PCT Announces Publication of the Fourth Edition of the Technician’s Handbook
RICHFIELD, OHIO — The PCT Media Group recently announced the upcoming release of the Fourth Edition of the “PCT Technician’s Handbook, A Guide to Pest Identification & Management.” Written by Richard Kramer, Ph.D., this popular field reference and training resource for the pest management industry is a practical guide to the biology, behavior and control of structural pests. The handbook will be released next month and PCT is offering a pre-publication special for orders received before Sept. 30.
With more than 50,000 copies in print, the “Technician’s Handbook” has been an industry standard since 1983. The handbook provides service technicians with quick access to pest identification and control strategies. This 340-page, paperback guide is regarded as a “must-have” pest control resource. “With author Dr. Richard Kramer’s extensive entomology and pest control knowledge, we’re confident this new edition will be highly valued as a practical educational aid and daily reference for service technicians, managers, technical directors and owners/operators throughout the industry,” said Dan Moreland, group publisher of the PCT Media Group.
The book includes chapters on pest management and society, the universal technician, IPM, inspection and monitoring, identification and control, equipment, safety, and pest management case studies. It also contains a full-color pest identification section, a taxonomic key, and two-page pest profiles for 100 pests that technicians encounter in their daily work.
Pre-publication price is $14.95 for single copies with discounted pricing for multiple books and wholesale orders. This pre-sale offer ends Sept. 30. After that date, the single-copy retail price will be $17.95. To pre-order, call a PCT Store representative at 800/456-0707, visit www.pctonline.com/store or email books@gie.net.
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Arrow Exterminators Acquires Spencer, Hoffer’s
 Top: Tim Pollard and Kevin Burns, Arrow Exterminators; and Sheri Spencer, president/owner, Spencer Pest Control. Bottom: With Tim Pollard (left) and Kevin Burns (right) of Arrow Exterminators are (center, left to right), Al, Lynn and Eric Hoffer. |
ATLANTA, GA. — Arrow Exterminators has acquired two well-known pest control companies — Spencer Pest Services, North Charleston, S.C., and Al Hoffer’s Termite, Pest and Lawn, Melbourne, Fla. Spencer Pest Services specializes in residential and commercial pest control, termite control and wildlife management. Hoffer’s specializes in residential and commercial pest control, termite control, wildlife control, and lawn and ornamental services.
“Since our merger with Arrow in Florida, we know, first hand, that we are in the right ‘home,’” said Sheri Spencer, owner. “We know our employees will be well taken care of, as they have been in Melbourne and Vero Beach, and that was really important to me.”
“We made a strategic decision to focus on our future growth opportunities in South Florida and were looking for a home for our Melbourne, Florida business,” said Al Hoffer, owner. “At Al Hoffer’s Termite, Pest and Lawn, we strive for exemplary customer service and are passionate about how our customers and our employees are treated. The family values and similar culture we share with Arrow Exterminators will make this transition seamless for our employees and our customers,” said Hoffer.
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BASF Announces Termidor High Efficiency Sweepstakes
ST. LOUIS, MO. — BASF announced the kickoff of its Termidor High Efficiency Sweepstakes where one grand prize winner will receive a new Ford F-150 with EcoBoost engine. Runner-up prizes for the sweepstakes include a 50-gallon spray rig and a $1,000 gift card.
BASF is offering several options for pest management professionals to gain entry into the sweepstakes. These include, but are not limited to, an entry for every case of Termidor HE High-Efficiency Termiticide Copack with Termidor HE Technology purchased between Aug. 13, 2012, and Jan. 12, 2013; completion of the Termidor HE Copack certification training; and viewing the Termidor HE Copack on-demand webcast.
BASF said the firm is committed to offering the most advanced products to help its customers succeed and the Termidor HE Copack does so by reducing labor and increasing productivity. The company says that focus on customer success includes the grand prize of the Ford F-150 with EcoBoost since it is the auto industry’s most fuel-efficient full-size pickup, with 20 percent better fuel efficiency and 15 percent reduced greenhouse emissions compared to similar models.
It’s also a good vehicle to transport the smaller tanks and termite rigs PMPs need to achieve maximum efficiency with the Termidor HE Copack, BASF says. Using 50 percent less water and 33 percent less labor than a standard treatment, Termidor HE Copack still provides the 100 percent Termidor performance, BASF reports.
In addition, each month between now and the end of the year, BASF is giving away a $1,000 gift card to one lucky PMP. Winners of the Ford F-150, 50-gallon spray rig and $1,000 gift card will be announced at the BASF Pest Control Solutions booth at NPMA PestWorld next month in Boston. The monthly prize winners will be drawn at random and announced each month between now and Jan. 12, 2013.
Visit www.pestcontrol.basf.us to learn more about BASF Pest Control Solutions and enter to win a Ford F-150 with EcoBoost in the Termidor High Efficiency Sweepstakes.
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Send your announcement at least 14 weeks in advance to jdorsch@giemedia.com. For additional dates, visit www.pctonline.com/events.
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Food Protection Alliance Continues to Expand Footprint
DALLAS, TEXAS — The Food Protection Alliance has continued to expand in membership since its inception in 2004. The most recent new members are Myers Services and RiteCorp (previously PestRite).
Myers is experienced in the food safety sector of pest management in the state of Texas with a focus around Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. RiteCorp fills a hole in the Colorado region.
For more information about the Food Protection Alliance, visit www.fpalliance.com or call 877/372-3334.
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New Videos Available from FMC Explain New Pyrethroid Uses
PHILADELPHIA — Three new videos from FMC Corporation take pest management professionals step-by-step through the new EPA guidelines for non-crop outdoor use of all pyrethroid insecticide products. Each video focuses on a different type of product: liquid insecticides, granular insecticides and pre-construction termiticides. See the videos at www.pctonline.com and search “FMC pyrethroid videos.”
Each three-to-four minutes long, the FMC videos demonstrate how and where to use pyrethroid products in common outdoor situations. “The new guidelines can be confusing, so we wanted to make sure PMPs know what the EPA requirements mean,” said Catherine Bernard, pest segment product manager for FMC Professional Solutions. “Our videos spell out the mandatory and advisory guidelines for each area of outdoor pyrethroid pesticide use, as well as demonstrate typical usage.”
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Speakers, Sessions Announced for 77th Annual Purdue Conference
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. — The 77th annual Purdue Pest Control Conference will be held Jan. 7-9 at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
Featuring cutting-edge topics presented by renowned industry speakers, the 2013 Purdue Pest Control Conference is packed with “progressive pest management” solutions for industry professionals. This year’s show includes two pre-conference workshops (“Small Business,” presented by Harvey Goldglantz and “Safety Issues,” presented by Fred Whitford) and is highlighted by a presentation from Gene White titled “Bed Bugs and Their Threat to Public Health.”
Other topics and speakers include:
- Brian Biedle — Small Flies
- Dan Collins — Ant Control
- Bobby Corrigan — Rodents
- Tom Dobrinska — Green Products
- Jim Fredericks — Regulatory Update
- Stoy Hedges — Spiders
- Carl Hinderer — New Technologies
- Susan Jones — Termite Technologies
- Sara Kantarovich - Bed Bugs & Heat
- Kim Kemp — Food Pest Monitoring
- Pete Markham — Bird Management
- Dave Mueller — Fumigation Update
- Glen Needham — Tick Management
- Faith Oi — Cockroaches & Sensitive Accounts
- Scott Robbins — Pyrethroid Labels & Perimeter IPM
- Dominique Sauvage — Food Safety & Auditing
- Mark Sheperdigian — Bed Bugs
Also, Purdue staff will present new research findings on ants, stored product pests and occasional invaders.
To register, contact Kathy Walters, 765/494-2758 or email kw@purdue.edu. For CCH & program info, contact Holly Fletcher-Timmons, 765/494-5856. For additional conference information and to register online visit www.conf.purdue.edu/pest2013.
| Comings & Goings |
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If your company has added new personnel, send a photo and press release to jdorsch@giemedia.com.
Tim McCafferty was hired as pest control operations manager for Cascade Pest Control, Redmond, Wash. Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience, appointed Ray Daniels as product manager for the bait and termite markets. Most recently, Daniels served as an area sales manager in the Southeast Region for Bayer’s pest management business, where he was responsible for sales growth and development in the Carolinas and East Tennessee region. In other news at Bayer, Gordon Morrison was appointed as business manager for Vector Control and Farm Hygiene. Previously Morrison served as Maxforce market manager. Bug Off Pest Control Center’s founder and President, Andy Linares, was accepted for membership in the national pest control fraternity Pi Chi Omega. The Long Island Pest Control Association (LIPCA) awarded Rick Allen, ACE, New York state technical sales representative for Residex-Turfgrass, with a recognition plaque during its Winter Workshop earlier this year. As the association’s allied director for 15 years and chairman of the education committee, Allen was recognized for his “untiring efforts” on behalf of the association, taking the educational programs to a new level of excellence, and giving “unselfishly of his personal time and his dedication to the goals and aspirations of LIPCA.” Jeff Waggoner has been promoted to general manager of Fumigation Service & Supply in Westfield, Ind. Suzanne Graham, Massey Services, Orlando, was awarded the 2011 President’s Award by the Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association. Mars Air Systems has restructured its sales and marketing team to bring more focus and direction to each department, the firm said, including James Gill as vice president of sales, Julie Konowitz as vice president of marketing, Emily Hanson promoted to marketing manager and Sara Marin hired as marketing coordinator. |
Virginia PMPs Have an ACE Up Their Sleeves (and Behind Their Names)
FREDERICKSBURG, VA. — The Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA) held its second Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Prep Course and exam in May, at which seven PMPs earned their ACE designation. Recipients include James Bruckelmeyer, BugStoppers; Nick Castaldo, PermaTreat Pest Control; Kristi Crutchfield, Superior Exterminating Co.; Mark Davis, RAMAC-Assured Environments; Jason Ferrell, Ferrell’s Termite & Pest Control; Nicole French, ProTech Pest Control of Virginia; and Mark Male, PermaTreat Pest Control.
“The ACE designation is an honor earned by technicians that recognizes their years of experience and accumulated knowledge.” said VPMA President Jeff Johnson, ACE. The ACE program benefits the practicing pest control professional. Eligibility for the ACE program includes a current pesticide applicators’ license issued in the United States, a minimum of seven years pest management experience and passing of a test on structural pest control.
Created in 2004, the ACE program is currently undergoing a review to ensure that the content of the exam is up-to-date and matches the actual knowledge required for certified pest management professionals to perform effectively. A panel of 10 insect pest control experts convened in Annapolis, Md., in May to review and improve the ACE program.
VPMA plans to hold an ACE Prep Course and proctor an exam each spring. Taught by Dr. Dini Miller of Virginia Tech and Jim Fredericks of NPMA, it will review each of the elements that may be covered on the exam to reinforce and clarify participants’ knowledge. For more information, visit www.entocert.org/ace-certification or www.vpmaonline.com.
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Frishman Authors New Column on Syngenta Website
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Syngenta Professional Pest Management is teaming up with professional pest management leader Dr. Austin Frishman on a new column about hot topics impacting the industry. The monthly column, entitled “Doc’s Dialogue,” will be located on the homepage of the Syngenta PMP Solutions website. Frishman will post his thoughts on current trends, hot topics and pest management techniques he recommends or encounters throughout the industry.
“We’re very excited to bring monthly insights from Dr. Austin Frishman, one of the industry’s most knowledgeable influencers, to Syngenta customers who visit the SyngentaPMP.com website,” says Laurie Riggs, communications lead, Professional Pest Management.
“I hope this column will allow me to share my thoughts on technical issues as well as trends in the urban pest management industry. My goal is to make it informative, interesting and thought-provoking,” Frishman said.
To view the column, visit www.syngentapmp.com.
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New Frequency Named Innovator, Vendor of the Year
ATLANTA, GA. — New Frequency and its Trap-Alert system recently were awarded “The Innovator and Vendor of the Year” award from the National Wildlife Control Operators Association. Greg Schumaker, NWCOA’s president, presented Todd Moran, New Frequency’s CEO, with the award during its award banquet following the annual Wildlife Expo.
The Trap-Alert system is a combination of hardware, software, GPS and wireless technologies that enables wildlife control professionals to monitor the status and location of animal traps through a web-based application. The system includes web, phone and tablet applications, eliminating the need to visit sites solely for daily trap inspections, which saves time, labor and fuel costs, the company said.
“To receive this award by the leading Wildlife Organization in the country is a great honor and reaffirms the value that we are delivering to the industry based upon the goals set forth when we began developing this solution several years ago,” Moran said.
NWCOA Director Charles Holt said “the Trap-Alert system was a big hit at our show and that you won’t believe the level of professionalism it will be able to offer your business.”
For more information, visit www.new frequency.com.
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Lush Lawn Announces New Lawn Care Franchise Concept
GRAND BLANC, MICH. — Lush Lawn Franchising has announced its new franchise concept, Lush Lawn Lawn Care, Tree Care and Pest Control, which it is preparing to roll out this year. While Lush Lawn will be offering franchises in several states, its initial development is targeted for the Midwest, specifically Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Lush Lawn is seeking individual franchisees, area developers and investors, and is accepting inquiries.
Lush Lawn is a lawn and tree care and perimeter pest control service targeting upscale residential homeowners and commercial property owners where appearance and service reliability are the priority. Franchisees will also offer supplemental services, such as grub control, organic lawn care, aeration, seeding and other services.
“The most critical success factors are 1) caring about the franchisees and their ability to make money and 2) making absolutely certain the unit owners embrace a quality and service first approach,” said Aaron Samson, Lush Lawn president and CEO. For more information, visit www.lushlawn.net/company.html.
| PCO News |
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Please send press releases about your firm to jdorsch@giemedia.com.
Orlando-based U.S. Lawns added three new franchises to its network of more than 250 landscape-management franchises. The new franchisees are Byron Jacquette, Beaumont, Texas; Larry & Celine Scott and Jennifer Shoenbein, San Jose, Calif.; Michael & Leigh Cundiff, Parker, Colo. For the last two summers, Suburban Exterminating, of Long Island, N.Y., has offered a free summer library program for children in grades three to five (see photos at right). The company received so many calls following its first program in 2011 that it offered an expanded program in 2012. Led by Suburban Exterminating certified entomologists Lynn Frank, Bob Wiemer and Billy Somerville – and its “office pets,“ Bradley the Beagle and Frank the Hamster – the one-hour program taught kids about insect survival and do-it-yourself exterminating through discussion, games, puzzles and jokes about bugs, spiders and other pests. Industry veteran Billy Blasingame has opened Blasingame Pest Management in McDonough, Ga. Blasingame started his career with Stephenson Chemical Company, then owned and operated WEB Pest Control in McDonough with his wife, Shayne, for 20 years. Bill Blasingame Sr., will act as an advisor to the company. Viking Pest Control, Cooper Pest Solutions, Western Pest Services, all of New Jersey, and Hitman Pest Control, of Duchess County, N.Y., were recognized as 2011 Super Service Award winners by Angie’s List. Only 5 percent of U.S. businesses have achieved this award from customer reviews. Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements, including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines. Arrow Environmental Services purchased The Pest Terminator of Naples. The purchase, completed in late June, grows Arrow’s presence in the Naples, Fla., area and brings two new employees to the company. The purchase is the sixth since last summer for Arrow, which has helped the company post 60 percent growth in revenue over the past two years. Since 2010, Arrow has acquired 10 companies with combined revenues of more than $4 million; it is on track to reach $10 million in annual revenues in 2012 and plans to acquire additional pest control companies, the firm reports Thomas Pest Services, a family-owned company in Clifton Park, N.Y., earned the NPMA QualityPro designation. Arrow Exterminators, Atlanta, recently recognized 57 of the company’s top-producing service professionals and customer care specialists with its Pinnacle Club 2012. This achievement is earned by those who reach their goals through outstanding sales and service efforts. Eighteen of the honorees also reached the elite Chairman’s Club status. |
Termites at Ellis Island Denied Entry by the Sentricon System
NEW YORK, N.Y. — From 1892 to 1954, more than 12 million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island. In recent decades, a new immigrant arrived on Ellis Island — subterranean termites.To help preserve this national treasure, the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System was installed in 2001 to help prevent future termite infestations. In 2004, termite activity was discovered and within months the termite colony was eliminated by the Sentricon System. In 2010, the latest innovation in termite control, the Sentricon System with Always Active technology, was installed.
Since the original termite colony was eliminated in 2005, there had been no indication of other termites on the property. But in late 2011, a termite colony began feeding on the system’s Recruit HD termite bait. An annual inspection in April 2012 confirmed feeding had stopped and the termites were eliminated. In Sentricon research, the bait was preferred by termites in choice tests against wood — their natural food, said Jill Zeller, product manager for the system.
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