PMPs Return In-Person for PestWorld 2021

By Brad Harbison

After 18 months of virtual meetings, including last year’s National Pest Management Association (NPMA) PestWorld, attendees of NPMA PestWorld 2021, the association’s 89^th annual convention and exposition, returned in person in Las Vegas in November.

NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf kicked off PestWorld 2021 by reflecting on this past year, including drawing parallels to NPMA PestWorld 2001, which was held in New Orleans one month after the September 11 attacks.

Stumpf said that 20 years ago, “We defied the fear and instinct to just stay home and chose to face adversity head on. We got out there and we helped build up our communities. We threw ourselves into action and into service.”

Stumpf said the generosity and outreach efforts by members in 2021 has been an inspiration for NPMA. Recent NPMA accomplishments include:

• The creation of NPMA’s Workforce Development Program, which is dedicated to promoting careers in professional pest control and encouraging potential job seekers to search for employment opportunities on its exclusive job board for NPMA member companies.
• The newly formed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, which was created to help facilitate discussions on industry needs, and what NPMA can do as an association to assist member companies and the industry in this critical business area.
• Work done by NPMA’s Public Policy team to defend the pest control industry, including working on more than 600 pieces of individual legislation and sending more than 3,000 messages to policymakers across the United States and Canada.
• NPMA’s sister organization, the Professional Pest Management Alliance, had its experts appear on television programs such as Good Morning America and Today, while PPMA’s TikTok videos are driving customers to contact professionals.
• Promotion of industry education and professionalism through the Pest Management Foundation and Quality Pro.

Following Stumpf’s remarks, attendees heard from Gokhan Vergon, head of Pest Management and Public Health at Bayer, who said he is impressed that the pest control industry has never been complacent or afraid to challenge the status quo. After Vergon’s opening remarks, he introduced Opening Ceremony performers, Elvis and The Rat Pack impersonators.

On the following pages, PCT features coverage of awards presented during PestWorld, as well as a photo review. In the coming months, PCT will have additional editorial coverage of PestWorld. More reporting can be found online at pctonline.com/keyword/pestworld-2021.

AWARDS

NPMA Presents Industry Awards During PestWorld 2021

Joe Thomas, chairman of the board, Arrow Exterminators, was awarded NPMA’s 2021 Pinnacle Award at PestWorld. The award honors an individual who has contributed not only to the success of the association but to the industry over a lifetime or career.

NPMA President Scott Steckel presented the award to Thomas, who accepted virtually. In a video message that was played at PestWorld, Thomas said, “I wish I could have been there with you this year. I can’t tell you how honored I am to receive the NPMA Pinnacle Award. I’d like to thank NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf and her team at NPMA and my wonderful teammates at Arrow. You guys are the greatest. And to all my friends and colleagues in the pest control industry, we are blessed to work in the greatest industry in the world, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Thomas has served in leadership positions at both the local and national levels and continues to serve on the board of the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) and was one of the founding members of PPMA. He also continues to provide financial and personnel support to the Pest Management Foundation. Thomas joined Arrow Exterminators in 1972 after graduating from the University of Tennessee and worked diligently with his parents, James S. (Starkey) Thomas and his wife Jean, Arrow’s founders, to create a first-class organization. In 1978, at the age of 67, Starkey Thomas passed away, and Joe Thomas assumed the leadership of Arrow Exterminators as CEO.

Thomas’ daughter, Arrow Exterminators CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick, accepted the award on behalf of her father.

Following the Pinnacle Award presentation, the following were recognized:

• NPMA PWIPM “Women of Excellence Award” — Eve Pappas, Hoffman’s Exterminating, Mantua, N.J.
• NPMA’s Young Entrepreneur Award — Nick Mitchell, Mitchell Pest Solutions, Las Vegas
• NPMA Chair of the Year Award — Marie Horner, Arrow Exterminators, Atlanta
• The NPMA Gives Award — Eco Serve Pest Services, Buffalo, N.Y.
• NPMA Committee of the Year — Disiection Task Force
• ESA 2021 ACE Professional Award — Jeff Keller, Burns Pest Elimination, Phoenix, Ariz.

Contact the author at bharbison@gie.net.