[News]

Federal School Pest Management Bill Introduced in Congress in December

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As many in the pest control industry expected, a new version of the School Environment Protection Act (SEPA), H.R. 4159, was introduced in Congress in December.

Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and 14 cosponsors introduced H.R. 4159 in the U.S. House of Representatives. If enacted the bill would "amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to require local educational agencies and schools to implement integrated pest management programs to minimize the use of pesticides in schools and to provide parents, guardians, and employees with notice of the use of pesticides in schools, and for other purposes."

NPMA Manager of Government Affairs Gene Harrington said the latest SEPA version is not unlike similar versions that have been introduced the past five years in that it "is very bureaucratic and prohibitive, and it places unjustified restrictions on acceptable pest management practices in schools."

The newest SEPA version includes several provisions problematic to the pest control industry including restrictions on what types of pesticides can be used in schools and notification requirements that slow down pest management professionals’ ability to treat in a timely fashion.

Perhaps the biggest industry concern with federal school pest management legislation, according to Harrington, is that 38 states already have some sort of school pest management law or regulatory requirement in place. "This doesn’t build on what these states have done, but it undermines it. It would require states that have had plans and programs in place for 15 years to move back to square one, which could create chaos and confusion not only among PMPs, but in school districts across the country."

Throughout the years, NPMA has provided its input regarding what it believes is sensible school IPM, and in 2001 NPMA was part of a broad coalition of environmental, public interest and education groups that urged Congress to include the SEPA in the final version of H.R. 1, the Better Education for All Students and Teachers Act (which ultimately did not pass).

While it is doubtful H.R. 4159 will make its way through Congress as a stand-alone bill, it may eventually become attached to another piece of legislation, such as an educational reform bill.

Last year, in anticipation of this bill, NPMA began meeting with congressional representatives and Harrington said the association will "double back" its efforts now that H.R. 4159 has been introduced. — Brad Harbison

*****

Goddard Named Keynote Speaker for MGK’s M.I.S.T. Conferences in February

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — Dr. Jerome Goddard, a highly regarded pest management industry speaker and associate extension professor of medical and veterinary entomology at Mississippi State University, will headline the two MGK M.I.S.T. Conferences, Feb. 9 in San Antonio, Texas, and Feb. 23 in Tampa, Fla.

M.I.S.T. — an acronym for Misting Insecticides Solutions & Technology — is an intensive one-day seminar devoted exclusively to the misting market. MGK’s M.I.S.T. Conference is designed to be the industry’s one-stop location for all of the latest news and technology advancements in the mosquito misting market.

Goddard, who also is a clinical assistant professor of preventive medicine at The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Miss., will discuss "The Public Health and Medical Importance of Mosquitoes."

Additional topics on the agenda of the M.I.S.T. Conference include: a state of the industry report, pyrethrum update, active ingredient education, liability exposure and management, regulatory update, "green" mosquito control, from mosquito misting to mosquito control, and a Q&A panel.

Cost of the one-day seminar is $30 per person, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. To register, call 800/456-0707, visit www.mistconference.com, or e-mail conference@gie.net. To learn more about MGK’s product line, including the company’s mosquito misting products Riptide, Vampyre and Sector, visit www.mgk.com.

*****

Comings & Goings

If your company has added new personnel, send a photo and press release to jdorsch@giemedia.com.

FMC Professional Solutions hired Chris Bowley as product manager overseeing its pest market segment.

Truly Nolen of America announced the promotion of Steve Jenschke to branch man- ager of the company’s Sun City, Ariz., branch and Richard Brown to branch manager of the company’s Pompano Beach, Fla., branch.

Sammy Baker accepted the role as operations manager of North Fulton Pest Solutions in Alpharetta, Ga.

Univar USA announced that Dana Dunklau joined Univar’s Public Health Team. Dunklau comes to Univar with several years of experience in the vector market.

B&G Equipment Company appointed Angel Cotton & Associates as its West Coast technical sales representative. Angel Cotton & Associates, located in Signal Hill, Calif., will service the states of California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Roll LLC, a developer and marketer of liquid delivery systems to control various insect pests, announced the appointment of David B. Korpieski as vice president and director of sales.

The North Carolina Pest Management Association announced the election of new officers to its board of directors. The new officers include President Doug Whitley, Whitco Pest Management, Rocky Mount; Vice President Kristin Dodd-Tarleton, Carolina Pest Management, Monroe; Secretary/Treasurer Burns Blackwell, Terminix Co., Greensboro; and Past President Robert Dillingham, May Exterminating Co., Jacksonville, N.C.

*****

Gardex Chemicals’
Karen Furgiuele celebrates
20th anniversary

Etobicoke, Ontario — John Abell, CEO of Gardex Chemicals, recently recognized Karen Furgiuele at the annual Gardex holiday banquet in Toronto for her 20th anniversary of employment with the company.

"When I first had the vision to create Gardex in 1977, I knew there was a great opportunity to provide a change of direction in how a distributor services the PMP in Canada. Through a hard work ethic, and dedication, Karen has brought this vision to a reality," Abell said, addressing the several hundred employees and guests in attendance. "Gardex has definitely raised the bar when it comes to education, training, and servicing the pest management industry Canada wide."

Furgiuele joined Gardex Chemicals in 1989, beginning with a position in sales. Through the years she moved up through the company serving as vice president and assumed the role of president of Gardex Chemicals in 1999.

Furgiuele has represented both Gardex and Canadian interests in numerous organizations such the Methyl Bromide Working Group; RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment); United Producers, Formulators & Distributors Association (UPF&DA); and NPMA’s Women in Pest Management. Furgiuele also has represented UPF&DA on the Board of Directors of NPMA since 2002.

*****

BASF Announces Smart Solutions
Skill Development Seminars

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Jeff Tucker, BCE, is teaming up this year with BASF’s market development specialists from around the country to share interesting and relevant information designed to help pest management professionals solve some of their toughest pest problems and improve their business.

The half-day Smart Solutions Skill Development Seminars will cover such topics as bed bugs, rodents and ants with specific recommendations for frequently encountered pest problems.

The seminars are free of charge, but space is limited. All attendees must register in advance at www.pestcontrol.basf.us or by calling 800/777-8570, ext. 4276.

Dates and locations for the seminars include:

Feb. 2: Baltimore, Md.

Feb. 3: Piscataway, N.J.

Feb. 4: New York, N.Y.

Feb. 16: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Feb. 17: Orlando, Fla.

Feb. 18: Jacksonville, Fla.

Feb. 23: Atlanta, Ga.

Feb. 24: Charlotte, N.C.

Feb. 25: Chantilly, Va.

March 3: New Orleans, La.

March 4: Dallas, Texas

March 10: Charleston, S.C.

March 11: Indianapolis, Ind.

March 23: Nashville, Tenn.

March 24: Birmingham, Ala.

March 25: St. Louis, Mo.

*****

RNC Chair Michael Steele to Speak at NPMA’s Legislative Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael Steele, chair of the Republican National Committee, will address attendees at NPMA Legislative Day 2010, which takes place March 1-2, in Washington, D.C. Legislative Day, sponsored by FMC Professional Solutions, will be held downtown at the historic Renaissance Mayflower Hotel.

NPMA Legislative Day is a once-a-year opportunity for individual pest management industry members to collectively come to Capitol Hill and speak directly with their elected U.S. senators and representatives — sharing information and articulating concerns to increase awareness and support for the pest management industry.

Steele is the former Maryland Lieutenant Governor, an up-and-comer on the American political scene, and the newest chair of the Republican National Committee. A self-described Lincoln Republican, Steele earned a place in history in 2003 when he became the first African-American elected to statewide office in Maryland. An expert on political strategy and election reform, he most recently served as chairman of GOPAC, and also held posts on the National Federal Election Reform Commission and the NAACP Blue Ribbon Commission on Election Reform. Steele’s experience as a successful elected conservative Republican and his engaging speaking style have launched him into national prominence. Steele’s keynote presentation is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences.

"For twenty-three years, Legislative Day has been characterized as the industry lobbying opportunity," said NPMA Senior Vice President Bob Rosenberg. "Attending Legislative Day is an investment in the industry and never has there been a more important and necessary opportunity to make that investment than in 2010. I strongly encourage PMPs to join us on Capitol Hill in March."

Legislative Day combines visits with lawmakers and their staff with a dynamic educational program and keynote presentations. For more information, visit www.npmapestworld.org/events or call NPMA at 703/352-6762. For hotel reservations at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel call 202/347-3000 by February 5, 2010, and mention "NPMA" to receive the group rate of $262 per night.

*****

Date Book

Feb. 2: BASF Skill Development Seminar featuring Jeff Tucker, BWI Airport Marriott, Baltimore, Md. Contact: Visit www.pestcontrol.basf.us or call 800/777-8570, ext. 4276.

Feb. 3: BASF Skill Development Seminar featuring Jeff Tucker, Radisson Hotel Piscataway, Piscataway, N.J.. Contact: See Feb. 2.

Feb. 3-4: 24th Annual Michigan Mosquito Control Association Conference, Traverse City, Mich. Contact: 989/755-5751 or e-mail at randy@scmac.org.

Feb. 3-4: NPMA’s Southern Conference 2010, Hilton Memphis, Memphis, Tenn. Contact: NPMA, 703/352-6762 or visit www.npmapestworld.org.

Feb. 4: BASF Skill Development Seminar featuring Jeff Tucker, Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Airport Hotel, East Elmhurst, N.Y. Contact: See Feb. 2.

Feb. 9: M.I.S.T. (Misting Insecticides Solutions & Technologies) Conference, sponsored by MGK, San Antonio, Texas. Contact: 800/456-0707 or conference@giemedia.com.

Feb. 16: BASF Skill Development Seminar featuring Jeff Tucker, Signature Grand, Davie, Fla. Contact: See Feb. 2.

Feb. 17: BASF Skill Development Seminar featuring Jeff Tucker, Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, Fla. Contact: See Feb. 2.

 

Joey Harris Named COO
of Cook’s Pest Control

DECATUR, ALA. — Joey Harris, vice president of sales and service for Cook’s Pest Control, has been named chief operating officer of the company. In addition to overseeing corporate sales, technical training, video production, and customer care, Harris now has oversight of district office operations, including sales, service and profit.

"Through Joey’s leadership, we have grown not just in numbers, but most importantly in quality service," said Jim Aycock, Cook’s president and CEO. Aycock stressed that the late John Cook, Sr. knew about this succession plan and was very happy about it. Harris has worked for Cook’s since 1984 and had been VP of sales and service since 1996.

Harris commented, "I am grateful to the Cook family and Mr. Aycock for the confidence they’ve placed in me. Mr. Cook and I worked together on many projects for Cook’s, church, and the community, and we always worked well together. Knowing that he was happy about this change means a lot to me and I will work hard to manage my responsibilities in a way that would please him."

Harris came to Cook’s with the Memphis, Tenn., Hill-Smith acquisition in 1984 and moved into moved into corporate sales in 1988. He had been vice president of sales and service since 1996.

 

----------

*****.