[News]

Copesan Welcomes New West Coast Service Providers

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Copesan Services has added five new West Coast service providers. They include:

• Northwest Exterminating, Tucson, Ariz.
• Pitbull Pest Control, Las Vegas, Nev.
• McCauley Brothers Termite & Pest Control, Pittsburg, Calif.
• TMC Pest Management, Bakersfield, Calif.
• Advanced Integrated Pest Management, Roseville, Calif.

These five pest management companies join current Copesan service providers in California — Ventura Pest Control, Ventura, and Lloyd Pest Control, San Diego — along with Schendel Pest Services, Phoenix, Ariz., in transitioning services for Copesan’s national clients following the disengagement from Western Exterminator Company, Anaheim, Calif., announced in early May. The transition for Copesan’s West Coast national clients will conclude on Sept. 30.

“We are delighted to welcome these experienced, quality regional pest management providers to the Copesan family. One of the strengths of Copesan’s unique business model is our ability to smoothly integrate both new and current service providers to service the needs of our clients, ensuring that all our national accounts receive the best care at every location,” said Copesan President Deni Naumann.
 

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NPMA Announces Results of New Board Elections

Fairfax, Va. — NPMA recently announced the results of its annual board elections. The new 2012-13 officers are:

• President: Laura Simpson, Dugas Pest Control of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, La.
• Vice President: Kevin Pass, Action Pest Control, Evansville, Ind.
• Treasurer: William Tesh, Pest Management Systems, Greensboro, N.C.
• Secretary: H. Russell Ives, Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich.

“I am pleased to be selected as the association president by my industry peers,” Simpson said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue to promote the general interest and welfare of the pest management industry, as well as reinforce the value of pest management in protecting public health and property.”

New members of the Board of Directors include:

• Past President Representative: Michael Rottler, Rotter Pest & Lawn Solutions, St. Louis, Mo.
• At-Large Director: Brent Boles, Schendel Services, Topeka, Kan.
• At-Large Director: J. Bryan Cooksey III, McCall Service, Jacksonville, Fla.
• At-Large Director: Scott Fortson, Terminix Service, Columbia, S.C.
• At-Large Director: Todd Leyse, Adam’s Pest Control, Hamel, Minn.
• At-Large Director: Justin McCauley, McCauley Services, Benton, Ark.
• Region 2 Director: Scott Eubanks, Northwest Exterminating, Marietta, Ga.
• Region 3 Director: Sean Bergmann, United Pest Solutions, Seattle, Wash.

New NPMA Board members include:

• At-Large Director: Lanny Allgood, Allgood Pest Solutions, Dublin, Ga.
• At-Large Director: Cleveland Dixon, Holiday Termite & Pest Control, Springfield, Va.
• At-Large Director: Alford Foster, All-American Pest Control, Nashville, Tenn.
• At-Large Director: Stacy O’Reilly, Plunkett’s Pest Control, Fridley, Minn.
• At-Large Director: Jeff Spencer, Griffin Pest Solutions, Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Region #1 Director: Ryan Bradbury, Viking Termite & Pest Control, Bound Brook, N.J.
• Region #4 Director: Debra Kay, Envirotech Pest Solutions, Centennial, Colo.
• Region #5 Director: Bill Melville, PCO Services Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Marathon Data Systems Opens Registration for 2012 PestPac User Conference

Wall Township, N.J. — Marathon Data Systems will hold two PestPac User Conferences, one in Florida and one in California, in 2012. Since 2004, the company has held a bi-annual conference, with all but one located in the state of Florida, where a large portion of Marathon’s clients are based. Clients can attend the Orlando, Fla., User Conference Nov. 14-16 or the San Diego, Calif. conference Dec. 5-7.

This year, Marathon also will incorporate activities such as golf and local tours, and offer focused employee role-based training classes, both suggestions from previous years. The two conferences will feature similar agendas, so clients do not need to come to both (but can receive a discount on the second registration if they wish to attend both). For more information, visit www.pestpac.com/uc2012 or call 800/762-0301.
 

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Two New Executive Appointments Made at FMC Professional Solutions

PHILADELPHIA — FMC has appointed Bethwyn Todd as director and Steve Fasano as strategic marketing and business development manager of FMC Professional Solutions, which serves the professional pest control, lawn, nursery, ornamental and related industries.

Todd will continue to lead and drive the growth initiatives started under previous director, Amy O’Shea, who became division manager of FMC Environmental Solutions. Prior to joining FMC, Todd was managing director of Monsanto Australia, where she was instrumental in the introduction and adoption of biotech crops in Australia. She holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Queensland, Brisbane.

As marketing manager, Fasano is responsible for strategic planning and leadership of the marketing team, business development and product management. Previously, Fasano was head of marketing for Bayer Advanced Consumer Lawn & Garden, and brand manager for Bayer Advanced, where he launched a major line of alternative solutions for pest, weed and disease management. Fasano holds a bachelor of science degree from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
 

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Gregory Pest Solutions Recognizes Its President, Grants Ownership Interest

Greenville, S.C. — This spring, Phil Gregory, chairman of Gregory Pest Solutions, announced he and co-owner Sara Gregory had made arrangements to give longtime President Ben Walker an ownership interest in the company. The Gregorys said they made the decision in recognition of the leadership Walker has provided to Gregory Pest Solutions for 15 years.

Walker has overseen the company’s growth in terms of revenue, customers, employees and other traditional measures. “Ben Walker has led this company during a period of exceptional success,” said Gregory. “While many companies have struggled in this economy, Gregory Pest Solutions continues to do well. We understand that Ben’s leadership has been critical to our good fortune and, while Sara and I will remain the majority shareholders, we also felt it to be a good business decision to ensure the leadership of this great company for many years to come.”

During the last 10 years, Gregory Pest Solutions’ revenue has grown from $6 million to $16 million. This places the company at number 38 in PCT’s Top 100 companies in the industry. The company employs 160 professionals, serving clients throughout the Southeast.

Walker said he was pleased with Phil and Sara Gregory’s decision to include him as an owner, but he recognized the company’s employees and customer service as the primary reasons for the company’s success. Walker also is involved with the NPMA, SCPCA and serves on the Board of Directors as treasurer for Copesan Services.

 

VPMA Offers ‘Quick’ Online Training

Fredericksburg, Va. — The Virginia Pest Management Association has converted its WDI Recertification Workshop into an online learning opportunity that can be completed in less than two hours, according to VMPA Executive Director Andrea Coron.

“What we found over the years is that people were very interested in the training we provided, but the recertification requirements became kind of onerous,” Coron said.

The online program went live on July 9, Coron said. Moving to an electronic format allows VPMA Certified WDI Inspectors to earn recertification credits to maintain their certification without having to travel to a workshop site. The online program is available 24/7, and covers identification and biology of wood-destroying insects, the inspection process, inspection tools and safety, and how to complete the NPMA-33 form.

The course can be accessed at www.vpmawdirecert.com. Each inspector must purchase access to the program for an $85 fee. Visit www.vpmaonline.com for more information.
 

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UF/IFAS Study Shows How Diet Affects Mosquitoes

Gainesville, Fla. — Most people try to avoid feeding mosquitoes, but for some medical researchers it’s a different story. Lab-raised mosquitoes are used in studies investigating how the blood-sucking insects transmit viruses and parasites. Those mosquitoes must be cared for and that means providing female specimens with blood, which supplies the protein they need to produce eggs.

Some labs allow their mosquitoes to feed the old-fashioned way, by biting live animals. But to save time, money and effort, other labs give the insects packaged animal blood, which may contain additives or lack components removed by processing.

Scientists with the University of Florida’s (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have found that different types of blood influence the quantity of eggs a female mosquito produces, and the likelihood those eggs hatch. That’s important to know because mosquito researchers typically want to know how closely their lab experiments mimic real-world conditions. The study, conducted at UF’s Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach, was published in the June issue of the Journal of Vector Ecology.

To feed the mosquitoes, scientists used four sources: live chickens, chicken blood with an anticoagulant added, beef blood with an anticoagulant added and beef blood with its main clotting protein removed. Female mosquitoes were divided into groups and most groups were offered only one blood source throughout the study.

One example of the variability the scientists found: Among mosquitoes offered beef blood without the clotting protein, only 31 percent chose to feed; among those that fed, 40 percent laid eggs and 70 percent of those eggs hatched. In contrast, 61 percent of the mosquitoes offered a live chicken chose to feed, 46 percent of those that fed laid eggs, and 83 percent of those eggs hatched.

Lead author Stephanie Richards, now an assistant professor at East Carolina University, said the results show that mosquito researchers should carefully consider feeding methods when designing experiments. She also suggests more research might be needed to determine whether different blood sources may affect mosquitoes’ ability to transmit viruses. — Tom Nordlie, University of Florida

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GPCA Members’ Children Receive Scholarships

ATLANTA — Twelve recipients will receive a scholarship from the Georgia Pest Control Association (GPCA) scholarship fund. The students are children of GPCA members representing pest control companies throughout Georgia.

In 1986, GPCA honored Glenn Burnett by establishing a member scholarship in his name. Burnett served as executive director for GPCA for almost 20 years. Since the inception, GPCA has awarded 108 scholarships to member’s children, with $102,000 awarded to date. The students who will receive $500 scholarships, all entering freshmen, include:

• Natali Herrmann, daughter of David Herrmann, president of Aant Termite & Pest Control, Peachtree City
• Janalyn Dennard, daughter of Derrick Dennard, inspector with Active Pest Control, Stockbridge
• Maggie Tindol, daughter of Chuck Tindol, owner for 20 years with Allgood Pest Solutions, Atlanta
• Russell Tindol, son of Mike Tindol, vice president for 20 years with Allgood Pest Solutions, Atlanta
• Savannah Mitchell, daughter of Laurie Higginbotham Rice, manager and co-owner for 32 years of American Pest Control, Athens
• Stephanie Brady, daughter of Tina Brady, partner and corporate secretary for eight years at Duncan Exterminating, Dawsonville
• Haley Pilgrim, daughter of Sylvia Pilgrim, training coordinator for 25 years with Orkin, Atlanta
• Kyle Whitlock, son of Robbie Whitlock, accounting specialist at Northwest Exterminating Company, Marietta
• Casey Cook, son of Jimmy Cook, district manager at Northwest Exterminating Company, Marietta
• Alex Davis, son of Wayne Davis, technician at Cook’s Pest Control, Rome
• Moira Richards, granddaughter of Tom Diederich (retired), Orkin Pest Control, Atlanta.
• Kristin Wilbur, daughter of Kelley Wilbur, secretary for 14 years at WPM of Georgia, Dallas

The scholarship committee includes GPCA Chairman of the Board Lee Tubbs, Enviroguard Pest Solutions; Secretary/Treasurer Manuel Snipes, Azalea City Exterminating; Member-at-Large Keith Fleming, Allgood Pest Solutions; and the executive director.
 

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Bird-B-Gone Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Mission Viejo, Calif. — Bird-B-Gone, a manufacturer of professional grade bird deterrents, celebrated its 20-year anniversary on June 21. In 1992, Bird-B-Gone started in the home of owners Bruce and Julie Donoho with little more than a school desk, a phone and a fax machine, the firm said. Today, it supplies a global commercial, industrial and residential market with effective, humane bird deterrents manufactured in the United States.

Although bird deterrents had been on the market for some time, Bruce, having experience in the injection molding industry, said he saw a gap that needed to be filled. He invented the first all-plastic, one-mold bird spike, the design and price of which have stayed the same for nearly 15 years. Bird-B-Gone now employees more than 100 people and manufactures its own products in Southern California.

The company currently holds 18 patents, with 21 patents pending and incorporates new technologies with methods to develop effective bird deterrents, the company said. The company’s motto is: “It’s more than just bird control products…it’s faith, family and friends,” and Bird-B-Gone said it has followed this motto as a way to conduct business and positively impact customers and the world.

Since 2009, Bird-B-Gone has partnered with Children of the Nations, a non-profit organization that provides holistic care to orphaned and destitute children across the globe. A portion of all Bird-B-Gone sales goes directly to support the group’s efforts.
 

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PPMA Asks Facebook Users to ‘Show Us Your Scream’

Fairfax, Va. — The Professional Pest Management Alliance recently launched a “Show Us Your Scream” contest on its PestWorld Facebook page. The national contest encourages consumers to “like” the page and submit a photo or video that demonstrates the shrieking, shouting, screaming or just plain funny reactions, most consumers have when faced with a creepy crawly pest.

The contest ran through Aug. 17, with one grand prize winner awarded with a day of scream-inducing fun with a freetrip to a local amusement park, valued at $4,000. Visitors also were able to check out all the amusing entries and vote for their favorites in the Gallery for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card.

“This is our first contest on Facebook and we couldn’t be more excited to see the fan interaction and entries come in,” says Missy Henriksen, PPMA executive director. “We know that millions of people flock to Facebook every day and a contest and presence on this platform is a new way for us to reach an engaged consumer audience.”

The PestWorld Facebook page is another platform to educate consumers about the health and property risks posed by pests, as well as the importance of working with a qualified pest professional. The page shares consumer-friendly pest prevention tips, links to educational articles on PestWorld.org, posts polls, pest photography, hosts contests and more.
 

Univar Environmental Sciences Adds New Online Course

Austin, Texas — Univar Environmental Sciences, a distributor of professional pest control products, added a new online training opportunity to PestWeb, its website. This brings the number of courses to 58. The newest course, #210 Pesticides — Protecting the Environment, takes an in-depth look at how pesticides may enter and harm the environment and how to minimize or prevent that from occurring.

The Master Technician online training courses on PestWeb provide continuing education credits toward license renewals for branch supervisors and certified applicators in states that have issued CEU approval. Master Technician offers courses in the areas of general pests, wood-destroying pests, public health, fumigation, turf and ornamental pests, pesticides and safety.
 

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Summer Interns Learn About Pest Management Industry at Arrow Exterminators

ATLANTA — Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators is in the second year of its summer internship program. With a wide variety of backgrounds, the interns will work across numerous business departments to learn about the pest control industry.

“Providing opportunities to learn about industry and the various career paths that are available is a great way to attract young, talented individuals who will be the future of our company,” said Shay Runion, vice president of human resources and professional development. “Our interns spend two full days learning all about Arrow Exterminators and our unique culture...as well as about the industry before they receive their department assignment based on their interests.”

“I used to think the pest control industry was just a bunch of ‘bug people,’” said Alex Link, an incoming freshman at Georgia Tech University. “After my first day as an intern, I thought Arrow was just a bunch of very enthusiastic ‘bug people.’ Now I realize that the exterminating industry is not just about killing insects. That’s the service Arrow provides, but at the core, Arrow is a professionally run business that protects the homes of many. People spend a lot of money buying houses and insuring them, and pest control is a key part of that package. This industry protects homes from damages, saves families from disease, and makes life much less irritating.”

Runion added, “Our commitment to training and professional development through Arrow University cannot be understated. By bringing in these talented individuals at a young age, they get to see what a dynamic industry we all work in and will hopefully choose to begin their careers with us when they are ready.”
 

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Pi Chi Omega Awards Four Urban Entomology Scholarships

Wilmington, Del. — The national pest control fraternity, Pi Chi Omega, has awarded four scholarships to urban entomology students for the 2012-13 academic year. Recipients are:

• Tony C. Keefer, Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
• Reina Koganemaru, Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
• Margie Lehnert, Ph.D. student at Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
• Tamra Reall, Ph.D. student at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.

The scholarship awarded to Tony Keefer honors Faye and Terry Whitworth, members from Tacoma, Wash. Tamra Reall’s scholarship honors Dr. Austin Frishman, lifetime member from Boca Raton, Fla.