Pi Chi Omega Working on Career Advancement Grant Program

BOSTON - At Pi Chi Omega’s annual membership meeting during PestWorld 2022, member James Miller (Pi Chi Omega director and market manager, PCO, Trécé) provided an update on an ad-hoc committee that is working to make available grants that can be used by industry professionals to advance their careers.

“We had some members reach out and say that Pi Chi Omega does a lot for academia, but we love to see some professional advancement for operations, sales, service personnel and others, as far as advancing their career path, training or education,” said Miller.

Miller was part of an ad-hoc committee that also included Caroline Kohnert (Plunketts Pest Control), Mark VanderWerp (Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich.) and Alex Blahnik (Terminix/Rentokil) The committee is working to launch a program in which those already involved in the industry (e.g., operations, sales, service professionals) can apply for grants. (They do not have to be Pi Chi Omega members – just involved in the field of pest management and meet the qualifications). This harkens back to the 2017 Strategic Plan put in place by Pi Chi Omega that identified industry grants as a strategic activity to explore.

“This could be as simple as a termite technician attending a training session on construction to learn that trade a little more in-depth, or as grandiose as attending a conference like PestWorld,” said Miller. “In a world of economics changing in our industry, we want to make sure the other side of our house gets trained and educated as well.” 

Miller said the group is working to secure funding and finalize the application/approval process, but the group is hoping to have this program in place by January. Miller’s company, Trécé, has helped get the “fundraising ball rolling” with a $2,500 donation.

If you are interested in donating to this program or would like more information contact the executive directors of Pi Chi Omega at office@pichiomega.org.