People, December 1997

AgrEvo Environmental Health’s new Business Support Team has expanded to provide service and technical support to AgrEvo EH customers nationwide. The move means the Business Support Team is now available to PCOs across the country to answer questions regarding AgrEvo EH products, application procedures, regulatory issues and other pertinent areas of professional pest control.

The group, which operates under the direction of business manager Mike McDermott, consists of four experienced AgrEvo EH representatives with diverse technical backgrounds. The team includes Dr. Mark Coffelt, who has experience in the development of pest control, turf and ornamental products and has served as the company’s national technical service manager since January of 1996; Ed Evans, a technical service representative and the co-developer of the Actisol spray system; David Sykes, who is experienced in the vector control arena; and Bob Hickman, who specializes in the professional turf and ornamental side of the business. The Business Support Team can be reached at 800/331-2867.

AgrEvo EH has also named Margie Koehler as its western sales manager for PCO and Vector products. Koehler, who joined the AgrEvo EH sales force in January, has worked within the livestock and pest control industries, as well as within both the marketing and sales divisions of a variety of vector control arenas. Koehler holds a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois. Her sales territory includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Maxforce Professional Insect Control has added three new team members. The new additions include entomologist Joseph Barile, who has joined Maxforce as national technical field manager and will provide PCOs technical expertise and educational seminars on IPM, baiting trends and strategies and Maxforce products; and Mary Hanson and Terri Seymour, both of whom join as customer support representatives. They will provide support for small- and medium-sized pest control firms, ensuring these firms are kept up-to-date on product information, specimen labels and MSDS data sheets.

Maxforce’s sales organization, B&W Sales & Marketing, has also added two new associates. Creig Manson and Paul Carbino, who have extensive experience in pest control field sales, recently joined B&W as field sales representatives.

Manson will handle the south-central sales region which includes Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Prior to joining B&W Sales, Manson worked for Zoecon, where he was a regional sales manager. Responsible for the Atlantic sales region, Carbino is the field sales representative for PCOs located in Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Most recently, Carbino was a regional manager with J. T. Eaton & Co.

Zeneca Professional Products has announced several new additions and promotions. Don Breeze was recently appointed sales lead/national sales manager for Zeneca’s pest control line. Previously, Breeze held the position of sales lead for Zeneca’s cereal and oilseeds team and was instrumental in the growth of the business to the No. 1 share leader over the past five years. Todd Howard Brown was named territory sales representative for the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Brown, who previously worked as a regional technical specialist with Whitmire Research Laboratories, Inc., will be responsible for sales and support of Zeneca’s pest control products. Jeff Alvis was recently promoted to pest control market manager. Before being promoted, Alvis had been a Zeneca sales representative in California and the Mid-South. He has also worked as a sales representative for a pest control distributor and previously owned his own pest control company.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded David Mueller of Fumigation Service & Supply, Inc., with its “Best-of-the-Best” Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award. The EPA selected winners based on accomplishments that have resulted in significant environmental improvements through leadership, motivation and technical innovation. Mueller was recognized for technical innovation by developing methods of pest control fumigation without the use of methyl bromide. Other companies honored with a “Best-of-the-Best” award included the Coca-Cola company, Du Pont and IBM.

The Bayer Corporation recently appointed Emil Lansu as executive vice president and president of the company’s Agriculture Division. Lansu succeeds Hermann R. Werner, who retired August 31. Most recently, Lansu served as general manager of the plastics marketing group for Bayer AG in Leverkusen, Germany.

Lansu will assume responsibility for the division’s animal health, crop protection and garden and professional care business. In his new position, he will also serve as a member of the Bayer Corporation Executive Committee and head Bayer Group’s North American management team for crop protection business in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Frances Krenick has joined Clarke Mosquito Control Products, Inc. as northeast regional manager. Previously, Krenick worked with the Onondaga County Department of Health, Syracuse, N.Y., and since 1988 was its mosquito control supervisor. She has also written numerous papers on mosquito control, and has served as an industry consultant. Krenick succeeds William J. Zawicki, who will aid in the transition and remain with the company as a consultant for two years until his retirement. Clarke, the nation’s largest private mosquito control firm, acquired Northeast Vector Management, Inc. from Zawicki a year ago. The Freehold, N.J.-based operation distributes mosquito control products and equipment to more than 900 customers in the northeastern United States.

Al Augustine has joined Dodson Bros. Exterminating Co. Inc. of Lynchburg, Va., as a corporate marketing manager. Augustine is a long-time media veteran, having spent 20 years in the sales, news management and “on-air” divisions of various radio and television stations. Prior to joining Dodson Bros., Augustine worked for several radio and television stations in the Lynchburg/Roanoke, Va. area.

The Georgia Pest Control Association recently elected new officers at its summer meeting. Tom Diederich of Orkin was named president, Bryan Bowman of York Pest Control was named vice president and Rick Bell of Arrow Exterminators was named secretary/treasurer. Immediate Past President Robert “Bubba” Nolan was named chairman of the board.

Wright and Percy Insurance, a privately owned insurance company based in Baton Rouge, La., announced the addition of Dennis Vidrine. Vidrine will serve as a program manger for the company’s newly created Pest Control/Landscape project, as well as work as an agent with special concentration on program business. In this role, Vidrine will work closely with trade associations and groups to coordinate association sponsored casualty programs.

Kevin Smith has been promoted to director of consumer products for Chase Products Company, the company announced recently. Smith will be responsible for the sales and marketing of Chase Product’s extensive line of insecticides, spray paints and automotive and bench/maintenance products to retailers and hardware wholesalers.

Rose Exterminator Co. has named James R. Ives vice president of the company. Having joined the company in 1981, Ives most recently served as district manager of the Detroit Metro North District. In addition, Ives is serving his second term as president of the Michigan Pest Control Association. Ives is also a member of the Copesan Development Committee, and is currently president of the Rotary Club of Dearborn, Mich. Ives is a graduate of Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill.