NPMA Steps Up Its Membership Game in Response to Surge in M&A Activity

The 5,500-member National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has been feeling the effects of the M&A wave for the past five years or so, with the past three taking a particularly large toll on the organization’s volunteer leadership. Some of the most engaged members, who may have served on the board or led committees and initiatives within NPMA, are leaving pest management after selling their businesses, leaving sizable gaps for NPMA to fill.

“It’s most notable at the state level, where a state board might lose three members in a year; it can be difficult to find replacements,” says NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf. “We do know that consolidation is cyclical, though, and that over the next 10 years, the small companies sprouting up today will be moving into the Top 100, taking their own place among industry leaders.”

Stumpf says that while large, acquiring companies continue to be highly involved in NPMA, the organization is taking steps to encourage more mid-size and smaller companies, as well as the next generation, to take on active membership and leadership roles. Among their efforts:

Executive Leadership Program (ELP) – Launched in 2017, the ELP engages PMPs from smaller companies as it selects 10 participants for its two-year curriculum — training sessions and courses designed to cultivate knowledge and leadership skills.

Committee Engagement – “We are becoming more intentional about building awareness of the many opportunities for people to become involved,” says Stumpf. “Right now, we have 22 committees that cover a broad range of issues.”

State Association Partnerships – Leaders within the national NPMA organization are collaborating more with state associations to make sure PMPs are getting involved at the grassroots level. “Once people are engaged on the state level, they recognize the value and importance of NPMA,” Stumpf shares.

Leadership Development Group (LDG) – Though it’s been an effective driving force for leadership participation in the past, NPMA is reimagining the LDG to more strongly appeal to up-and-coming generations.

Why Join NPMA?

NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf breaks it down this way:

• Networking – PMPs bond and create lasting relationships, often mentorships, through NPMA.
• Learning Opportunities – Members gain new knowledge about running and growing their companies.
• Industry Advocacy – NPMA members make a difference, contributing to the success of the industry by sharing their knowledge and working toward collective goals.
• Consumer Outreach – Through the consumer outreach arm of NPMA, the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) reaches millions of consumers each year and through their pestworld.org website, referring them to NPMA members. — Donna DeFranco