this filth.”

Bloom said Standard advised the client to step up sanitation efforts, which he said they have done. “Like most sanitation problems we encounter, it wasn’t that the client wasn’t cleaning, it was that they weren’t getting into the areas that were a little out of the way, or a little difficult to get a mop in.” Bloom added that this particular client also owns a nearby bakery where fruit flies can be problematic, and he says Standard has been successful making foam applications of Nibor-D, DSV and ProFoam using TrueTech foaming equipment from Nisus.

Nisus launched the contest in late 2014 via an e-blast in which it asked PCOs to submit their worst commercial kitchen photo for a chance to win a TrueTech 2000 Power Cart, or $500 cash prize. About 125 photos were submitted and displayed throughout the Nisus training facility, including on big screen TVs. The Nisus staff then voted to determine the winner. Bloom edged out second place finisher Andrea Mirelez of Wild West Pest Control, Atwater, Calif. Both Bloom and Mirelez took the $500 cash prize option.

Jim Gorman, vice president of marketing, Nisus Corporation, said the contest was a fun way to raise awareness of how the TrueTech 2000 Power Cart, used with Nibor-D, can help PCOs gain control in challenging commercial kitchen accounts. “It was amazing to see some of the worst conditions that our industry is called upon to provide pest control for,” Gorman said.
 

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U Group Brings Together PCOs to Share Best Practices

TUCSON, Ariz. — Successful entrepreneurs understand that innovative growth rarely comes from having those “A-ha moments,” but rather it is more often the result of cultivating ideas from a variety of sources — most notably fellow entrepreneurs. This approach is the impetus of the U Group, a collection of non-competing pest management companies that meet twice a year in formal settings to share best-in-class benchmarks in the pest management industry.

“The group was formed because all of us wanted to learn more from each other, and also have an opportunity to bring in national caliber speakers on topics outside of the pest industry,” said Caleb Tennenbaum, marketing director of Arizona Pest Control (one of the group’s founding member companies). “It is easy to go to a bug conference and learn about bugs, but hard to find a conference that helps you work on your business, and not in it.”

What is the origin of the name U Group? Tennenbaum said the group will set the room up in a giant “U” at all of its meetings so that members can discuss issues face-to-face.

In addition to Arizona Pest Control, other founding member companies include Bug Busters, Blue Chip Services and Myers Services (now a part of Massey Services). The group then added Hulett Environmental Services, Modern Pest Services, J&J Exterminating and Horizon Pest Control prior to its inaugural meeting in Chicago. (For a complete list of member companies, visit www.theugroup.org/U_Group_Members.html.)

Tennenbaum said for companies to become a part of U Group they need to be of similar size and scope — and they need to actively participate in meetings. The group will then vote on potential new members and they will be accepted if they receive a majority vote. “The group is social as well as business,” Tennenbaum said. “We are all friends, and the relationships we have made extend well beyond the meetings. We have visited each other’s companies, sat in on meetings, worked with their techs and office staff, learned new services, or ways of doing business. Since we are non competitive, we all openly share every aspect of our businesses freely.”

Arizona Pest Control, for example, has picked up many ideas from U Group meetings and has incorporated them into the business, including modeling its compensation plans based off other U Group members’ payment structure.

Tennenbaum said the U Group is still looking to grow, with the goal of maxing out at about 20 companies. For more information about joining visit www.theugroup.org/PMP_s_Join_Our_Group.html.
 

Larue Pest Management Owner Named FPMA President

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Keith Ruebeling, owner of Larue Pest Management, Fort Myers, Fla., has been appointed to serve as the 68th president of the Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA). Ruebeling’s term follows that of 2014 President Billy Riley and began at his Jan. 22 swearing in at the Pest and Lawn Care Expo in Orlando.

A second-generation pest control operator, Ruebeling joined the family business in 1992 and holds a Florida certified operator’s license in the categories of pest control, termite control, lawn care and fumigation. Ruebeling also holds an economics degree, earned at Florida State University, and graduated from the Extension Service Fast Trac II Program at the University of Florida. He is a member of Rotary South (Fort Myers), spent four years on the FPMA board of directors, and has served on the association’s governmental affairs committee and Florida green industries task force.

In an introduction published in FPMA’s Pest Perspectives magazine, Ruebeling said, “This year’s objectives will continue to be about strengthening our advocacy efforts, providing quality educational opportunities to our members and bringing our industry partners and operators together to network and fellowship.” He also highlighted FPMA’s Legislative Tour in March and the FPMA in Paradise Summer Conference scheduled for June in Key Largo.
 

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RISE’s Hobbs Appears on NPR

Washington, D.C. — On Feb. 4, Aaron Hobbs, president of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE), appeared on The Diane Rehm Show, a nationally syndicated program on NPR, for a panel discussion about pesticides. While the show’s focus was mainly pesticide resistance management with several speakers focused on agriculture, Hobbs was able to ensure issues related to non-ag use were also addressed and set the stage for an in-depth conversation on pest control and pesticide use. To listen to the full show, visit http://bit.ly/1DawBHH.

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Nixalite of America Celebrates its 65th Anniversary

EAST MOLINE, Ill. — In 1950, Nixalite Company manufactured and patented the world’s first bird spike, originally called Nixalite Porcupine Wire. It did not take long for the true potential and benefits of these prickly stainless-steel spikes to be realized as businesses and consumers began using Nixalite to humanely rid pest birds from their buildings, homes and property, the company said.

Three generations and 65 years later, Nixalite continues to manufacture and supply an extensive line of pest, bird and wildlife control products. To learn more about Nixalite’s history, visit www.nixalite.com/PDFs/65thAnniversaryBrochure.pdf.
 

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AIB International Releases Free FSMA Guide, Debuts FSMA Readiness Assessment

MANHATTAN, Kan. — AIB International’s updated guide on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), What You Need to Know about FSMA, is now available for free download from its AIB Online library page (http://aibonline.libguides.com/fsma). The guide has been updated to reflect the most recent regulatory changes, said Director of Food Safety Services Innovation Lance Reeve. “Navigating the regulatory language of FSMA is a daunting task. Our guide condenses the information and makes it easier for readers to understand the basis of FSMA’s sections, key dates and industry responsibilities.”

In addition to the updated guide, AIB also released its FSMA Readiness Assessment, for which AIB experts perform a complete in-person assessment of existing plant programs and suggest updates to help bring them into compliance. On the heels of its updated guide and new assessment service, AIB is unveiling its five-step plan to becoming a FSMA-ready facility with a fully compliant food-safety program. The steps include: downloading the updated FSMA guide, registering for AIB’s FSMA Awareness Webinars; attending a FSMA: The Pathway to Compliance seminar; scheduling a FSMA Readiness Assessment; and consulting with the experts for specific technical help.

Download a free copy of the guide from http://aibonline.libguides.com/fsma.

NPMA Forms Veterans Group

FAIRFAX, Va. — The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has formed a Veterans Group with a mission to actively promote the recruitment of veterans, support the efforts through education and training opportunities, and provide mentoring and support for veterans currently employed in the industry. The initiative was launched to honor the personal sacrifice that veterans have made to preserving U.S. freedom and democracy and to provide NPMA members with access to that talent pool, said NPMA CEO Bob Rosenberg.

An organizational meeting was to be held during NPMA’s Legislative Day. For more information, contact Janay Rickwalder at jrickwalder@pestworld.org, or call 703/52-6762.
 

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Best Pest Profiled in Harvard Crimson

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Harvard Crimson newspaper recently profiled Best Pest, Somerville, Mass., and second-generation owner Matt Kreimeyer.

The article praised Best Pest for its structural knowledge of buildings on the Harvard University campus. Kreimeyer and seven other Best Pest service professionals service the campus. “We feel like a big part of the community,” Kreimeyer told the paper. “We take a lot of pride in servicing Harvard.”

Best Pest was founded more than 30 years ago by Matt’s father, Rob Kreimeyer.
 

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FMC, Univar Expand Drive for the Homeless in Ohio

PHILADELPHIA — In 2013, FMC Corporation, Univar and 65 Ohio-based pest management professionals collected and distributed 57 “provision packs” and more than 80 meals to four homeless camps in the Columbus area. In December 2014, the group expanded the drive to include Cincinnati and Cleveland, once again providing desperately needed supplies for Ohio’s homeless community.

At Univar’s annual holiday open houses, held Dec. 16-18, pest management professionals donated flashlights, batteries, socks, toilet paper and cash. Univar staff promoted and coordinated the drive while FMC Corporation donated 100 large duffle bags to the cause.

“Many homeless are working and trying to save money for housing,” said Arnold Ramsey, Midwest market specialist for FMC. “Simple items like flashlights and duffle bags make a huge difference as they try to stay safe and protect their belongings while transitioning to a permanent home.” Ramsey has worked with the homeless in Ohio since 2008.

Leading the effort once again were Kevin Behrens, regional sales manager for Univar, who spearheaded the endeavor, and Ramsey, who distributed the supplies.

“As usual, the response from the pest management community has been incredible,” said Behrens. “I don’t know how to explain it other than that we are a service industry, so we’re used to helping people. It’s just what we do.”

To contribute to a homeless shelter near you, visit www.homelessshelterdirectory.org.