NPMA Appoints Bob Rosenberg Acting EVP
FAIRFAX, VA. — The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) appointed Bob Rosenberg as acting executive vice president on Oct. 16. Rosenberg, a 23-year NPMA veteran, will guide the association through a transition period. In late September, NPMA President Laura Simpson, during a conference call with the NPMA Board of Directors, announced that Executive Vice President Rob Lederer had resigned, effective immediately.
Simpson told PCT that, following Lederer’s resignation, NPMA staff and the executive committee met and discussed the next steps, including how and when to replace Lederer. Simpson said the committee decided it was important to make a decision prior to PestWorld in October. “After PestWorld when everyone was performing their separate functions, we felt that we needed someone in that leadership position. The staff and executive committee met and approached Bob,” Simpson said. “The executive committee and our staff have worked together very closely. We have a great synergy together.”
According to NPMA bylaws, the NPMA Board of Directors has the authority to hire, but because Rosenberg is being named “acting” EVP, he is not hired by the board of directors. He is already an employee.
Rosenberg’s career with NPMA has focused on advocating for the professional pest management industry’s interests with federal, state and local government. He has served on numerous boards and was appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to sit on various federal advisory committees, including the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee.
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New Ratings & Reviews Interactive Feature Added to Univar’s PestWeb Website AUSTIN, TEXAS — Univar Environmental Sciences announced the launch of PestWeb Ratings & Reviews, a new interactive forum that enables pest management professionals to provide feedback on Univar products. PestWeb (www.pestweb.com) is built to give customers access to some of today’s most valuable tools and information, Univar reports. With the addition of the new feature, Univar said it brings added functionality and information accessibility, reinforcing PestWeb’s role. “Univar Environmental Sciences has always been focused on providing our customers with useful and innovative tools,” says Karl Kisner, vice president of marketing. “Many PMPs want to know how a product is performing. This forum will allow them to see opinions from their peers. We believe that the new Ratings & Reviews tool will allow our customers to engage with us, the supplier community, as well as with their peers, in a way that revolutionizes how they interact.” PestWeb users can access the new Ratings & Reviews via the product pages. To make comments, users must be registered for PestWeb’s Premier Services. |
In accepting his new position Rosenberg told PCT, “The industry has done a lot for me and I love this industry. This was an opportunity to give something back to the industry and I welcome that opportunity,” he said. “NPMA is at a very good place at this time. I think the executive committee has said we’re very comfortable with where NPMA is at as an organization.”
Rosenberg said an immediate goal will be addressing two key principles. “We want to reaffirm NPMA is a member-driven organization and refocus our energies on transparency,” he said. “We want the industry to know what we’re doing. We’re proud of what we’re doing.”
Simpson said NPMA has a lot of work to do during this interim period, including writing a job description to determine what qualities NPMA is seeking in its new director. “We want to make sure we get it right,” she said. “We have the luxury now of having plenty of time to work through the process, because we don’t have the pressure to select someone immediately. We have the time to develop that role and look for that person and see where that leads us.” — Dan Moreland and Brad Harbison
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Pioneering Industry Educator John Osmun Passes Away
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. — The pest control industry mourns the loss of Dr. John Osmun, a Purdue University entomology faculty member for 39 years and an outspoken advocate for PCO education and enhanced industry standards. Osmun, 94, of West Lafayette, Ind., passed away on Oct. 13.
Few industry professionals have had as significant and long-lasting an impact on the field of pest management as Osmun, whose career spanned more than 60 years. During World War II, he served as a U.S. Army Entomologist and for three years was the chief entomologist in the First Army Command stationed in Governor’s Island, N.Y. He then was employed as a research entomologist for Merck & Company.
In 1948, Osmun arrived at Purdue, where he was named assistant professor of entomology. In this position, he developed the first four-year curriculum devoted to urban and industrial entomology. In the mid-1970s, Osmun left Purdue to become director of EPA’s Operations Division (and he later served as a consultant to EPA). He would later return to Purdue. Osmun joined EPA during a time in which the agency’s role was placing more emphasis on setting standards. In January 2006, Purdue recognized Osmun during a special reception, and he reflected on his EPA involvement, noting, “I saw it as an opportunity to develop standards for applicators based on education.”
Industry consultant and former Purdue Entomology faculty member Dr. Austin Frishman, whom Osmun recruited to Purdue, noted, “John was one of the early entomologists to recognize that the future our industry was not chemically based, and recognized what Rachel Carson was saying, so he took the job to head up and develop the certification program with EPA.”
As a Purdue faculty member, Osmun is remembered as a teacher, mentor and friend, who was responsible for developing many subsequent generations of entomologists, including Dr. Bobby Corrigan, who was a Purdue Entomology faculty member and now serves as an industry consultant. “Among my many Purdue recollections, my most cherished memories of ‘Oz’ were the times he accompanied me during graduate school on a few night excursions to observe bats in attics or mice in poultry houses,” Corrigan said. “On those trips, he would provide wonderful guidance and counsel on all aspects of life and entomology. Those trips helped shape who I am today.”
Although Osmun retired from Purdue in 1987, he remained close to the university and the pest control industry. At that same 2006 banquet, Osmun provided the following optimistic perspective on the industry: “You have the foundation of professional people working in the field, so I only see the industry getting better,” he said. — Brad Harbison
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Orkin Acquires Portions of Hulett Environmental Services
ATLANTA – Atlanta-based Orkin announced it has acquired eight North Florida locations from Hulett Environmental Services, based in West Palm Beach, Fla. The purchased branches are in Orlando, Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Oviedo, Tampa Bay, Lake County, Melbourne and Kissimmee.
Revenue for the acquired branches exceeds $8 million, and the transaction was for an undisclosed sum. Other Hulett branches in South Florida will remain with the Hulett family and are not a part of this transaction.
“We have respected Liz and Tim Hulett and their pest control company for a long time,” said John Wilson, Orkin USA president. “The Huletts and their employees have built a business over the past 40 years that enjoys a great reputation in residential, commercial and termite control services across the state. We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement.”
Tim Hulett, president and owner of Hulett Environmental Services, said, “While this was a difficult decision, we believe that by narrowing the company’s footprint, we can concentrate better on growing our South Florida business. This move also allows me to spend more time with my family, which is very important to me.”
Hulett Environmental Services was established in 1968 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and reported 2011 revenues exceeding $35 million.
| Date Book |
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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. Jan. 17-18: NPMA Eastern Conference, Bally’s Atlantic City, Atlantic City, N.J. Contact: See Lawn Care Summit above. |
Dow AgroSciences Adopts Dow Diamond Icon as Part of Branding Transformation
INDIANAPOLIS – Dow AgroSciences introduced a new brand and visual identity, the culmination of a major brand transformation the company has undertaken over the past year. As the agricultural sciences business of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow AgroSciences will further leverage the recognition, capabilities, strength and scale of Dow to deliver new solutions and technologies to growers around the world, the company said.
“Our close connection to Dow enables us to operate within the framework of a much bigger company that offers scale and strength to our business around the world,” says Antonio Galindez, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences. “The significant investment in new innovations by the company over the past decade has enabled many new agricultural technology collaborations and advances, new product launches and overall faster business growth.”
As part of the rebrand, customers will see changes on marketing materials and products. The new Dow AgroSciences company tagline, “Solutions for the Growing World,” links with Dow’s new advertising campaign, Solutionism. The tagline reflects Dow AgroSciences’ passion for agriculture, as well as its commitment to scientific discovery and a service-first culture to help those in agriculture meet the needs of the growing needs of the planet.
Dow AgroSciences’ new brand identity is now live on the company’s website. In addition, customers around the world will begin to see the new Dow AgroSciences brand identity through marketing materials and product packaging. The company logo was scheduled to be changed at the company’s headquarters last month. Additional Dow AgroSciences sites and offices globally will transition to the new visual identity over the coming quarters.
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Temprid ‘Save the Day’ Contest Finalist Videos are Available Online for Voting
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C — Five pest management professionals have been selected as finalists in the Temprid Save the Day Contest, in which PMPs shared stories of instances where they “saved the day” by tackling a pest problem for a family or business using Temprid SC Insecticide.
Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, is calling upon PMPs across the country to view all five videos online and vote for their favorite story. PMPs who vote will have a chance to receive a free case of Temprid. The winning professional will be awarded with an all-expense-paid trip for four, plus a choice of 10 free cases of Temprid SC or a professional marketing package to help promote his or her business.
“We are very impressed with the contest submissions and thank all PMPs who contributed their Temprid success stories,” said Norman Barclift, general insect control product manager at Environmental Science. “Now it’s time for PMPs to view the videos and cast their vote for their favorite ‘Save-the-Day’ story.”
Between now and Nov. 30, professionals will have the chance to vote for the following finalists:
- Anthony Esposito, The Bug Reaper, Katy, Texas
- Brandon Glenn, Schendel Pest Services, Wichita, Kan.
- Mary Hooks, Carothers Pest Control, Mansfield, Ohio
- Robert Dunlap, No-Bugs Pest Management, Monroe, Ohio
- Tim Meyers, AAA Enviro Pest Management, Centre Hall, Pa.
The winning submission will be announced in December and will be awarded with the following:
- All-expense-paid trip for four to New York City; Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Orlando, Fla.; or Las Vegas, Nev.
- Choice of either 10 free cases of Temprid SC Insecticide OR a professional marketing package to help promote his or her business, including assistance with advertising, public relations and social media.
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Brackett Resigns as TruGreen President
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Less than a year after being named to the post, Tom Brackett has resigned as president of TruGreen LawnCare.
The news was announced in an Oct. 12 SEC filing by TruGreen’s parent company, ServiceMaster.
Brackett resigned effective Oct. 9, according to the filing, and will be replaced on an interim basis by ServiceMaster CEO Hank Mullany.
Brackett moved to TruGreen from Terminix when Stephen Donly resigned as president in May 2011. For seven months, he oversaw the lawn care company while continuing his role as president and CEO of Terminix.
Brackett was named TruGreen president in December 2011.
| Comings & Goings |
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If your company has added new personnel, send a photo and press release to jdorsch@giemedia.com. Justin Stewart, product manager for fumigants with Dow AgroScience’s U.S. pest management business, has accepted the new role of product manager for cereals and rice herbicides within Dow’s Crop Protection business. Stewart has been with Dow AgroSciences since 2007. Heather Kern has accepted the role of product manager for fumigants for the company’s pest management business. Kern has been with Dow since 2000. Professional Women in Pest Management announced the recipients of its annual scholarship: Laura Schroeder, branch manager, Spencer Pest Services, Greenville, S.C., and Charity Lowder, Atlantic call center manager, Orkin. Schroeder and Lowder will receive funding to further their careers. They also received a trip to Boston for last month’s NPMA PestWorld. PWIPM is an affiliate organization of NPMA. Captain, U.S. Navy (retired) Stan Cope, Ph.D., has joined Terminix as manager of technical services. Cope, an entomologist with more than 23 years of military experience in 18 countries, most recently served as director of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for affecting policy involving pest management and mosquito control in the U.S. Department of Defense. Bug Doctor Termite & Pest Control, Paramus, N.J., promoted Janet Kopic to the position of business development coordinator. Kopic will develop and maintain agency relationships for all divisions of Bug Doctor, the company said. John Kane, technical specialist, Western Pest Services, Parsippany, N.J., is now a board-certified entomologist, the company announced. Kane leads customer staff training on effective pest management practices and provides in-house training to Western technicians. Kane earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California San Diego, and his Master of Science degree in entomology from the University of Illinois in 2008. Massey Services announced Marietta, Ga.-based General Manager Wayne Rose was elected to serve as Region 4 director for the Georgia Pest Control Association (GPCA). Rose will act as a liaison between the Association and the independent pest control companies in the region. Rose has been with Massey Services since 1999. |
Syngenta Closes DuPont Deal
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Syngenta announced it has closed the acquisition of the DuPont Professional Products insecticide business. As a result of this transaction, Syngenta now owns the insecticide brands Altriset, Advion, Arilon, Acelepryn, Calteryx and Provaunt. A number of DuPont Professional Products employees also have joined Syngenta.
“These key assets will provide the Lawn & Garden Turf & Landscape business with new offerings and capabilities to scale our business so that we can meet the needs of our growing customer base,” stated Tim Kroenke, head, Syngenta Lawn & Garden North America. “With the addition of these recognized brands, Syngenta can address critical customer needs in the professional turf and pest control markets with an expanded portfolio of industry-leading, proven technology.”
Scott Reasons, head, Turf & Landscape North America, concurred. “The closing of the acquisition provides Syngenta with new capabilities to build upon our strong pest management heritage with next generation chemistry, and expand our leadership position in turf. We are excited about the offerings and additional capabilities we can now provide our customers.”
In addition to targeting the professional turf and pest management markets, Syngenta will pursue adjacent market opportunities in ornamental horticulture and the consumer space. The closing price for the acquisition was $125 million.
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Justin McCauley, Judy Black Receive NPMA Awards
 Top photo (left to right): Kevin Pass, Justin McCauley and John Myers. Bottom photo (left to right): Pass, Judy Black and John Wilson. |
BOSTON, MASS. — Justin McCauley, chief operating officer for McCauley Services, Benton, Ark., was the 2012 recipient of the inaugural NPMA Young Entrepreneur Award, presented by Rentokil Pest Control. McCauley was honored at PestWorld 2012 in October.
The award recognizes young entrepreneurs (40 years of age or less) working in the professional pest management industry who have helped create or develop an industry business and/or stewarded a meaningful industry concept to fruition.
McCauley is involved in his community, serving on the boards of directors for the Kiwanis of Saline County, Habitat for Humanity of Saline County, NPMA and the Arkansas Pest Management Association. He is involved in the NPMA Leadership Development Group and serves as head coach of Vikings Future Panthers Football Team.
Judy Black, vice president of technical services for Steritech’s pest prevention division, was the 2012 recipient of NPMA’s Women of Excellence Award, presented by Orkin. Black also was honored at PestWorld 2012 in October.
“Judy embodies the spirit of the award in every way,” said NPMA President Laura Simpson. “Throughout her 25-year career, Judy has contributed ably to her employers and has been an industry advocate.”
Since joining Steritech in 1994, Black has worked in a variety of roles, and was promoted to vice president in early 2012. A graduate of West Virginia University, she received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture with an emphasis in environmental protection, and master of science in entomology. She is a board certified entomologist and a member of Pi Chi Omega, the national pest control fraternity. She has served as chair on the NPMA Technical Committee, served on the inaugural Bed Bug Blue Ribbon Task Force and was the director of the Certification Board for the Entomological Society of America.
| PCO News |
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Please send press releases about your firm to jdorsch@giemedia.com. Orkin acquired Tri-County Pest Control South, Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Residential and commercial accounts will be distributed among branches in the western Florida region. Maria and Charles Baker, founders and owners of Tri-County Pest Control South, plan to retire after the transition.
Cascade Pest Control acquired BioTech Pest Control, formerly of Lakewood, Wash. “Cascade’s reputation for providing high-quality service was the main reason why I approached them,” said Mel Lopas, founder, BioTech Pest Control. “I’m glad to be a part of this rapidly growing company, and know that my customers will be happy also.” Cascade will absorb BioTech’s customer base in King and Pierce counties. Macy’s Termite & Pest Control, North Venice, Fla., announced it has expanded its coverage in Manatee County by assigning two technicians — Kyle Hess and Samantha Brown — to concentrate on residential properties throughout the county. Anderson Pest Solutions opened a new office in Merrillville, Ind. The new facility is intended to accommodate Anderson’s growing presence in northern Indiana, the company said. Mark O’Hara, president, said the new office “reflects our commitment to expanding Anderson’s service and market share in Northern Indiana.” ChemTec Pest Control, Saddle Brook, N.J., purchased Thomas Pest Control Company in August. This acquisition increases the ChemTec presence in Bergen County, N.J. Inspect-All Services acquired Achilles Pest Control in July. Inspect-All said the acquisition is another step in its growth trajectory. “In January 2013, Inspect-All Services looks to finish strong for the third year in a row at a top 100 fastest-growing business ceremony held by the University of Georgia,” the company said in a release detailing the acquisition. |
Dodson Pest Control, Lynchburg, Va., acquired Scott’s Pest Control, Florence, S.C. Dodson has 34 offices throughout Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee and Washington, D.C.
RISE, CLA ProActively Address Industry Issues at Annual Meeting
RISE and CropLife America have never been afraid to take on the big issues, whether it’s working with government officials to find solutions to complex regulatory issues relating to protecting public health and the environment or grappling with how to feed an exploding global population that is expected to top 9 billion people by 2050.
 Dave Morris of Dow AgroSciences says it’s essential for RISE members to “speak with one voice” on issues of importance to the association. |
That’s why a well-attended general session titled “The Seven Revolutions” featuring Johanna Nesseth Tuttle of the Center for Strategic & International Studies proved so timely, as 500 industry executives traveled to Amelia Island, Fla., just a month before the U.S. Presidential election to chart the future of the chemical industry.
“What’s the world going to look like in the year 2030?” Tuttle asked those attending the bi-annual meeting of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) and CropLife America. How policy makers respond to seven key issues with global implications in the years ahead — population, resources, technology, economics, information, security and governance — will likely provide the answer to that question.
Tuttle said there will be opportunities for government and industry “to find new paths forward” and address the challenges of population growth, security, and other issues of importance to people around the globe, and chemical suppliers are going to play an important role in shaping that new world, although “the role that your industry plays is going to continue to be challenging” given the complex nature of the issues facing policy makers.
Still, there is reason for optimism if industry representatives stay actively engaged on issues of importance to them. “Our theme for this week — political campaigns of the past — also reminds us how important our individual and collective participation in the political process is — and how powerful it can be,” observed Dave Morris, outgoing RISE Governing Board Chairman and Commercial Leader, Pest Management and Turf and Ornamentals Business, Dow AgroSciences.
“We are also reminded this week, that speaking with one voice is essential, though we represent many categories of product use,” he said. “Whether we are speaking about our shared issues or about those that are unique to our category, each of us must be engaged in the conversation about our industry and the important benefits we deliver to communities and countries.”
Morris, who served as Governing Board Chairman for the past two years, said one of the first things he and RISE President Aaron Hobbs did upon taking on their new roles was attend an association management conference in Chicago.
Since then, Morris said, they have worked not only “in the association on issues,” but also “on the association in structure, focus and operating discipline,” creating a Strategic Oversight Council (SOC) as the association works towards becoming the catalyst for recognition of the human health and environmental benefits of pesticide products by legislators, regulators and the public they serve.
“The SOC gives us an internal GPS that helps us navigate successfully through our issues to determine what we will work on and what we won’t work on,” Morris observed. “The SOC is essential to keeping us focused on our issues and goals.”
“RISE is focused on providing an advocacy platform for the specialty products field,” added Jose Milan, chairman of the Strategic Oversight Council and Director of Green Business Operations, Bayer. “We start with the end in mind. Focusing on our goals guides our strategy and action plan development.”
Hobbs added that the SOC “has really done some great work” this past year. “They’ve helped us come together, integrating our approaches to issues management,” including the popular ‘Debug the Myths’ program (www.DebugTheMyths.com).
“I cannot overstate the strategic importance of leading and planning on a proactive and positive basis,” Morris said. “It is a game changer for us — and our entire industry. Our commitment to test and refine this approach through the Debug the Myths program over the past three years is paying real dividends on our investment.
 (Left) Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report, and Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CropLife America. (Right) RISE President Aaron Hobbs. |
“At RISE this year, we’ve continued our work to bring a positive and relevant voice to the conversation about our products at the local, state and federal levels,” Morris added. “Some of this work involved kicking the tires on RISE to ensure the association has the right resources to achieve our goals.” Through this discernment process, he said, the specialty chemical industry learned from policy makers three years ago it had “diminishing credibility” in the policy arena for two reasons:
- “Policymakers only heard from us when we didn’t like what they were doing; and
- They never heard from their constituents about why our products are beneficial and necessary.”
“The decision of the Governing Board to weave proactive capacity into the fabric of our advocacy, not only addresses those issues, but puts and keeps us in the conversation about our products and their many benefits,” he said.
Morris added that the association also has continued to expand its programming to reach more people with its message. “This year we held another successful and standing-room only event during the golf show and we had a grassroots seminar during New England Grows — the Northeast’s largest green industry show — to reach grassroots in that priority location,” he said.
“Grassroots is increasingly the engine that drives our advocacy. This year we had several opportunities to engage members, customers and friends on important issues like advancing NPDES legislation in Congress — though it’s still pending as we meet this week,” Morris said. “Fifty-two grassroots alerts were sent to some 2,000 advocates in our database over a two-day period on this issue with more than 500 sending a message to their senator supporting our legislation.”
In other RISE/CLA highlights, keynote speaker Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report, shared his thoughts on the presidential race and the state of American politics. Regardless of the outcome of the election, he said, there is much work to be done in Washington, particularly as it relates to the economy.
 Top: Johanna Nesseth Tuttle of the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Bottom: Steve Gullickson of MGK encouraged members to “stay engaged.” |
“After this election…I’m very worried about what’s going to happen at the end of this year and the beginning of next year,” he said. “When they (Congress) get back, if they don’t get a deficit package in place…you’re going to see some bad things happen. Can these folks get their act together?” Cook asked. “We’re now getting sort of close to judgment day.”
In closing the conference, RISE President Aaron Hobbs said the association’s longtime partnership with CropLife America “is a great thing for our industry,” allowing the two advocacy organizations to speak with one voice. “We have a lot of opportunity out there to change policy and change minds,” he said, but it requires active involvement by RISE members, a theme echoed by MGK President Steve Gullickson, incoming RISE Governing Board Chairman.
“We are a membership-driven organization,” Gullickson said. “I encourage you to stay engaged. The more bodies, the more minds we have involved, the more effective we’re going to be as an organization. I look forward to working with you. I look forward to working for you.”
RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) is the national trade association representing manufacturers, formulators, distributors and other industry leaders involved with specialty pesticide and fertilizer products and advocates on issues and research affecting the industry. To get involved or for more information about the organization, contact: RISE, 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20005, or phone 202/872-3860.
The 2013 RISE Annual Meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26-30 at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, Calif. — Dan Moreland
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