PHOTO: JIM BESS/TRULY NOLEN

As Truly Nolen’s newest franchise recently debuted in Winston-Salem, N.C., the road leading to its grand opening was unlike any our company has ever done before.

For nearly every franchise grand opening our company has done over the last 20 years, our 27-foot Mouse Limo was a large part of the festivities as well as on-site ribbon cuttings with local Chamber of Commerces.

When I first met franchisee Jim Bess in October 2019, he was a prospective franchisee with seven years of pest control industry experience looking to open a franchise in Winston-Salem. When meeting with him, we discussed traditional and social media, and I was very impressed with the questions he asked. I felt like he understood the importance of messaging and how to market to an audience.

PHOTO: JIM BESS/TRULY NOLEN

Jim had his soft opening the first week of February 2020 and launched his franchise’s stand-alone Truly Nolen Winston-Salem Facebook page. COVID-19 was just beginning to become a news item, and there was no hint of what was yet to come. By the second week in February, Jim had selected April 29 for his in-person grand opening, and we booked the Mouse Limo to be there alongside the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce (L-CCCC).

By mid-March, it became apparent the world was changing and many people began working from home. Events began to cancel, and there was no clear sign of when they would be able to restart. Despite starting to build his customer base, it was quickly apparent that April 29 was likely not going to work for an in-person event. We had a conversation with Jim, and to his credit, he also recognized an in-person event would not be possible. Therefore, he postponed to a tentative date of August 29.

PHOTO: TOBY SREBNIK/TRULY NOLEN

As spring turned into summer, Jim continued his marketing and networking efforts and continued to be visible despite not having a traditional grand opening. Around the middle of July, it became less likely that August 29 would be any better for something in-person due to the current climate essentially remaining unchanged.

One thing we learned since the pandemic began was the power of Zoom. Our Truly Nolen marketing department, like many departments at companies across the country, began having meetings this way and quickly found they were just as effective as if we were meeting in person.

With that knowledge, we approached him when it was time to cancel the August 29 date with a suggestion: How did he feel about being the first franchisee in Truly Nolen history to have a virtual grand opening and ribbon cutting with Zoom? Jim really liked the idea.

“Although I had been looking forward to the fun that normally goes into a grand opening, the health and safety of our team and our customers will always be top priority,” Jim said. “Because pest control is essential to public health, after having so many meetings by Zoom over the last few months, I figured this would be the safest way to officially announce our arrival in Forsyth County rather than wait for an in-person date.”

PHOTO: TOBY SREBNIK/TRULY NOLEN

In order for the idea to work to its maximum potential, we made sure the L-CCCC would be willing to be part of the festivities. They loved the idea as well and said Tuesday, August 18 at 10 a.m. would work for them. We spent about three weeks marketing the event with press releases, media alerts, Chamber of Commerce eblasts and Facebook events. With all of these efforts, we had told Jim we hoped 20 people would attend the Zoom call. We had never staged an event like this, so none of us really had any data to suggest how many to expect.

On August 18, we were pleasantly surprised when more than 30 people appeared on the Zoom call announcing Jim’s grand opening in Winston-Salem!

Ditra Miller, the executive director of the L-CCCC, served as a moderator for a conversation that included Jim, members of the Truly Nolen Franchise team, Chamber Members and other guests. Miller interviewed Jim and asked him several questions about his business, while inviting attendees to ask any pest-related questions. Three Chamber members provided unsolicited testimonials about the work Jim has already done on their behalf. The 45-minute call ended with Jim holding a small ribbon over his head and he cut it to everyone’s delight.

Although it was not the grand opening he had envisioned, Jim was pleased with how things turned out. The biggest takeaway for him and our company was the Zoom environment kept everyone in one place and the conversation flowing, whereas at a normal grand opening, people would likely separate and stage several conversations at once.

As we go forward, we believe future franchisees will also make use of Zoom for everything from grand openings to media lunch-and-learns. As a company, with in-person events still not expected to return until 2021, we believe there may be multiple ways to use Zoom with our corporate service offices to host virtual Good Bug/Bad Bug classes and much more.

In the meantime, we look forward to the day our Mouse Limo finally travels to Winston-Salem to make the rounds!

Truly Nolen Pest Control of Winston-Salem, N.C. can be reached at (336) 602-1982. For more information about Truly Nolen Domestic Franchising, call (855) 534-9139 or visit www.trulynolenfranchising.com.

Srebnik is manager of public relations and communications for Truly Nolen Pest Control. He can be reached at 954-247-3212 or toby.srebnik@trulymail.net.

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The WorkWave User Conference will now take place virtually from Nov. 9-12, 2020.

The event will include pest control, field service, routing, and general business management-focused sessions. It will also include keynote speakers, customer case studies, and thought leadership roundtables, as well as give attendees the ability to speak one-on-one with product experts and senior leadership.

WorkWave, an IFS company, provides cloud-based software, mobile software and marketing services for companies in the field service, transportation and logistics industries. WorkWave’s solutions help companies estimate jobs, schedule and route mobile workers, and service and bill customers. For the pest management industry, WorkWave offers PestPac business management software.

WorkWave will be showcasing its industry benchmarking data that aggregates key performance drivers across the pest control industry to drive meaningful business growth.

“This year’s User Conference will once again bring together experts across the field service industry so they can grow, learn, and network, even in a virtual environment,” says David Giannetto, CEO of WorkWave. “We are looking forward to bringing our attendees another year of compelling and informative content through over 40 information sessions and trainings, both live and on-demand.”

This year’s conference will feature a user-friendly web and mobile application for easy accessibility.

WorkWave will be showcasing its industry benchmarking data that aggregates key performance drivers across the pest control industry to drive meaningful business growth.

Registration, agenda and session information can be found on WorkWave’s event website.

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LOGO: NPMA

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) will hold a five-event virtual series geared to pest control company owners and managers. CEO Forum: Good to Great, with premier sponsor BASF, will begin with a kick-off session held the first day of PestWorld 2020 on Tues., Oct. 13, from 10-11:15 a.m. Eastern.

“In these times of uncertainty, it’s important for business leaders to always be thinking ahead to the future,” said Dominique Stumpf, CEO of the NPMA. “This Forum will feature a combination of keynote speakers and industry leaders who will spark important conversations on topics such as embracing disruption, company culture, recruitment and retention, and the economy of the future.”

The owners and managers who join the virtual event series will learn new ideas and solutions to catapult their business success into the future. The events will feature a combination of keynote speakers and selected industry speakers who will provide a vision to important conversations such as succeeding in a world of disruption and creating a company culture that will recruit, retain and engage employees. Featured keynote speakers will include Jesse Hirsh, a futurist and digital strategist, and Randy Gravitt with Integreat Leadership.

Panel discussions with industry speakers will include:

Andrew Richardson, Edge Pest Control, Orem, Utah; PMP columnist Bobby Jenkins, ABC Home & Commercial Services, Austin, Texas; Jerry Gahlhoff, Rollins Pest Control, Jefferson, S.C.; Stacy O’Reilly, Plunkett’s Pest Control, Fridley, Minn.; Erin Richardson, All-American Pest Control, Inc., Nashville, Tenn.; Robert Baker, Clark Pest Control, Lodi, Calif.; Ross Treleven, Sprague Pest Solutions, Tacoma, Wash.; Kevin Lemasters, EnviroPest, Windsor, Colo.; David Billingsly, American Pest, Fulton, Maryland; John Myers, Rentokil North America, Reading, Pa.; Emily Kendrick, Arrow Exterminators, Atlanta, Ga.; Audrey Hall, Eco Serve Pest Services, Orchard Park, N.Y.

All registered attendees for PestWorld 2020 will have access to the first virtual session. Separate registration is required to continue with the next four sessions. Recordings of each session will be accessible for registered attendees to play on-demand at their convenience. Interested company owners can review the full schedule and register online at the NPMA’s website.

The series will be held as a multi-week program on the following dates:

Tues., October 13
10-11:15 a.m. Eastern
Session 1: Kickoff Discussion (During PestWorld 2020)

Thurs., October 22
1:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern
Session 2: Succeeding in a World of Disruption

Thurs., October 29
1:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern
Session 3: Recruitment, Retention, Company Culture, Employee Development and Career Pathing

Thurs., November 5
1:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern
Session 4: Economy of the Future

Thurs., November 19
2:30-5 p.m. Eastern
Session 5: Company Culture

The post NPMA launches virtual event series for owners, managers appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

IMAGE: NPMA

For 87 years, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has gathered pest management professionals from across the globe for its annual PestWorld convention. This year’s convention will look a bit different because of restrictions on in-person gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual platforms make attending events easier, however, and PestWorld 2020 is no exception. The NPMA will host a virtual version of PestWorld Oct. 13-15.

As with an in-person event, you will get as much out of a virtual event as you put into it. These tips will help you make the most of your virtual experience.

ATTENDEE TIPS

• Treat a virtual conference as seriously as you would an in-person conference.
• Dress as you would for an in-person event, at least from the waist up.
• Eliminate distractions at your computer.
• Log in early to ensure your equipment works.
• Have a backup plan in case your connection freezes.
• Create a schedule, and stick to it.
• Take advantage of the virtual platform’s interactive features.
• Check out the event host’s social media platforms for real-time news and highlights.
• Visit booths with confidence that company reps will follow up, thanks to virtual platforms’ tracking tools.
• Chat with colleagues in real-time to discuss important takeaways about what you are learning.

NETWORKING TIPS

• Use social media posts to let your colleagues know you plan to attend.
• Register your info and photo on the event’s mobile app or attendee guide.
• Create a list of networking goals, such as the number of people you want to meet each day.
• Create social media posts throughout the event, using the event’s hashtags.
• Engage with other attendees by leaving on your video and chat functions.
• Participate in question-and-answer sessions during educational sessions.
• Join in the fun during the event’s happy hours, trivia contests and games.
• Socialize at the event’s virtual hangouts.
• Follow up with attendees you meet by emailing a thank-you or connecting on LinkedIn.

RELATED:

• What to expect at PestWorld 2020
• Online Exclusive: PestWorld 2020: What’s in store for virtual attendees
• UPFDA, Pi Chi Omega plan PestWorld events
• NPMA’s PestVets holds virtual Week of Service for Nashville veterans

The post Tips for attending virtual conferences appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

Pi Chi Omega President Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, BCE, a PMP columnist and VP of technical services at Rose Pest Solutions, kicked off the first virtual version of Raise the Bar by welcoming members and guests.

IMAGE: PMP/PI CHI OMEGA

Typically, the Raise the Bar event features a 50/50 raffle to help raise money for its scholarship fund, as five scholarships currently are available. Because that wasn’t possible with this year’s virtual event, members were encouraged to visit the Pi Chi Omega website and make a donation. Anyone who wants to learn more about the scholarship program should check out the video at Pi Chi Omega’s PestWorld 2020 booth. It features this year’s Alain Van Ryckeghem Memorial Scholarship recipient Aaron Rodriques, and 2017 scholarship recipient Aaron Ashbrook, both Purdue University students who explaining why the scholarships are so important to students seeking a career in the industry.

In addition to the scholarship video, the virtual booth will include two other videos, along with information about this year’s scholarship recipients. Visitors can test their knowledge by taking a Pest ID quiz. Quipped Sheperdigian, “It’s not for sissies. May the best professional win.”

Sheperdigian, who adorned his top hat with a Pi Chi Omega button, shared an original verse for the occasion:
The Pi Chi Omega meeting was due
But they couldn’t gather for SARS-CoV-2
So they logged on to Zoom
And the next thing they knew
An old dog learned tricks that were new

Then, Raise the Bar attendees broke into virtual groups to test their knowledge on questions related to Pi Chi Omega, the National Pest Management Association, the pest control industry, and pests. Member Gene White announced the three members who answered the most questions correctly and were rewarded with gift cards. They were Richard Spigler, Richard Spigler, BCE, market specialist, Pest Segment, FMC Professional Solutions; Judy Black, BCE, VP of Quality Assurance and Technical Service, Rollins Inc.; and Kim Kelly-Tunnis, ACE, BCE, technical manager, Terminix Commercial (who donated her prize back to the organization).

Those interested in joining Pi Chi Omega is encouraged to visit the PestWorld 2020 booth; the deadline for membership applications is Dec. 1, 2020.

Pi Chi Omega is an international fraternity for pest management professionals. Initiated in 1950 by six students of Dr. John V. Osmun at Purdue University, the fraternity today is comprised of nearly 450 members representing 38 states and five countries. Fellowship among our members provides shared technical and professional support.

Pi Chi Omega’s mission is to connect and enrich the Urban Pest Management Community. Its vision is a collaborative environment in which technical knowledge is shared by engaged members, elevating the professionalism of the urban pest management community.

Follow along with more of PMP‘s PestWorld 2020 coverage here.

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The NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf. IMAGE: PMP STAFF

The National Pest Management Association CEO Dominique Stumpf, CMP, CAE, welcomed attendees to the first ever virtual version of PestWorld during the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Originally scheduled to be held in Nashville, Tenn., the 87th annual event was held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Although things may certainly be different in this new digital environment, and no I’m not going to say the new normal, I can promise you that you are going to receive a tremendously valuable experience this week,” said Stumpf in a recorded message played for attendees. “And we’re so happy you’re here with us as we make history together.”

PestWorld 2020 is no different from past events, as it is a place for those in the pest management industry to gather to network, learn to improve, and grow together.

Stumpf highlighted the ways in which the NPMA served its members in the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic.

• A dedicated website — pestcontrolcoronavirus.com — with updated coronavirus related information geared to pest control businesses and employees.
• A webinar series to provide relevant, current information to help companies stay in business.
• The push for pest control to be classified as an essential service not only on a state level, but on a federal level as well.

“This industry responded with kindness and grace in the face of adversity,” she said. “You helped your customers, and were one of the few people even allowed inside homes during stay-at-home orders. You offered flexibility to your employees, you supported other local businesses, and found ways for your teams to give back to your communities.”

She also acknowledged those who helped make the switch to a virtual event.

“Thank you for the exceptional staff at the NPMA for working so quickly and outside of their comfort zone to convert this year’s event to a virtual platform,” she said. “I couldn’t be prouder of them, and their passion and dedication to our membership.”

She thanked the supplier community and PestWorld sponsors, as well as the strategic partners that continually support NPMA initiatives.

“We’re looking forward to what’s to come, and have full faith that we can do and face anything when we are motivated and working together,” Stumpf said.

The NPMA’s Workforce Development Initiative, a program introduced at PestWorld 2019, is now up and running, Stumpf said. It is designed to help pest control companies to grow by finding and fostering skilled workers.

A video shown about the program revealed employment of pest control workers is projected to grow 7 percent, from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.

Highlights of the Workforce Development Initiative include:

• A website — PestControlJobs.com — will help make job seekers aware of the excellent job opportunities in the pest management industry, promoting careers and earning potential.
• A comprehensive search engine optimization program will increase the website’s visibility online and attract job seekers using keywords during online searches.
• A job board function will provide a consistent, up-to-date list of job opportunities to help drive job seekers to pest control companies looking for workers.
• Newly launched Facebook and LinkedIn social media platforms will drive awareness of professional pest control as a desirable career path.

The program, said Stumpf, “will drive talent and seek to educate potential job seekers about the incredible opportunity that awaits them in the professional pest control industry.”

Also announced during the Opening Ceremony were the NPMA’s 2020 Executive Leadership Program members.

Songwriters Barry Dean and Luke Laird. IMAGE: PMP STAFF

Established to identify and train aspiring association leaders and establish a pipeline of engaged individuals that represent the NPMA’s diverse membership, the program has a two-year curriculum encompassing professional development, association training, mentoring, and participation at NPMA events.

The second class of students graduated within the past year. This year, the NPMA welcomes the fourth class, which includes Tim Bird, Mayday Pest Solutions; Adam Brashier, Modern Pest Control; Bridget Carr, Bug Express Pest Control; Manuel “Manny” Guzman, Pestrol Inc.; William “Bill” Horgan, Debug Pest Control; Trent Kucherka, ABC Home & Commerical Services; Kaija Saarinen, Green and Gone Pest Solutions; Clint Sowle, Ecolab; Trey Strickland, Waynes Pest Control; and Donald Volonte, Terminix International.

As is tradition at PestWorld, the Opening Ceremony featured local entertainment. Because this year’s event was slated for Nashville, Tenn., songwriters Barry Dean and Luke Laird gave a virtual performance, playing their guitars from the comfort of their sofa.

Follow along with more of PMP’s PestWorld 2020 coverage here.

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PHOTO: JOE MAXWELL, CPCO OF GA

The Certified Pest Control Operators of Georgia (CPCO of GA) held its 22nd annual fall conference at the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Center in Macon, Ga., on Oct. 1-2.

More than 150 attendees attended the conference, along with more than 25 representatives from the 22 vendors who showcased their products and services. Regal Nissan was the event’s presenting sponsor. Other sponsors included BASF, Bell Laboratories, Catchmaster, Ensystex, Kness, McGriff Insurance, Oldham, Syngenta, Target Specialty Products, Veseris, Neogen, Mattress Safe and Sullivan Sales & Marketing.

Due to social distancing guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of attendees was limited to accommodate 6-foot spacing. The event was sold-out for both attendee and vendor registrations.

Marty Jones, owner of Prestige Pest Control and current CPCO of GA Chairman, was named as this year’s recipient of the Wayne Webber Award of Excellence. This award is given to someone who demonstrates integrity, helpfulness to the industry and support to CPCO of GA.

In 2019, the board of directors renamed the annual award in honor of Wayne Webber, a CPCO of GA founder who passed away last year.

Commissioner Gary W. Black. PHOTO: JOE MAXWELL, CPCO OF GA

Commissioner Gary W. Black kicked off the meeting as the keynote speaker with a talk titled, “Georgia Department of Agriculture Updates.”

The day-and-a-half of training included 11 continuing education units (CEUs) available and approved for Georgia and eight other states.

The conference also included a unique Manager’s Advancement Program business track for the second year. The classes included topics on marketing, human resources, operations and finance. The track is designed for leaders and managers to participate in business training and includes quick one-on-one meetings with participating vendors.

Due to the limited number of attendees for the in-person conference, the association is offering a webinar series from October 13 through November 19.

Last year, more than 400 attendees and guests from Georgia and other states, including Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, participated in the courses offered at the conference.

The post CPCO of GA holds in-person conference, awards current chairman appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

IMAGE: PMP INDUSTRY INSIDER

Pest Management Professional interviewed its own financial columnist, Dan Gordon, CPA, owner of both PCO Bookkeepers and PCO M&A Specialists, Newton, N.J.; and Donnie Shelton, who is both CEO of pest control marketing firm Coalmarch and owner of Triangle Pest Control, Holly Springs, N.C. The pair have teamed up for a new, industry-focused podcast, “PMP Industry Insiders.”

1. Let’s go back to earlier in the year, when you two launched your webinar series, titled “State of the Industry: Driving Growth for Your Business in 2020.” How did that come about?

Shelton: When the COVID-19 pandemic and the shelter-in-place orders were starting up, our Triangle Pest Control employees were asking a lot of questions. Meanwhile, I was thinking through all the ways things could go wrong — and there was a lot to think about.

I also had buddies asking me about what advice the Coalmarch team had. We decided to send an email to our customer base about “what you can do right now to prepare.” We advised such things as keep your credit lines down and keep your cash flow as open as you can.

Well, we never had such a high open rate. It was in the 80 percent range! People were emailing us comments like “Thanks so much, we don’t know what’s going on from one day to the next.”

That’s when it hit me: There’s a lot of confusion for pest management professionals (PMPs) in these uncertain times. So the next week, we sent another email. The open rate was high again, with more questions: “Can I still grow my business this year?” “How can I weather this storm?” I called up Dan.

Gordon: We’ve known each other about 15 years. We’ve been each other’s clients. Donnie thought that, with his marketing and my financial expertise, we could really help educate PMPs to protect their businesses, and even grow.

2. What was the impetus from transitioning from the webinar format to the podcast format?

Shelton: With the webinar format, at first we held one every week, and then went monthly. But we’ve had a pretty consistent audience. This fall, we thought, why not continue to talk to folks in a podcast format? That way, they could listen to any episode, anytime, and we could expand the expertise with guests. Plus, our webinar series was very focused on doing business during the pandemic. We see the podcast as more long-term, exploring all avenues of building a pest control business.

3. How do you find your interview topics and sources?

Shelton: We have a standing weekly meeting, where we review some ideas and do some brainstorming. We start with topics, and then discuss who might be a good fit.

Gordon: It’s gotten to be something of a friendly competition about who comes up with the best subjects, and who lands what industry leader for the next episode.

4. Is podcasting a new technology for you both, or have you had previous experience with the process?

Gordon: We’re rolling out a whole new platform in November. I even got a new microphone!

Shelton: We have definitely learned along the way. Dan brings a ton of knowledge — but, uh, technology is not his strong suit.

Gordon: People still like me for other reasons.

5. Any final thoughts?

Shelton: At the end of the day, pest control is like nearly any home service industry: The goal is to generate leads and grow. We want to help PMPs by interviewing people who are driving the future of the industry when it comes to operations, finance, marketing, sales, customer experience, and team-building.

Gordon: Right now, we have seven episodes under our belts, with more to come. Check it out at Podcast.pmpindustryinsider.com. We’ve been telling everyone that if there’s a certain topic you’d like to see us tackle, or someone you want us to have as a guest — even yourself — we’re always open to new ideas.

IMAGE: PMP INDUSTRY INSIDER

WHERE TO FIND THE PODCAST

“PMP Industry Insiders” is available on several platforms, including Stitcher, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Episodes already available for download include:

• Tim Mulrooney, William Blair: Impressions of an Investment Analyst
• Kendall Hines & Erik Alburg, Lawnbot: AI & the Future of Pest & Lawn
• Tom Gibbons, F&W Pest Control: Family Ties: Challenges to Scaling a Family Business
• Burns Blackwell, Terminix-Triad: Scaling Through Innovation: The Secret to Growth Efficiency
• Howard Bright, Anti-Pesto: Digital Business Transformation
• Erin Richardson, All-American Pest Control: Building Your A-Team

DAN GORDON, CPA

YEARS IN PEST CONTROL: 32

Dan Gordon, CPA

CAREER: After working two years as a tax accountant at Deloitte after college, Gordon was ready for a change. It was 1988, and his high school buddy had founded Budget Pest Control Service just six months before. The friend was in need of a partner who was good at finances. (Author’s Note: Donnie Shelton was sitting in on the interview as Gordon recalled his industry origins, and doubled over in laughter when he heard the company name: “BUDGET? Are you kidding me? Why not P&L Pest Control? Balance Sheet Exterminating?” Gordon ignored him and continued on with his story.) Not long after, Gordon says his friend “answered a newspaper ad to move to Denmark and dig tunnels.” Gordon reports that the friend is still in Denmark’s tunnel industry today, and loves it.

But his friend’s departure meant that in May 1989, Gordon the certified public accountant was flying solo as Gordon the owner of a pest management firm, after less than a year in the field. Putting his shoulder to the grindstone, he built up the business to the point that by 1996, it was attractive enough for Viking Termite and Pest Control — now an Anticimex firm — to come knocking. Gordon stayed on four years as CFO of the acquiring company.

When Gordon left Viking in 2000, it was to become a partner in the startup financial services firm Wealth Depot LLC. In 2004, he also co-founded Turf Books, PCO Bookkeepers and PCO M&A Specialists. He is a managing partner in all four firms today, and has been a Pest Management Professional columnist since 2013.

DONNIE SHELTON

YEARS IN PEST CONTROL: 14

Donnie Shelton

CAREER: The U.S. Air Force Reserve pilot and software engineer “had zero background in pest control” when he bought a one-man operation called Mike’s Pest Control in July 2006. Shelton just knew he wanted to go into business for himself, and after researching businesses that could be both recession-proof and profitable, homed in on professional pest management.

“I signed the papers in the dining room of a Wendy’s restaurant,” Shelton recalls. “The owner was 81 years old, and had exactly 23 accounts paying him $25 a month.”

Shelton paid $11,000 for the company, and planned to have the owner stay on for six months to show him the ropes.

“But after a couple months, he said ‘You’ve got this,’” Shelton says. Today, the renamed and rebranded Triangle Pest Control serves 22 cities throughout North Carolina.

By 2012, however, Shelton was frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of a digital marketing agency in the market that understood the needs of pest control and lawn management firms. He purchased a local agency, Coalmarch, that had potential in specializing in these markets — and built it into an industry powerhouse. A published author on industry marketing, Shelton created the Grow! Inbound Marketing System. This led to Sprowt, Coalmarch’s proprietary software program that uses the Grow! system, and Forgely, an app-based team management solution.

The post 5 questions with Dan Gordon and Donnie Shelton appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

LOGO: IPM SYMPOSIUM

The 10th International Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Symposium, originally planned for March 15-18, 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now scheduled for Feb. 28-March 3, 2022. The event is still set to take place at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colo.

Organizers of the IPM Symposium named award winners in the following five categories:

International IPM Lifetime Achievement Awards of Excellence: 

• Dr. Anthony M. Shelton, International Professor of Entomology, Department of Entomology, Cornell University
• Dr. Thomas A. Green, President, IPM Works LLC, and former President, IPM Institute of North America
• Dr. Charles Vincent, Research Scientist (Entomology), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and
  Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

International IPM Lifetime Achievement Awards of Recognition: 

• Dr. Tom A. Royer, Professor and IPM Coordinator, Oklahoma State University
• Dr. Rangaswamy N. Muniappan, Director, Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab (IPM IL), Virginia Tech University

International IPM Awards of Excellence: 

• Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, Assistant Professor, University of Florida (IPM Practitioner – Academic)
• Ms. Janet Hurley, Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (IPM Practitioner – Academic)
• Dr. Andrew Sutherland, Area Urban IPM Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension (IPM Practitioner – Academic)
• Mr. Frank Meek, BCE, Manager Technical Services, Rollins Inc. (IPM Practitioner – Non-Academic)
• Plantwise – CABI (IPM Team)
• California Almond IPM Team, University of California Cooperative Extension (IPM Team)
• IPM Innovation Lab, Virginia Tech University (IPM Team)

International IPM Awards of Recognition: 

• Mr. Lynn Braband, Senior Extension Associate, The New York State IPM Program, Cornell University (IPM Practitioner – Academic)
• Dr. Richard Raid, Plant Pathology Professor & Associate Center Director, UF/IFAS/Everglades Research & Education Center (IPM Practitioner – Academic)
• Dr. Shahadath Hossain, Principal Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh (IPM Practitioner – Academic)
• Mr. Leon Lucas, District Manager, Glades Crop Care Inc. (IPM Practitioner – Non-Academic)
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (IPM Team)
• Honeybear Brands, Elgin, MN (IPM Team)
• Center for Biological Control (CBC) IPM Team, Florida A&M University (IPM Team)

International IPM Awards for Graduate Students: 

• Ms. Uta McKelvy, Montana State University (Outstanding Doctoral Student)

According to a news release, “IPM Practitioner—Non-Academic” is a new category this year, to honor individuals for outstanding “boots-on-the-ground” work implementing IPM practices. Candidates were IPM users, promoters or service providers who have made outstanding contributions to IPM adoption and implementation, and whose work has had a direct and positive impact on end-users, clients or the public.

Examples of people who fall into this category include school IPM coordinators, pest management professionals, growers, crop consultants, pest control advisors, facility managers, landscape or turf managers, maintenance or operations staff, public housing managers and more.

ABOUT THE IPM SYMPOSIUM

Past participants at IPM Symposium events have included research, extension and teaching academics, IPM-oriented students, private and government scientists, industry representatives, independent consultants, NGO professionals, policy makers and agency administrators, and IPM practitioners from the U.S. and more than 30 countries.

Featuring a theme of “Implementing IPM across Borders and Disciplines,” the IPM Symposium is scheduled to feature the following highlights (per the website):

• Mini-symposia featuring experts addressing hot topics in the IPM field
• More than 40 concurrent sessions designed for practitioners, growers, educators, consultants, researchers, industry professionals, students, and employees of non-governmental organizations
• CCA credits available
• Presentation of the 2021 IPM Achievement Awards
• Poster presentations of research and best practices
• Field trips to see IPM in action in the Denver area
• Exhibits from leading IPM suppliers

The post IPM Symposium postpones to 2022, names award winners appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

LOGO: ICUP

The International Conference on Urban Pests (ICUP) will host a free webinar on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

The event will be held at 10 a.m. EDT, or 3 p.m. GMT, to allow for listeners from multiple time zones. It will also be recorded so the presentations will be available for viewing for the following four weeks, or until April 6.

Those interested can register now at the ICUP website.

Dr. Ruben Bueno of Laboratorios Lokimica, Spain, will be the moderator for the event. Five presentations from leading urban research scientists will cover a variety of urban pest problems over the course of about three hours.

Presentations will include:

• Household Arthropods and Their Associated Bacterial Communities
  —Federica Boiocchi, University of Milan, Italy
• Rising Summer Temperatures Favour Spread of The House Centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, in Central Europe
  —Klaus Zimmermann, Inatura GmbH, Austria
• CRISPR Gene-Drive Technologies For Urban Population Engineering
  —Victor Lopez Del Amo, University of California, United States
• Reproductive Seasonality and Fertility of Norway Rats in The City of Barcelona
  —Jordi Pascual Sala, Public Health Agency, Barcelona, Spain
• Controlling Yellowjackets in Urban Recreational Areas
  —Michael Rust, University of California, United States

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the ICUP Executive Committee from holding its in-person conference in July 2020. The 10th ICUP will be held at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, which is set for Sept. 13-15, 2021. More information about the event can be found at ICUP2020.com.

Every three years, ICUP brings together those with a professional interest in urban pests, from academia, industry, government and professional pest control, to share experiences, data and ideas.

The post ICUP to host 6 presenters during upcoming webinar appeared first on Pest Management Professional.