NPMA Announces Lifetime Membership Awards

FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) announced Lifetime Membership has been awarded to Laura Simpson, Steve Scherzinger, and W. Jay Nixon for their career of service in the pest management industry.

“It brings me great personal joy to recognize three colleagues I have looked up to with the distinction of Lifetime membership with NPMA,” said Justin McCauley, president of NPMA. “I’m proud the Board chose to honor the selfless contributions they have made supporting NPMA and advancing the pest management industry on behalf of the entire pest management industry.”

“Working with Jay, Steve and Laura has been a pleasure throughout my career with NPMA,” said Dominique Stumpf, CEO of NPMA. “I am incredibly grateful for their commitment and leadership that helped drive progress the industry needed.”

Simpson – an avid Tiger fan - graduated from Louisiana State University and began a career in pest management with Dugas Pest Control. In 1996, she succeeded her father as president of the company growing it to become one of the largest independently operated pest control companies in Louisiana before selling the company to Rentokil in 2018. A proud mother of three boys, she has helped her son enter the industry; Jeremy Clark is currently the District Manager for Dugas Pest Control.

Simpson served as president of the Louisiana Pest Management Association and the National Pest Management Association and in numerous other volunteer positions throughout her career. She was honored by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report as an Influential Woman in Business and won the Paul Adams Award of Excellence by the Louisiana Pest Management Association in 2018. She also was recognized with the Women of Excellence Award in 2014 by NPMA. 

Scherzinger, a University of Cincinnati graduate, was the third generation of his family to work in pest management and has two sons ready to take the reins of Scherzinger Pest Control as he retires. A past president of both the Ohio Pest Control Association and NPMA, he has served in numerous volunteer capacities to develop new resources and advance the industry. 

Scherzinger received the PCT leadership award in 1996, and the NPMA Pinnacle award in 2008.

Nixon and three others bought the American Disinfectant Company in 1983 and rebranded as American Pest Management. Through his 40 years leading the company, Nixon led the successful expansion throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Being based in the Washington, DC area, Nixon also supported State Department facilities traveling the globe to provide his expertise and services to US consulates, embassies and ambassadors. His global travels also provided him great opportunities to support the University of Florida in its work to document all of the 3000+ species of termites of the world. His support has helped the school’s entomology department document over 1000 species.

Nixon served as president of NPMA (then named the National Pest Control Association) and has been recognized by the University of Maryland’s Department of Entomology as a distinguished alumnus. 

NPMA says it is forever grateful for the contributions made throughout their career and wishes them the best in retirement.