[News]

Massachusetts High Schools Collaborate With Yankee Pest Control in Mural Contest

MALDEN, Mass. — Mayor Gary Christenson of Walden, Mass., joined Galvin Murphy, owner of Yankee Pest Control, to announce the winner of the Art Mural Contest, which transformed the back of Murphy’s pest control service center into a work of art.

Malden High School, Malden Catholic and the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School each painted a mural that combined covers a 120-by-30-foot “canvas” along a local bike path.

Yankee Pest Control not only paid for all of the paint supplies and tarps, but provided pizza and refreshments to all of the students each time they were on site. Malden business Lothrop Companies donated the scaffolding for the duration of the project.

After several weeks of online voting, the results were tabulated. Taking first place and a $1,000 prize was Malden Catholic High School, whose comic book theme about Yankee Pest saving Malden from an insect infestation secured the most votes. A second place tie was announced between Malden High School (whose mural was about the history of biking in Malden) and the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School’s positive messaging mural. Second and third prize winners each received a $500 prize.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the results,” said Murphy. “I feel very lucky to have had our talented students create artwork that users of the bike path will enjoy every day.”

Mayor Christenson added, “I thank Galvin Murphy for his generosity and commitment to this community project. Not only did he generate enthusiasm for this collaborative effort among our students, but he also paid for the supplies and provided cash prizes.”
 

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TPCA Announces 2014 Technician of the Year

HUMBLE, Texas — The Texas Pest Control Association (TPCA) named Andrew White as its 2014 Technician of the Year. White, 27, is a service professional with BugMaster Termite & Pest Control based in Humble, Texas; he was selected from finalists from across the state of Texas.

Samuel White, Andrew’s father and owner of BugMaster for 36 years, introduced his son at the December presentation by saying, “Isn’t it ironic that the fathers do the hard work and the son gets the praise?” Although that got a laugh, Sam’s pride in his son was evident as he told stories of Andrew working alongside him since “his eyes were knee high” and of the great rapport Andrew has with his customers.

Andrew thanked the TPCA and the BugMaster team for the recognition, adding, “When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.” White clearly loves solving his customers’ problems and making a difference in their lives.

BugMaster General Manager Billy Ray Crosby called Andrew his pest control trainer and teacher, saying, “When I started working with BugMaster, Andrew was only 20 years old. I was impressed at how hard he worked. I couldn’t tell he was the owner’s son. He still works with the same tenacity.” Crosby further recognized White’s work by stating, “Andrew is very knowledgeable, and customers agree he is a respectable, responsible technician who goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure jobs are completed to satisfaction. I wish I could find more technicians of his caliber.”

Andrew will be recognized in the February 2015 issue of TPCA magazine.

For more information and to see the presentation, visit www.mybugmaster.com or the YouTube channel mybugmastertv.
 

FMC Announces New Executive Roles and Newly Elected Vice President

PHILADELPHIA — FMC Corporation recently announced new roles for three business executives.

Bethwyn Todd, global director of FMC Professional Solutions, Seed Treatment and BioSolutions, has been named director for Agricultural Solutions in Asia and president of FMC Asia. She also was elected a vice president of FMC Corporation by the Board of Directors.

Todd brings extensive international and business experience to this role having previously worked in the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, and at Monsanto where she held several commercial, regulatory and corporate leadership roles. Todd joined FMC in 2010 as Asia Pacific Development and Regulatory manager in Bangkok, Thailand.

Eric Norris has been named vice president and global business director for FMC Health and Nutrition. He is a 25-year industry veteran who brings extensive commercial and enterprise leadership experience to this role. Norris was previously vice president and global business director for FMC Lithium. He joined FMC in 2001, and earlier in his career was director of Investor Relations for FMC and Rohm and Haas Company.

Tom Schneberger has been named vice president and global business director for FMC Lithium. FMC says he is a seasoned leader who has held several commercial and corporate roles in FMC. Schneberger was previously vice president and business director for FMC Alkali Chemicals. Prior to FMC, he worked for General Chemical and Rhodia in sales and marketing, engineering and business development.

“We are pleased to have these strong leaders assume new roles across our company. Bethwyn, Eric and Tom bring unique skills and capabilities to these important business and regional positions, and we look forward to their continued leadership in driving FMC’s growth,” said Pierre Brondeau, FMC president, CEO and chairman.
 

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Lopez Named President of AIBI Certification Services

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Stephanie Lopez has been named president of AIBI Certification Services. She replaces Gary Skrdlant.

“GFSI auditing is one of AIBI’s fastest growing services, representing about 20 percent of all our food safety-related revenue,” said Andre Biane, president and CEO of AIB International.

“Stephanie Lopez has a proven track record as a leader in food safety, in addition to an advanced understanding of the regulatory and technical issues related to the GFSI schemes,” he said.

Lopez’s appointment became effective Sept. 1, at which time she stepped down as AIB International’s vice president for Food Safety Services Innovation.

In her new role, Lopez will focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of GFSI licensed products for clients of AIBI Certification Services. This will include tapping into additional expertise in Six Sigma business processes and ISO.

“Globally, AIBI Certification Services has several competitors,” Lopez said. “As a result we need to be more effective and efficient in the way we execute all the facets of these services, while also meeting ISO and scheme owner requirements.”

Due to the importance of and projected growth of GFSI in the global marketplace, Lopez is taking on this role at an exciting time. “As we expand our GFSI services in China and Japan — and elsewhere across the globe — it’s my goal to ensure that we continue to be competitive in the marketplace,” Lopez said.

Lopez started her career in the food industry in 1993 and has led quality, sanitation and product development teams for various international food companies. Since joining AIB in 2000, she has been a food safety auditor, HACCP coordinator, director of Food Safety Education, vice president of Food Safety Education and most recently vice president for Food Safety Services Innovation. She is recognized internationally in the food industry as an enthusiastic trainer and a prolific author of technical publications, AIB says.
 

Trécé Seminar Showcases Advances in Mating Disruption Research

ORLANDO, Fla. — Trécé recently sponsored a formal technical innovations seminar that showcased modern advances in mating disruption research for established and future products, underscoring the value of monitoring and other pest management techniques for control of stored product insects. The event was held in Orlando, Fla., in October.

Featured speakers included James Campbell, USDA research entomologist, Stored Product Insect Research Unit Center for Grain & Animal Health Research, who spoke on advances in Indian meal moth pest management for retail, warehouse beetle mating disruption and in pheromone monitoring systems and techniques, and gave a nationwide program overview. Tom Phillips, professor of entomology at Kansas State University, discussed advances in cigarette beetle mating disruption research; and Chelle Hartzer, BCE, product manager and staff entomologist for The Industrial Fumigant Company, discussed practical applications of Indianmeal moth mating disruption in manufacturing and distribution.

Trécé recently launched and is continuing to develop products and technologies for monitoring and mating disruption of stored product insects. For more information, visit www.trece.com.
 

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FPA Holds 2014 Annual Meeting

QUEBEC CITY, Canada — This past fall, the Food Protection Alliance (FPA) held its 10th Annual Meeting in Quebec City, Canada. FPA member Maheu & Maheu hosted the event, which celebrated FPA’s new membership, expanding territories and a decade of industry involvement.

Food Protection Alliance is a group of regionally based pest management and fumigation companies that, together, provide nationwide service to North America’s food industry. For more information, visit www.fpalliance.com or call 877/372-3334.
 

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University Housing at Illinois Achieves Green Shield Certification for Its IPM Program

URBANA, Ill. — The University Housing Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned Green Shield Certification for its Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. It was the second university program in the nation to earn the certification after undergoing an on-site evaluation by the IPM Institute of North America.

The housing program includes 3.6-million square feet of residence halls and apartments on campus, serves a student body of 43,000, and is home to a diverse resident population of 11,000, including many graduate students and their children. IPM Coordinator Diane Kiddoo’s pest management team has to walk a fine line between quick, effective pest management and safe and environmentally friendly methods. This led to her interest in IPM practices for the program. “Safety is huge,” Kiddoo said. “We make an effort to find low-toxicity products that work.”

Many IPM techniques are basic and rely on common sense and teamwork to prevent pest problems. For example, the building service workers and crafts and trades who serve the program are trained to recognize and resolve pest-friendly conditions such as openings where pipes or wires penetrate walls. Simply ensuring that exterior doors have effective sweeps between the threshold and the bottom of the door can reduce pest complaints by 65 percent, according to university studies. When pesticides are used, it’s only as a last resort, and in controlled application conditions with less-toxic products.