[Recruiting Ideas] Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders

Cleveland Dixon Jr. believes in the potential of our nation’s youth to lead the pest management industry to even greater heights. So when a friend of Dixon’s, Dr. Camille McGann, invited him to speak with 100-plus middle-school students at the inaugural Our Kidz First Career Fair at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., he didn’t hesitate. Dixon, the owner of Holiday Termite & Pest Control, recognized the opportunity to introduce students to a career path they may have never considered. He enlisted the help of one of American Pest’s staff entomologists, Samuel Ramsey, to create a captivating and inspiring presentation.

“A hissing cockroach is a great way to grab attention, and we took full advantage of that,” laughs Dixon, “but our intent was to communicate a much more important message. We helped these students understand that, no matter what their life passions might be, they can find careers they love that will enable them to achieve their own definition of success.”

The organization hosting the career fair, Our Kidz First, was established by McGann just last year to expose 11- to 14-year-old students to career choices. “This is the age at which children’s focus begins to shift toward their futures, yet what I found in talking with friends and colleagues was that exposure to career information is sorely lacking for this age group,” explains McGann, a radiation oncologist who is also an advocate for cancer education in the community. “Our Kidz First offers students opportunities to talk with professionals — entomologists, entrepreneurs, doctors, hotel managers, police officers — about what it’s actually like to work in their jobs. These interactions really motivate kids, because they see how exciting the future can be for them.”
 

First-hand Account.

Ramsey, a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland who is involved with the Prince George’s County Secondary School Advisory Board, knows that establishing a solid connection with students is vital to meaningful communication.

“I talked with them about what an entomologist does and why I became so interested in bugs,” he shares. “As they interacted with the insects, they became enthralled themselves, asking questions about insect behaviors and biology, and thinking beyond traditional career choices. My intent with students is always to plant ideas in their minds, hoping those ideas will lead to ambition, and that ambition will lead to success.”

McGann says that participation levels from students as well as speakers has been overwhelming. She is stepping up fundraising efforts for Our Kidz First to expand its programming, including more career fairs. Dixon says he will definitely continue participating.

“It feels great engaging with these bright, young individuals as they look forward to the possibilities ahead and see that there are exciting careers right in their own communities,” he says. “If all of us get involved educating young people about the great potential of pest management careers, imagine how strong our industry will be 10 years down the road!”

The author is a frequent contributor to PCT. Email her at ddefranco@giemedia.com.

Photos by Steven Gandy