PWIPM Presents Grants to Women in Pest Control at Networking Breakfast

HONOLULU — The Professional Women in Pest Management (PWIPM) awarded two grants to women in pest control during a networking breakfast sponsored by FieldRoutes on Oct. 19.

Caroline Kohnert, A.C.E., technical director at Plunkett's Pest Control, and Jullee Johnson, administrative executive assistant and project coordinator at Terminix Services, received the 2023 Deni Naumann Women in Pest Management Empowerment Grant. The grant provides $1,000 for educational and professional development and includes a trip to PestWorld.

Speaking to a crowd of attendees donning pink leis, PWIPM Vice Chair Sheila Haddad, vice president of sales, East and Southeast at Bell Laboratories, said the PWIPM Council is challenging each local chapter to host a Steps of Hope 5K benefiting a charity of their choice supporting victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

PWIPM started the Steps of Hope campaign four years ago, Haddad said. About 15-20 people attended the first walk. In September, the Connecticut chapter hosted a 5K that drew 70 walkers and raised $3,500.

“What we do every day through pest control makes homes safe,” said Haddad. “The Steps of Hope initiative will show the world how much of an impact we can make and how much we can help.”

Haddad said PWIPM plans to compile photos from each chapter’s 5K for a collage and chart of collective funds raised to display at next year’s PestWorld in Denver, Colo.

Craig Martelle of Pelsis gifted PWIPM with a pink teddy bear handcrafted by his wife Tammy, a seamstress. The bear has become PWIPM’s mascot, Haddad said, and has been present at several of its events. Haddad presented the bear to Ashley Ortogero, who launched the Hawaii PWIPM chapter in 2020.