PestTech 3.0 Conference Helps Pest Management Professionals Stay Atop the ‘Digital Revolution’

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Digital pioneer and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was quoted as saying, “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next 10. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.”

Attendees at the National Pest Management Association’s PesTech 3.0 Conference in January in San Jose, Calif., were challenged not to let their companies or industry fall behind the current digital revolution that is changing consumer and social behavior.

The event offered attendees a glimpse of the latest digital technologies that will shape not only how their businesses are run but dictate how customers will research, purchase and interact with them. “This event is why NPMA is here — to protect and promote members’ businesses and to lead the way into the future,” said NPMA President Russ Ives, Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich.

Keynote speaker Peter Leyden, founder and CEO of Reinvent, a new media start-up focused on connecting top innovators in video conversations and former managing editor of the original Wired magazine, told attendees one of the challenges for 21st century business owners is embracing the rapid growth and adoption of technology.

Leyden referred to Moore’s Law (named after Intel co-founder Gordon Moore) whose observation of the history of computing hardware found the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit has doubled approximately every two years.

Translated into a business definition, Moore’s Law says that every two years the capacity for storing and using data — which is the driving force of technological and social change, business productivity and economic growth — doubles.

“Seventy-five percent of the world has a mobile phone and nearly half are connected to the web and there is still substantial room for growth,” said Leyden.

Recognizing how fast consumers are adopting new technologies, when the tipping point will arrive in the market, and how to organize their company’s operational and marketing efforts to keep up and take advantage of these new paradigms is a major challenge facing PMPs.

Leyden also pointed to the growing impact video is having on consumers.

Audiences are turning in ever-growing numbers to watch videos to be informed, entertained and connected — and marketers are trying to find the best way to reach them.

“By 2018, 90 percent of web traffic will be video and the challenge is figuring out how to leverage video to benefit your business,” said Leyden.

The pest management industry could take advantage of videos since many aspects of the industry have visual appeal. A video of a home inspection that provides tips for homeowners on how to prevent pests from gaining access or shows damage from termites can be impactful.

When asked how the technology revolution will impact service industries like pest management in the years ahead, Leyden pointed to areas that can attract new customers and expand service offerings, including:

• Building Construction Practices — New construction and retrofitting of existing structures will place a heavy emphasis on sustainable building and maintenance practices, such as LEED, where credits can be earned by incorporating IPM-based pest solutions.
• Population Shift — With more people returning to urban centers to live and work, communal living in apartments and condominiums will become more popular and that brings with it a need for professional pest management services to control bed bugs, rodents and cockroaches.
• More Regulation — The focus on sustainability likely will add pressure to enact additional regulations and requirements to use products that leave the smallest environmental footprint possible.

Another topic discussed at PesTech was the impact of disruptive technology — such as data/identity theft, social media, and marketing pest services through Uber-like on-demand models — on pest management.

Responding to customer reviews on Yelp!, protecting customers’ credit card and account information, and determining what apps to develop to facilitate customer interaction leaves pest management companies to face challenges (or opportunities) that previous generations of PMPs never had to tackle.

Garrett Thrasher of Thrasher Termite & Pest Control in San Diego encouraged fellow pest professionals to embrace disruptive social media technology like Yelp! and look at it as an opportunity to position your company in a positive light with consumers.

“Use negative reviews as a chance to connect with customers and strengthen or rebuild the relationship you have with them,” said Thrasher. “Responding in a timely, professional fashion to posts, especially negative ones, isn’t easy but it is a must if you are going to successfully participate in social media.”

Second-generation PMP Justin McCauley of Arkansas-based McCauley Services and chairman of the NPMA’s Technology Committee, which helped develop the PesTech 3.0 program, said the conference’s goal was to not only introduce pest professionals to new ideas and ways of incorporating technology in their businesses but to reaffirm the advances that have already been made. “Using technology to improve operating efficiencies as well make communicating with customers easier and faster lets consumers know our industry is adopting and embracing technology to make our services easier to buy and use,” said McCauley.

Termite Awareness Week: March 13-19

FAIRFAX, Va. — As spring quickly approaches and the weather becomes warmer, the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is making a push to spread public awareness about termites by celebrating Termite Awareness Week, March 13-19. Using various media relations and social media tactics, PPMA will work to educate consumers about the dangers of termites and how to best protect their homes.

Industry members are encouraged to join the cause by devoting their social media pages to termites during Termite Awareness Week. Companies should consider using the hashtag #TermiteWeek in all posts and interactions on Facebook and Twitter. PPMA also has developed an exclusive toolkit for Mainframe subscribers to utilize as a resource for their publicity efforts. The toolkit contains a customizable press release, social media assets, photography, media training documents and other materials to help companies communicate to their customer base.

UPFDA Announces 2016 Spring Conference

LAS VEGAS — The United Producers Formulators & Distributors Association announced that its annual UPFDA Spring Conference will be held April 26-28.

The event, being held at the J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa, will bring together representatives from across North America for sessions devoted to regulatory and legislative affairs, market trends, and how manufacturers and distributors can work together for the benefit of both parties.

Reserve your room at the J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa at 702/869-7777. The special room rate is $159.

For additional questions call Valera Jessee at 770/965-6972.

EPA Releases Preliminary Risk Assessment for Agricultural Uses of Imidacloprid

Editor’s note: The National Pest Management Association issued the following statement in the wake of January’s imidacloprid assessment.

WASHINGTON — In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a preliminary pollinator risk assessment for imidacloprid regarding agricultural uses. EPA says its assessment, prepared in collaboration with California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, indicates that imidacloprid potentially poses risk to hives when the pesticide comes in contact with certain crops that attract pollinators.

“Delivering on the President’s National Pollinator Strategy means EPA is committed not only to protecting bees and reversing bee loss, but for the first time assessing the health of the colony for the neonicotinoid pesticides,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Using science as our guide, this preliminary assessment reflects our collaboration with the State of California and Canada to assess the results of the most recent testing required by EPA.”

EPA said the preliminary risk assessment identified a residue level for imidacloprid of 25 parts per billion, which sets a threshold above which effects on pollinator hives are likely to be seen, and at that level and below which effects are unlikely. These effects include decreases in pollinators as well as less honey produced, the agency reports.

For example, data show citrus and cotton may have residues of the pesticide in pollen and nectar above the threshold level. Additional data is being generated on these and other crops to help EPA evaluate whether imidacloprid poses a risk to hives.

The imidacloprid assessment is the first of four preliminary pollinator risk assessments for the neonicotinoid insecticides. Preliminary pollinator risk assessments for three other neonicotinoids, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran, are scheduled to be released for public comment in December.

A preliminary risk assessment of all ecological effects for imidacloprid, including a revised pollinator assessment and impacts on other species, such as aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants, also will be released in December.

According to EPA, in 2015, the agency proposed to prohibit the use of pesticides that it says are toxic to bees, including neonicotinoids, when crops are in bloom and bees are under contract for pollination services. The agency temporarily halted the approval of new outdoor neonicotinoid pesticide uses until new bee data is submitted and pollinator risk assessments are complete.

EPA encourages stakeholders to visit the imidacloprid docket and sign up for email alerts to be automatically notified when the agency opens the public comment period for the pollinator-only risk assessment. The risk assessment and other supporting documents are available in the docket at: http://1.usa.gov/1VIpwW4.

“We are aware and are closely following EPA’s preliminary ecological risk assessment of the agricultural uses of imidacloprid. The National Pest Management Association has been at the forefront of the pollinator health issue, working with EPA, members of Congress, and also the general public about pollinators and is working to be a part of the solution. We will remain engaged with EPA regarding structural pest control uses for all active ingredients, including imidacloprid, and we continue to stress the industry position that structural use patterns pose little risk to bees because pollinator exposure is extremely rare when used in accordance with labeled structural application patterns.”

Copesan’s Sargent to Retire; Dr. Bennett Jordan Joins Firm

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Copesan Services announced the hiring of Dr. Bennett Jordan as director of technical support and Regulatory Compliance, effective last month. Jordan will be replacing Dr. James “Sarge” Sargent, who will retire on April 4.

“Sarge has contributed to the pest management industry for over 43 years and has been with Copesan for 19 years. He has built deep relationships with national clients, vendors, our service provider network and been a key contributor on various committees of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA),” said Deni Naumann, Copesan president.

“Sarge has had a wonderful and successful career that includes past presidency of Pi Chi Omega (the professional fraternity devoted to the advancement of research in structural pest control); being inducted into the 2012 Crown Leadership Class; receiving the FMC Legislative Day Award in 2014; and serving as a long-time and committed member on the Copesan Technical Committee (CTC), whose wealth of local pest management expertise plays an important role in the industry. Sarge is respected by his peers and pest management staff and technicians, as well as by our clients. Copesan is deeply grateful for his commitment and contributions, and congratulates him on his upcoming retirement,” she said.

Jordan comes to Copesan from NPMA, where he worked as staff entomologist/research scientist, providing technical support to member pest management companies. His responsibilities included identifying pests; authoring a variety of technical articles for industry and various publications; speaking on technical topics at conferences and association meetings; serving as staff liaison for the technical and wood-destroying organism committees; and developing training content. Jordan earned his doctorate in 2013 in urban entomology from the University of Florida, Gainesville, where he worked under Dr. Phil Koehler. Prior to graduating from UF, Jordan was employed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in St. Paul, Minn., to detect and monitor the gypsy moth invasion in the state.

“We’re excited to have Bennett join the Copesan team — we know his experience working with regional pest management companies is a perfect fit for our unique network of service providers focused on national coverage with local expertise,” said Dominique Sauvage, director of field operations and quality. Jordan will report to Sauvage, ensuring the technical, field operations and quality assurance components are well-aligned to provide the best possible service to Copesan’s national account clients, the firm said.

Jordan will replace Sargent as a member of the Copesan Technical Committee (CTC), and with clients. He will represent Copesan at industry events including NPMA’s Legislative Day, the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) and Entomological Society of America (ESA) meetings.

Bell Laboratories Debuts New Corporate Video

MADISON, Wis. — Bell Laboratories released a new corporate video that spotlights the firm’s research, development and manufacturing expertise. The three-minute video was shot across Bell’s five-building campus in Madison, Wis., and is intended to give customers an inside look at day-to-day operations.

The video takes the audience behind the scenes, detailing everything from mechanical trap assembly, to rodenticide formulation and state-of-the-art injection molding of Bell’s family of tamper-resistant rodent bait stations. For a bird’s eye view of Bell’s new warehouse, drones were called in to give an aerial perspective of the 300,000-square-foot facility and surrounding 32 acres. Bell’s work on rat eradication projects on islands around the world is also featured in the video.

“From concept to final product, the video highlights the most critical stages of product development and manufacturing,” said Todd Butzow, Bell’s vice president of marketing. “Each step being vital to Bell’s assurance of uncompromising quality and efficacy for its users, and all of which are performed at its operations in Wisconsin.”

To view the video, visit http://www.belllabs.com/corporate-video.

Zillow Predicts 3.5 Percent Housing Market Growth

SEATTLE, Wash. — After a year of recovery in 2015, Zillow experts say 2016 will be all about housing affordability, with a lack of affordable homes near city centers, pushing young and first-time buyers out to the suburbs.

Experts also predict the median age of first-time homebuyers will continue to drop and that more low-income Americans will be priced out of homeownership. More than 100 experts surveyed said home value growth would be about 3.5 percent this year.

Zillow says it expects the hottest housing markets to be Denver, with a 5 percent year-over-year rise; Seattle, with a 5.4 percent rise; and Dallas-Fort Worth, with a 5.6 percent rise. Experts also looked at unemployment rates.

For the full top 10 list and more, visit www.zillow.com/blog/hottest-markets-2016-190331/.