Former CTC Members Launch New Independent Committee

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (UPMTC) met for the first time in August as a non-profit, self-guided, corporation with a visit to the Rollins Urban & Structural Entomology Center at Texas A&M University. 

After the Copesan Technical Committee (CTC) was discontinued in 2020 following the acquisition of Copesan by Terminix in 2018, its former members wanted to find a way to continue the interaction and support they got from the group and decided to start an independent, non-profit corporation.

As a diverse network of pest management technical experts their members include technical directors, trainers, QA managers and consultants from established pest management firms around the country. The mission of the committee is to support its members through professional development by sharing ideas and best practices from their various companies. They will also provide a broad industry perspective to the researchers and manufacturers they visit. The group provides support and guidance for those members early in their careers and, for those with experience, to share what they have learned. 

In addition to monthly Zoom meetings, the UPMTC meets in person to visit the people and places that most influence our industry. Jay Everitt, ACE, Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions, St. Louis, MO is the founding president and says of the group, “I’m glad we were able to make this happen. The learning and mentorship I have found with these people has been a more valuable education than any course I could have taken.”  With destinations that include universities that are centers of urban entomology, governmental agencies, manufacturer facilities, and member locations, the members are exposed to the leading edge of urban pest management.  Board member Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, BCE, Vice President Technical Services, Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, MI says of the group, “We gather where the gravitational pull is greatest that affects the tides of our industry.” 

Membership is by invitation. To learn more, you can contact the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee at www.upmtc.org and they can also be found on both FaceBook and LinkedIn.