PPMA Executive Director Cindy Mannes to Retire at Year's End

FAIRFAX, Va. – During the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) board of directors meeting being held at the National Pest Management Association’s Executive Leadership Forum in San Diego, Calif., Executive Director Cindy Mannes announced her plan to retire at the end of the year. Mannes, who has served in dual roles as both the executive director of PPMA and the senior vice president of public affairs for NPMA for nearly 15 years, expressed both gratitude and optimism to the board.

“Those who know me, know I love a challenge and I’ve been so fortunate to spend my career challenging this dedicated board and our family of investors to grow PPMA to new heights and achieve great things together. Our collective impact on the industry has been remarkable, and now, PPMA is credited as one of the leading drivers of our industry’s growth,” said Mannes. “It’s been a true honor and privilege to serve the industry and all of you.  I believe in the work you do protecting families, health and property and have been fortunate to be able to share my strong beliefs with the world.”  

The search for PPMA’s next executive director is underway. In anticipation of this career milestone, Mannes shared her news earlier this year with a trusted group comprised of NPMA and PPMA leadership and a search committee has since been appointed. Members of this group include PPMA Chairman Bobby Jenkins and Treasurer Mike Rottler, NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf and Vault Communications President Jessica Phelan, along with Mannes.

While the news is bittersweet to PPMA Chairman Bobby Jenkins, he’s looking forward to what’s to come. “It’s a big year for PPMA and one full of change. We’re celebrating our silver anniversary, welcoming new industry leaders to our board of directors and transitioning such a high-profile position in our ranks. We vow to do our due diligence to hire the right person who is a strong and innovative leader with extensive marketing and communications experience to continue to get the word out about the value of professional pest control to consumer and commercial audiences.” 

“Cindy, quite simply, is irreplaceable,” continued Jenkins. “She is leaving us with an incredibly strong and united organization committed to the charge of growing, promoting and protecting this industry. We’ll continue to build this program and exceed all expectations for success.”

“I’ve known Cindy throughout my entire career, and it’s been a pleasure to work alongside such a dear friend and respected colleague. We are grateful for her exceptional leadership and masterful marketing mind,” said NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf. “It is amazing how far both PPMA and the industry has come in 25 years and especially under Cindy’s guidance, and I don’t think that is by coincidence. While we know this isn’t goodbye, we do want to say thank you. Thank you, Cindy for everything.”

“I’m excited to enjoy what comes next in this third quarter of life — to travel and spend more time with my family — and believe now is the right time to transition this role. There will always be more exciting work to be done and more areas to grow and I’m confident this board will continue moving PPMA’s mission forward,” said Mannes.

The board expects to name a new executive director in the last quarter of 2022, following the Pestworld convention to allow for some overlap with Mannes’ term and ensure a seamless succession. Executives interested in the position can email Mannes directly at cmannes@pestworld.org for more information.