FAIRFAX, VA—Academy 2014, the annual summer conference hosted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), will be held July 17–19 at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the Academy is designed to advance the professional and business development of the industry’s leaders and emerging leaders in a hands-on, interactive environment.

“Busy. Overloaded. Overwhelmed.  It’s amazing how these simple words dominate our conversations, influence decision making, and affect the quality of our lives,” says NPMA CEO Bob Rosenberg.  “Whether you are an owner, manager or emerging leader, three days at Academy 2014 will provide you the information you need to develop a vision for your business and find the right people who can help you achieve that vision – and gain control over your time and resources.”

Showcasing keynote speakers Jeff Havens, Ari Weinzweig, and Chris McIntyre, Academy 2014 will focus on such topics as:

• Creating a Vision for Your Company
• Building the Right Team
• How to Keep and Engage Your Employees
• Developing a Strategic Plan
• Planning for Future Challenges

For hotel reservations, call the Westin La Paloma Resort at (520) 742-6000 by June 30 to receive the NPMA group rate of $119 per night.  For more information or to register, visit npmapestworld.org/academy2014/index.cfm.

KISSIMMEE, FL—Marathon Data Systems, which provides a cloud-based business management platform for companies with a mobile workforce, and the Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA) have announced a new conference combining the Marathon PestPac User Conference and the FPMA Pest and Lawn Care Expo. The new event will be held at the Embassy Suites in Kissimmee, Fla., Jan. 19-23, 2015.

“The FPMA is one of the most innovative and largest regional associations in the industry. The heavy overlap in our respective user bases and our industry leadership positions made the decision to combine our events a simple one,” says Chris Sullens, president and CEO of Marathon Data Systems. “By creating a new, more robust event, we’re giving PestPac users, FPMA members, attendees and sponsors the most bang for their buck. No other pest control industry conference can offer as much in a single location as we will with The Marathon PestPac User Conference and FPMA Pest and Lawn Care Expo.”

“As FPMA expands its state CEU certifications total, partnering with fellow pest control industry leaders Marathon Data Systems ensures that conference attendees have access to best and most current information critical to their business’ success,” says FPMA Executive Vice President Allen Fugler. “Both organizations have a long history of innovation and this event is a great example of how we’re bringing that innovation to life.”

Visit http://events.marathondata.com/userconference/  for more information.

FAIRFAX, VA—The National Pest Management Association and the Professional Landcare Network will co-host the national Lawn Care Summit, Dec. 3–5, 2014, in Tampa, Fla.

With its combination of technology, technique and research, next month’s Global BedBug Summit is a can’t-miss event for pest professionals.

When bed bugs first re-emerged throughout much of the developed world in the late 1990s after being dormant for decades, it was difficult to predict what would become of them. Was their presence an anomaly that would be erased quickly and forgotten, or could they emerge as a legitimate, widespread pest? The answer is obvious, even to the most oblivious of laypeople. Not only are bed bugs entrenched in large urban areas, they’re finding their way to new locales regularly. They’re also overcoming some control strategies. Even though pest management professionals (PMPs) have gained more knowledge and developed better skills, bed bugs are still a pervasive and persistent threat throughout the world. Considerable work has yet to be done.

Bed bugs are an equal opportunity pest, infesting single-family homes, apartment buildings, hotels, homeless shelters and luxury condos without regard to socioeconomic status. The number of people affected by bed bugs annually is astronomical, and each infestation has the potential for significant financial and mental stress.

The bed bug narrative isn’t the only thing that’s changed dramatically throughout the years. The approaches taken by most PMPs in 2014 are quite different than what their intrepid counterparts were doing in 1998. The greater the number of infestations, the more unique challenges a PMP can expect to encounter. Among the most pressing challenges posed by bed bugs today, and likely into the future, are insecticide-resistance concerns, getting the most out of registered products, balancing chemical and nonchemical control strategies, and a host of multifamily housing and client cooperation issues. The upcoming National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Global Bed Bug Summit seeks to identify the issues and help outline successful paths.

Top Researchers
Several of the top bed bug researchers in the world will be on hand at the Global Bed Bug Summit to share their latest research and ideas and answer questions. Research entomologists have an exceptional ability to combine basic research with practical, usable field applications. Not only do these scientists have a thorough understanding of bed bug biology and behavior, they also generate, stimulate and develop control strategies that give PMPs an upper hand in the bed bug battle. The next wave of exploitable behaviors and management concepts will be detailed and explained, from bed bug climbing ability to feeding and reproductive patterns to biological control.

The opening general session features Gary Curl, a well-known gatherer, compiler and analyzer of data in the pest management industry. Individually, small, medium and large companies don’t accumulate the kind of data Curl has access to and, as such, could be blinded to some of the trends and difficult-to-detect nuances he’s able to unearth. This session reviews the current status of the bed bug market and how it has changed throughout the years.

Health and Liability
The media has paid a tremendous amount of attention to bed bugs and raised the collective level of awareness to an impressive — and, in some ways, unprecedented — level for a single pest. Of course, an increased awareness isn’t necessarily tied to an associated increase of the level of knowledge. PMPs can be the source of reliable and trustworthy information about bed bugs and other pests, of which many homeowners are in dire need. Although there has yet to be a documented case of disease transmission by bed bugs, it’s important to recognize the public and mental health threat they can pose. People have strong reactions to this pest and will cause harm to themselves and their families in an attempt to rid themselves of, or get away from, bed bugs.

Considerations for accepting bed bug work extend beyond the front lines of control. Bed bug work can open up PMPs to legal liability. Bed bug litigation is piling up, and the lawsuits aren’t all small-claims matters. Earlier this year, for example, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against property owners and a pest management company on a four-year-old class action lawsuit with a $2.45-million settlement. In Friday’s opening general session, attorney Christian Hardigree will explore the complex world of bed bug litigation. In addition to providing an overview of the current state of affairs, Hardigree will provide the audience with thought-provoking ideas and concepts that could potentially save a business from legal (and financial) harm.

Why the Sole Pest Focus?
There has been a dramatic uptick in the amount of bed bug educational programming offered at meetings and workshops, but the demand for a dedicated conference won. Before last year, the NPMA and BedBug Central each held their own meetings. In 2011, the NPMA even had a traveling bed bug roadshow, holding one-day workshops in 16 cities throughout the country.

2014 marks the second year NPMA and BedBug Central have partnered for the Global BedBug Summit. The melding of the two meetings and collaboration between BedBug Central and NPMA has proven to be a successful venture. The Global BedBug Summit attracted 450 attendees to last year’s meeting, and a similar number is expected this year.

Attendees come from all fields touched by bed bugs: PMPs (technical and business minded) who are engaged in bed bug management; those involved in the development and distribution of bed bug control products; academics and researchers; extension officials; government agencies that manage housing, regulate pest management and protect public health; and those working in public health, property management and the hospitality industries.

Learn more about the Global BedBug Summit at www.npmapestworld.org/events/BedBugSummit.cfm.

Jordon is staff scientist and entomologist for the National Pest Management Association.

Pest management is a profession that’s profoundly affected by local, state and national legislation, as well as regulation. Some are hesitant to make their voices heard in the place where policy changes are made: Washington, D.C.

For these reasons and more, attending the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) Legislative Day has become increasingly important. Taking place March 15 – 17 in the nation’s capital, it’s your opportunity to make a difference.

Many of the industry’s greatest public policy victories had their seeds planted at Legislative Day, where attendees are able to personally make an impression on members of Congress, state representatives, senators and their staff.

A roster of noteworthy speakers is another aspect of Legislative Day worth your time. U.S. General Stanley McChrystal is this year’s keynote speaker. General McChrystal also has agreed to spend time with the NPMA’s newly formed Veterans in Pest Management group on Monday, March 16. 

Pest Management Professional encourages you to attend Legislative Day next month. Your industry is counting on you to visit the NPMA website and register.

You can reach Will Nepper at wnepper@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3775.

Well, the first day of PestWorld 2015 has drawn to a close and as we all shlep back to our rooms (or restaurants … or bars … or what-have-you) exhausted but enlightened, we carry noggins full of almost more pest-management intel than we can handle. It was a big busy day for everyone — including your intrepid PMP staff.

After setting up our new and improved expo booth — complete with a micro video studio where Editor-at-Large, Jerry Mix, and digital media producer, Kelly Limpert would later conduct interviews with familiar industry faces — we hit the ground running in various directions.

Pretty snazzy, huh?

PestWorld started in earnest this morning with the opening ceremony which included a welcome by NPMA Chief Executive Officer, Bob Rosenberg. The main attraction came in the form of acapella singing group, (the aptly named) Street Corner Symphony, who rocked the roof off the Gaylord Opryland with an act that was one part Mills Brothers-style vocalization mixed in with some old-school rap beatboxing and sterling harmonizing. Kinda’ like a street-corner doo-wop group with a country aesthetic and rock n’ roll attitude. (You’ve never witnessed true beauty until you’ve seen senior pest management veterans tapping their toes to a cover of the theme song to ‘Fresh Prince of Bell Air.’

Editor-at-Large, Jerry Mix getting the scoop from people who know.

After that attendees moved en masse downstairs to the expo floor packed with wall-to-wall vendors, suppliers, manufacturers and more. The energy in exhibit hall was infectious. New faces, familiar faces, new personal and professional connections, and the type of cutting-edge innovation you don’t see in just any old expo of other industries. A swing band, celebrity impersonators circulated through the exhibit hall vying for attention with hundreds of exhibitors all eager to introduce themselves and their products and services.

PestWorld 2015 has already proven itself to be one of the most energized, well-attended (seems as though there were more international attendees than I’ve seen in previous years) PestWorlds ever…

… and we’re only getting started!

Hopefully most attendees brought their most comfortable shoes because the Gaylord Opryland is one serious piece of real estate. It took me no less than 8 minutes (Yeah, I timed it.) to walk from my room to the convention center. It’s a venue unlike any I’ve seen before, where hotel guest room hallways empty out into large ornate lobbies that lead to a series of winding paths through beautiful foliage. Native flowers, waterfalls, fountains, canals (which you can cruise in lazily floating boats), shops restaurants, gift shops, and more blend more seamlessly than you’d guess considering everything I’ve just described is under one glorious glass roof. Sometimes you forget you’re NOT actually outside. But the walking … oh, the walking. I’d expect everyone’s dogs are barkin’ right about now. I used to make fun of able-bodied people scooting around on Segues. Today I reconsidered that stance. Seriously — check this place out!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, this bleary-eyed blogger is down for the count, ready to recharge my batteries with a good nights sleep so I can meet up with my colleagues in the A.M. and do it all again. See you on the expo floor. Stop by our booth, grab a copy of our latest issues (complimentary, of course), order one of our books and talk to me and the rest of the PMP gang, if you can get us to stand still for longer than thirty seconds.

Time permitting, tomorrow I’d love to share some pics and details about Monday night’s PMP Hall of Fame ceremony, so … watch this space! In the meantime, check out our coverage on the homepage at mypmp.net.
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The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is working to promote public vigilance about termites during the fifth annual Termite Awareness Week, March 13-19, 2016.

Timed with the start of spring, and the start of home buying and selling season, this annual designation is recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events and is celebrated throughout the pest management industry. Using various media relations and social media tactics, PPMA will work to educate consumers about the dangers of termites and how to best protect their homes.

“With the arrival of spring, many homeowners will begin to think about home improvement and perhaps even selling or buying a home. It is the perfect time to educate customers on termite prevention, detection and treatment,” says Cindy Mannes, executive director of PPMA. “Pest professionals have tremendous knowledge, firsthand experience and tools to educate on the damage termite colonies can cause and the importance of being proactive against this destructive pest. To spread the word, we are partnering with PPMA investors, NPMA members and the entire pest control industry to promote termite awareness.”

PPMA is leading this push for public vigilance with the launch of various media relations and social media campaigns. Industry members are encouraged to join the cause by devoting their social media pages to termites during Termite Awareness Week. Companies should consider using the hashtag #TermiteWeek in all posts and interactions on Facebook and Twitter. PPMA has also developed an exclusive toolkit for Mainframe subscribers to utilize as a resource for their publicity efforts. The toolkit, which will be available for download on PPMAMainframe.org in February, contains a customizable press release, suggested social media content, high resolution photography, media training documents and other materials to help companies communicate to their customer base, while gaining positive publicity for their business in the communities they serve.

Bug Off backs up its motto, “Everything in Pest Control,” by offering industry supplies and equipment, technical backup, business support and career training. Industry events are offered throughout the year: courses, workshops, special programs and the yearly New York Pest Expo. Online, pros can shop at the PCO Store, access technical articles and videos, and explore employment opportunities. Whether you visit the showroom or browse the website, “come to us for what we sell and for what we know.”

BugOffPCCenter.com

In the July issue of PMP magazine you’ll find my “RoadTrip Roundup” of South Elgin, Ill.-based McCloud Services’ annual Pest Invasion event. It took place in late April — and while we were able to include many of the highlights, here are just a few more:

• In a panel discussion on the role of exclusion in food safety, Bayer’s Joe Barile discussed the multi-faceted value of pest-proofing for PMPs focused on integrated pest management (IPM). Cornell University extension educator Dr. Matt Frye explained that while there is still a lot of research to be done on the best rodent exclusion methods, basic sealing can and should be done regularly. Dave Colbert, Global Materials Technologies, discussed pest-proofing in grocery stores and identified some of the markets that are lacking but need good pest-proofing, such as museums, schools and medical facilities. Bird Barrier America’s Ray Olschewski focused his segment on using exclusion for urban bird control. Wheeler joined the panel to answer questions that were submitted earlier, as well as questions from the audience. The panel made recommendations for choosing a sealant, how light installation affects pest management and personnel safety, and vegetation management.
• A presentation by Dr. Hal King, Public Health Innovations, called “Active Managerial Control: Implementing Food Safety Management Systems in a Food Retail Business,” focused on the need for systematic procedures in protecting consumers from foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurants. Dr. King shared that proper implementation starts with a commitment from the top down that produces systems that are specifically trained upon in a facility with food flow that supports the systems that were designed. Verification and self-assessment is a vital part of the process, allowing managers to identify gaps in the system and increase training to ensure proper execution of the system.
• The Illinois Institute of Technology’s Dr. Robert Brackett emphasized the need for a food safety culture in his talk, “The Role of Sanitation in Preventative Food Safety Programs.” The lack of a food safety culture leads to red flags for auditing bodies, resulting in them checking and scrutinizing the facility more often than they may have otherwise, he said. The culture is the result of food safety behavior based on shared values held by all employees of the company. Employees of a company with a food safety culture actively try to find food safety issues, as opposed to avoiding them or running into them when they become a problem. A lack of sanitation preventive controls results in pathogens transferred from cross-contamination, exposure to pathogens in the environment, or food allergen cross-contamination. Strict documentation, training, and execution of sanitation preventive controls are essential to keeping the population safe, a population that is living longer and therefore susceptible to foodborne illnesses.

If you’re interesting in learning more and/or attending the 2017 event, please visit McCloudServices.com.

Contributor Jessica Huebner is a Milwaukee-based marketing specialist and can be reached at jessica@reputationpartners.com.

For many years running, South Elgin, Ill.-based McCloud Services has hosted an annual seminar specifically geared toward pest management, environmental health and food safety professionals In late April, the event was held once again with several pertinent expert speakers. Here are a few highlights.

In his talk, “Food Defense Roadmap of the Future,” Rod Wheeler discussed why people are one of the biggest risks to food safety. Site vulnerability, cyber security, and product theft all put the food supply at risk. Wheeler, founder and CEO of The Global Food Defense Institute, recommended that all employees and vendors (particularly pest management professionals, or PMPs) always be on the watch for suspicious activity and report anything that looks unusual.

Cornell University extension educator Dr. Matt Frye welcomed attendees into the rat world with his talk, “Harboring Secrets: Parasites and Pathogens of NYC Rats.” Identification is key to eliminating any infestations, particularly with rats, so it’s vital to know the difference in appearance, droppings, and gnaw marks between rats and mice. He also said it’s important to assess the size of the infestation (there are typically eight rats for each burrow hole), how dynamic their environment is (a playground that sees constant action as opposed to a static crawlspace), and the population’s food preference (which is actually determined by what the mother ate). Dr. Frye reported that the risk from parasites rats carry has increased. In 1925, there were 0.22 fleas per rat but by 2014, the number increased to 4.1 fleas per rat.

German and American cockroaches took center stage in a talk by Bayer’s Joe Barile, “Domestic and Peridomestic Cockroach Species of the United States and Their Control.”

Cockroach numbers are increasing, but chemical availability is decreasing thanks to regulatory registration requirements. PMPs need to be more aggressive in their monitoring and diagnostics and “think small,” he said. While Germans and Americans continue to be the focus, the Turkestan cockroach (Blatta lateralis), a high desert cockroach found in warm and dry environments, is a species on the rise.

Plans already are underway for the 2017 event, taking place Tuesday, April 25.

More Online

Read highlights from the event’s panel discussion, which featured Wheeler, Barile, Dr. Frye, Dave Colbert (Global Materials Technologies) and Ray Olschewski (Bird Barrier America). The post also discusses presentations by Drs. Hal King (Public Health Innovations) and Robert Brackett (Illinois Institute of Technology).

Contributor Patricia Hottel, technical director for McCloud Services, can be reached at pathottel@mccloudservices.com.

Anderson Pest Solutions is midway through its Insect Zoo appearances for the year. The company has traveled to a children’s museum and farmer’s market to show off its insect collection, and has three dates left in 2016.

“When people think about pest management companies like Anderson, they tend to think about ants and termites – all the bugs you just want to get out of your house,” Anderson President Mark O’Hara says in the company’s summer newsletter. “But our knowledge of the insect world goes far beyond simple household pests. The relationships with the Children’s Museums gives us a way to share some of what we’ve learned. And, as the Insect Zoo will be showing the kids, it’s pretty cool stuff.”

Two Anderson employees bring insects to children’s museums throughout the year: Tom Dobrinska, Anderson’s training director and staff entomologist, and Mark Mayer, Anderson’s service specialist and chief bug keeper.

“It’s great to be able to show the kids some of these really interesting creatures that they wouldn’t ordinarily see in this part of the country,” Dobrinska says. “Some of the bugs, like the hissing cockroaches or the vinegaroon, may look a little scary at first, but none of them are dangerous.”

Anderson’s Insect Zoo will appear from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug. 30 and Oct. 28 at Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in Milwaukee, Wis. The zoo also will travel to DuPage County Children’s Museum in Naperville, Ill., from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sept. 28. The other eight appearances have already passed.

Video from Naperville News 17:

Photo: ©istock.com/tanuha2001

Is your company planning an anniversary open house, a ribbon-cutting at a new office or a post-charity event bash? Whether you’re gearing up for an invitation-only soiree or the public party of the century, you must consider the guest experience every step along the way.

It may seem obvious, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in your own message, goals and branding when you start to plan an event. Event success isn’t only measured in attendance, but in overall engagement.

Taking your event to the next level isn’t easy, but these five ideas will help add spice and encourage participation.

1. Let the best person win. What better way to bring a little fun to your event than catering to your guests’ competitive side? Here’s how:
   ⦁ Photo contest. Either a best selfie or best photo of the event posted to Instagram wins — with your special hashtag, of course (see No. 2).
   ⦁ Scavenger hunt. Text photos to the judge so he or she can see timestamps for when different teams have conquered the quests.
   ⦁ Trivia hour. No smartphones or tablets allowed!
   ⦁ Twitter contest. At the start of the event, ask a question via Twitter that rewards the most creative answers. Let the wacky responses roll in. Event organizers judge the answers to decide the winner.
2. Create a hashtag. Creating a contained public forum for your event will give your attendees the opportunity to voice their opinions. You’ll get feedback for future events, and expand the reach of your event and company on social media. It really is a #winwin. (#sometimeshashtagsbecomeaddictive)
3. Develop an online presence specifically for your event. Create a group on Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+ to help build up your event. Here, attendees can start their own discussions about the event, and you can post previous footage, pictures or teasers to generate some excitement. Facebook has an excellent FAQ section about how to create and promote events.
4. Bring your content A-game. Don’t forget to ask what your guests would like to learn or do. Consider these suggestions for making guests feel appreciated:
   ⦁ Don’t wait until post-event surveys to learn your attendees’ expectations. Ask a few questions during registration, and then plan a few last-minute activities and sessions around their answers.
   ⦁ Send relevant, personalized emails about what attendees may get out of your event based on their responses.
5. Network. Don’t take networking for granted.

If you’re hosting an event, you’re also attending. This face-time is essential for guests to have a positive experience. Mingling, socializing, networking — whatever you want to call it, it’s a necessary part of any event. Facilitating relationships will improve the overall experience and provide a time for guests to unwind and relax, while also getting to know you and other attendees.

Kelly Limpert is a digital content producer for Pest Management Professional’s parent company, North Coast Media. She can be reached at klimpert@northcoastmedia.net.

Pest Management Professional (PMP) is reporting live from the National Pest Management Association‘s (NPMA’s) 2016 PestWorld, which is being held Oct. 18-21 in Seattle.

Each year, the NPMA gathers thousands of pest management professionals (PMPs) from across the globe to offer opportunities for information sharing, provide access to the latest products, services and technologies in the 100,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, and generate critical thinking in educational sessions.

Check this page all week for news updates, blog posts, photos and more. Also be sure to follow PMP on Twitter and Facebook.

News

• NPMA presents industry awards at PestWorld

PestTalk

• Growing membership and regulatory awareness
• Pi Chi Omega Meeting: Future Looks Bright
• Fleets debated at PestWorld session
• PestWorld session examines company culture
• How to get the most out of PestWorld
• NPMA Marketing/Membership Committee meeting: Action stars

PMP Hall of Fame

• PMP honors 2016 Hall of Fame inductees
• A night to honor, remember and celebrate

• Dr. Vernard Lewis
• Dick Sameth
• Vern Toblan
• Larry Treleven

Must-see exhibits

	Amcan (Booth No. 437)
	AP&G (Booth No. 329)
	Aprilaire (Booth No. 110)
	Bird-B-Gone (Booth No. 800)
	Burrtec (Booth No. 1517)
	CleanBrands (Booth No. 123)
	GPS Insight (Booth No. 116)
	Kness Manufacturing Co. (Booth No. 725)
	ServicePro (Booth Nos. 335, 703, 829)

Out and about in Seattle

• Space Needle
• Pike Place Market
• Woodland Park Zoo
• Chihuly Garden and Glass

Photo slideshow

Madagascar hissing cockroaches were chosen to race because of their size and response to stimuli.
Photo: Will Nepper

On Aug. 18, the New Jersey Pest Management Association (NJPMA) held its 69th Annual Clinic, Tradeshow and Clambake at Rutgers University’s George H. Cook Campus in New Brunswick, N.J. Among the offerings available to attendees: expert speakers, fantastic food, an under-the-big-top trade show of more than 50 manufacturers and distributors, and live entertainment. The signature event was the Cockroach Derby.

The day began with the morning’s general sessions, featuring Rod Wheeler, founder and CEO of the Global Food Defense Institute, and Stephen Bross, a representative from the certification and registration branch of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Later, the outdoor tent opened for attendees who wanted to peruse the newest innovations and exhibits of this year’s pest industry vendors. After that, it was back to learning.

The next block of sessions was divided three ways for ants, wood-destroying insects and mosquitoes, providing attendees with the opportunity to tailor their clinic experience to their needs.

The event’s caterer fed steak, lobster, soup and steamers to more than 500 attendees in about 25 minutes — quite a feat!
Photo: Will Nepper

An afternoon break under the tent allowed those attending to take in another round of the trade show to get an eyeful of what they missed the first time around. This was also the block of time dedicated to what many consider the gathering’s main event: the Cockroach Derby.

Now in its 18th race in the annual clinic and trade show’s 69 years, the Derby is regularly used to prognosticate political races (with an alleged 84 percent record of accuracy!). If this presidential “race” is indeed an indicator of what’s to come in November, it looks like Hillary Clinton wins in a landslide: She blazed a trail from one end of the clear Plexiglas-enclosed track to the other before her main opponent (the Donald Trump cockroach) made it out of the gate.

The afternoon educational portion packed three informative presentations into two and a half hours. Dr. Dini Miller of Virginia Tech and Dr. Changlu Wang of Rutger’s Entomology Department gave presentations on bed bugs that included their research findings.

The day’s educational events meant picking up New Jersey Pesticide Applicators recertification credits for many attendees. For the day’s grand finale, everyone gathered back under the big top for food and entertainment.

Entertainment included a dance “flash mob” doing a surprise choreographed routine to several pop hits, followed by an acoustic duet that provided live dining music and an appearance by the Rutgers University mascot, the Scarlet Knight.

Senior Editor Will Nepper can be reached at wnepper@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3775.

Pest Management Professional (PMP) prides itself on reporting on a variety of charitable endeavors undertaken by readers, and in the spirit of the holidays, has rounded up several that have taken place this year. May they inspire you to reach out to others in the year ahead, too!

Coalmarch Productions’ first-ever “CO²” conference, an owner summit for pest management and lawn care businesses, took place Dec. 6-8 in Raleigh, N.C. The event offered two jam-packed days of insight from professionals in the pest, lawn and digital marketing fields, and delved into best practices for training, hiring and online review generation — as well as the latest in voice search, weather tracking and customer experience technologies.

Speakers included Brad Leahy of Blades of Green, Hamilton Allen of Senske Services, and Pest Management Professional columnist Dan Gordon of PCO Bookkeepers. Lively interaction during presentations and panel discussions, as well as at evening social events, allowed attendees and speakers to learn from one another in an informal environment.

A highlight of the 60-person conference included the exclusive pre-release of Grow! Inbound Marketing System: How To Rapidly And Profitably Grow Your Service Company Online, written by Donnie Shelton — owner of Coalmarch as well as Charlotte, N.C.-based Triangle Pest Control. Shelton and his team are already planning for CO² 2017, with details to be released soon.

Photos: Coalmarch Productions

With spring on the horizon, the industry is closely watching for signs of termite activity. After a rather unusual winter, swarms are expected to appear early and in force — and companies are ready to respond. The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is working to spread consumer awareness about termites during Termite Awareness Week, March 12-18, 2017. This annual designation is recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events and is celebrated throughout the pest management industry. Using various media relations and social media tactics, PPMA will work to educate homeowners about the dangers of termites and how to best protect their homes.

“In many parts of the country, we’ve had a waterlogged, yet fairly mild winter. So our homes have been exposed to moisture and swarmers weren’t frozen out by old man winter. With home improvement often top of mind, spring is an ideal time to educate homeowners on the damage termites can cause, as well as signs of termite activity and when to schedule that annual inspection,” says Cindy Mannes, executive director of PPMA. “Consumers will look to pest professionals for information and advice, and we have new materials to share. To spread the word, we are inviting the whole pest control industry to promote public vigilance against termites and join our conversation online and in our communities.”

PPMA is leading the charge with the launch of various media relations and social media campaigns. Industry members are encouraged to join the cause by devoting their company social media pages to termites during Termite Awareness Week and using the hashtag #TermiteWeek on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. PPMA has also developed an exclusive toolkit for Mainframe subscribers to utilize as a resource in their own publicity efforts. The toolkit, available for download on PPMAMainframe.org, contains a customizable press release, suggested social media content, Termite Awareness week logos, high-resolution photography, media training documents and a list of video content that can be directly embedded on a company’s website.

“It’s important for us to give back to the companies that help fuel our industry’s marketing programs through their investment in PPMA. We always search for ways to make our materials useful to companies in their own marketing efforts,” says Mannes. “These are professionally produced, ready-made materials, designed exclusively for the pest control industry. Why not put them to use in your own business?”

For more information about PPMA and all its marketing programs or to subscribe to Mainframe, visit NPMApestworld.org/PPMA.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) aims to “raise awareness and identify solutions to invasive species issues at local, state, tribal, regional, international and national scales.” The 2017 event is taking place Feb. 27 to March 3.

NISAW is hosting a number of events in Washington D.C. and across the U.S. in conjunction with the awareness week, including briefings on Capitol Hill. The organization also has made available several in-depth webinars that complement its sessions in D.C.

More webinars will be added to the below playlist as the events on Capitol Hill conclude:

Imagine spending three days and two nights at a gorgeous Florida resort, away from theme parks and other distractions. You’re surrounded by your peers in various social and educational settings. You’re also meeting one-on-one with several leading industry suppliers with whom you’ve only been able to chat briefly on a crowded trade show floor — if you’ve ever even met them directly at all.

Additionally, you’re interacting with Pest Management Professional (PMP) staffers, who are interested in your thoughts and insights about all facets of the industry, as they continue to shape their coverage.

All of this was a reality for inaugural PMP Growth Summit attendees, who gathered from throughout the country to participate in our event Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2017. We were inspired to host the Summit based on the successes of our sister publications in the landscape, golf and propane service industries. We followed a similar format, but were able to tweak the Summit to showcase two of our columnists — PMP Hall of Famer Dr. Austin Frishman and “Start-up Diarist” Pete Schopen — who shared their experiences and lessons learned. They were on hand the entire event to answer questions one-on-one.

Feedback from sponsor and PMP attendees has been overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to hosting our PMP Growth Summit annually, making minor tweaks and enhancements as we grow. If your company generates $1 million or more in annual pest management revenue, and you’d like more information about joining us next year, drop me a line at hgooch@northcoastmedia.net.

The inaugural World Pest Day is taking place today in Beijing, China, initiated and hosted by the Chinese Pest Control Association (CPCA).

World Pest Day brings together representatives from academia, government, trade associations and pest control businesses to exchange best practices, ideas, technologies and advancements in pest management. The event sponsors and attendees aim to raise worldwide awareness of the important role pest management organizations play in protecting public health.

The event is co-sponsored by Orkin, a subsidiary of Rollins Inc., as well as the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers’ Association (FAOPMA), National Pest Management Association (NPMA), Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA) and World Health Organizations’ Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management.

“The global pest control industry is on the front lines of helping protect public health, property and the worldwide food supply from the potentially harmful effect of pests,” said Tom Luczynski, vice president of Orkin’s international franchising and development programs. “Orkin is excited to participate and help sponsor World Pest Day, so we can shine a light on the role the pest control industry plays in helping improve overall health in the communities and businesses we serve throughout the world.”

Global trade, international tourism, extreme weather and rapid urbanization are growing at unprecedented rates and are necessitating a renewed focus on raising public awareness about the potential public health threat of vector-borne diseases, including Zika, West Nile and Malaria. Orkin said in a news release it is committed to raising awareness of those issues through providing educational content and collaborating with other organizations such as the NPMA, CPCA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).