[News]

Chuck Fallon Resigns as Terminix President

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Terminix announced that President Chuck Fallon left the company, effective March 29, to take over as chief executive officer of FirstService Residential, a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation, and largest manager of residential communities in North America. The news was announced in a March 21 SEC filing by Terminix’s parent company, ServiceMaster.

While Terminix searches for a replacement, Larry Pruitt will serve as interim president of Terminix and will report directly to ServiceMaster CEO Hank Mullany. In an emailed statement Mullany stated, “While we search for a Terminix president, it’s important to note there are very positive things happening in the business. We’re fortunate to have someone of Larry’s experience and caliber to guide Terminix during this transitional period. We’ll miss Chuck at ServiceMaster but this is a great opportunity for him to work closer to his family in South Florida. We wish him much success in the future.”

Fallon was named president of Terminix in December 2011 after having served as president of Burger King North America, where he helped continue the company’s turnaround after its initial public offering in 2006. Fallon succeeded Tom Brackett, who became president of ServiceMaster’s lawn care brand, TruGreen, in December 2011. Brackett resigned from that position after less than one year.

As one of the largest property managers in the world, FirstService manages more than 2.3 billion square feet of residential and commercial properties through its three service platforms: Colliers International, FirstService Residential and Property Services. FirstService generates more than $2.3 billion in annual revenues and has more than 23,000 employees worldwide.
 

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BWI Joins Speckoz

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Speckoz, a distributor cooperative in the U.S. pest control market, announced that BWI Companies has become the cooperative’s newest member.

BWI has a proven record of support and leadership, as it has been a strong member of Prokoz, a sister company of Speckoz in the turf and ornamental industries, Speckoz said.

“I am proud to see our organization growing and getting stronger throughout the PCO markets,” said John Johnson, president, Speckoz. “I believe many in our industry would agree that BWI is a great addition to the Speckoz family of companies.”

Johnson added that BWI will strengthen the Speckoz footprint in the southern and central portions of the United States.

“BWI is excited and proud to become a member of Speckoz and together we bring value to the supply chain for our supplier partners as well as pest control operators,” said Jim Bunch, president and CEO of BWI. “We feel BWI and Speckoz working together will provide the same synergies that we have enjoyed working together as Prokoz and BWI.”

Learn more at speckoz.com and bwicompanies.com.
 

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For 10th Year, GPCA Supports Leukemia & Lymphoma Walk

ATLANTA — The Georgia Pest Control Association (GPCA) announced its participation in the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walks. This will be the 10th consecutive year the association has participated.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) relies heavily on funds raised through the GPCA, the association said. Since 2004, member companies of GPCA have raised $876,000 to help fight blood cancers. The goal this year is to reach the $1 million mark to celebrate the association’s decade of participation in Light the Night Walks.

Left to right: Ted Veitch, president; GPCA, Mary Colston, Light the Night Director; and Kelly Dolan, LLS Georgia Chapter.

“The Georgia Pest Control Association is proud to partner with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the Light the Night Walk,” said Ted Veitch, GPCA president. “Light the Night provides a way for our association to work together to raise funds for cancer research and allows us to give back in the communities we serve.”

Allgood Pest Solutions, Advanced Services, HomeTec Exterminating, Active Pest Solutions, Knox Pest Control, Terminix and Future Services are some of the participating companies that raise funds by hosting events, soliciting customers for donations, fundraising and sponsoring Light the Night Walks. Many other companies and vendors support the partnership through the annual GPCA Golf Tournament, GPCA said.

“We are delighted to have the Georgia Pest Control Association back for a tenth straight year and support their goal of reaching the one millionth dollar raised by 2013,” said Kelly Dolan, executive director of the LLS Georgia Chapter. “Associations like the GPCA are great partners because they work with so many companies and commemorate lives touched by cancer.”

Fipronil Litigation Takes Significant Turns

Editor’s note: The pest control industry is closely monitoring fipronil litigation proceedings. Since these are ongoing developments, visit www.pctonline.com for the latest updates. Significant developments occurred in March, including:

• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., affirmed a ruling by U.S. District Judge William L. Osteen Jr. that said Makhteshim Agan Group/Control Solutions’ Taurus SC does not infringe on two of BASF’s patents, commonly referred to as ’010 and ’743, aka the “perimeter use patents.”
• BASF filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Makhteshim of North America, Control Solutions and Do It Yourself Pest Control in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The patent at issue in this case is U.S. Patent 5,618,945, which is different than the two patents mentioned previously. That patent is in regards to fipronil manufacturing process-related patents.

Perimeter Use Patents. In the “perimeter use patents” case, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling read, in part, “Because the district court correctly construed the claims of the patents, and because under the correct construction MANA’s accused product does not infringe, we affirm,” wrote Circuit Judges Reyna, Bryson and Wallach. This ruling was in regards to an appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina in No. 10-CV-0276, Judge William L. Osteen, Jr.

“BASF has maintained longstanding allegations beginning in April 2010, of patent infringement against MANA and CSI in regards to the Taurus SC brand. Both in the district and the appeal cases throughout the last three years, MAI has been favored in the Court ruling which determined that they do not infringe the claims of any patent,” Makhteshim Agan Group (MAI) said in a press release.

“The Federal Circuit decision on March 20, 2013, finally puts to rest any question of whether the Taurus SC product infringes upon BASF or its patent holdings,” the press release continued.

“Throughout this case, MAI has maintained a corporate position and opinion that BASF’s claims have been without merit,” said Shaul Friedland, head of MAI’s Americas region. “MAI and CSI remained steadfast in their belief that the Court would deny the opposing side’s motions and appeals.”

Manufacturing Process Patents. In the “manufacturing process patent” lawsuit filed by BASF in the U.S. District Court, BASF says Makhteshim of North America, Control Solutions and Do It Yourself Pest Control are violating BASF patent rights in the manufacture and sale of fipronil-based termiticides/insecticides.

“BASF has identified certain chemical impurities in Taurus SC, the fipronil-based termiticide produced and marketed by Control Solutions, Inc. that clearly establish that the MANA/CSI product was manufactured using the process protected by the ’945 patent,” BASF said in a press release.

“Intellectual property is the cornerstone of our innovation-based marketplace,” said Jan Buberl, director of Specialty Products, BASF North American Crop Protection. “Improper activity that undermines patent protection laws is unfair to those who act properly and lawfully.”

On March 22, MANA/CSI filed a contempt of court suit against BASF with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina claiming the company violated an Oct. 27, 2010, Consent Judgment as it relates to the longstanding fipronil patent infringement case between parties. In a press release from MANA/CSI, the companies noted that “the repeat pattern of timing regarding BASF’s annual filings of complaints, new lawsuits and motions show possible intent for creating ongoing marketplace havoc for sales of Taurus SC.”

“BASF is confident it has acted appropriately,” said BASF Spokesperson Thomas Hill. “We are committed to protecting our intellectual property rights that are the backbone of our ability to offer innovative solutions to our customers. BASF is confident that our positions in the court will be upheld.” — PCT staff

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Service Pro.net Celebrates 20 Years in Business

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Service Pro.net is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The company’s first product was a Windows-based program designed specifically for the family pest control business of Richard Deering, Service Pro.net said. After selling his lawn and pest control business, Deering and his family began to focus on Service Pro.net, which has evolved into web-based programs with more than 1,400 databases between its two flagship products, ServSuite and ServBasic, the company said.

The company, which started with fewer than 10 employees, now employs nearly 100, Service Pro said. Service Pro.net recently introduced ServSuite Mobile for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

In addition, the company is holding a celebration for its anniversary at the 2013 ServSuite University, to be held in Nashville later this year. Those wishing to attend ServSuite University can register here: http://bit.ly/Y5NVoZ.

GPCA Names 2012 Award Winners

ATLANTA — The Georgia Pest Control Association (GPCA) has named six honorees of the Pest Management Professional Award for 2012. The applicants are selected for their contribution to the professionalism, integrity and success of the pest control industry in Georgia, the association said.

GPCA’s 2012 honorees, left to right: Kevin Gordon, Cook’s Pest Control; Pete Turko, Arrow Exterminating; Steven Baker, Future Services; Rick Gilbert, Allgood Pest Solutions; Paul Jury, Jury Pest Control; Chris Hilliard, Allgood Pest Solutions; and Cathi Whitehead, Arrow Exterminators. Not pictured: Steven McClain, Northwest Exterminating.

Submitted by their managers, the honorees exhibit a variety of responsibilities from office management to training. They are universally respected by their peers and considered a critical element to their company’s success, GPCA said.

This year’s winners are:

• Rick Gilbert, Allgood Pest Solutions, Lawrenceville, Ga.
• Chris Hilliard, Allgood Pest Solutions, Brunswick, Ga.
• Pete Turko, Arrow Exterminators, Duluth, Ga.
• Cathi Whitehead, Arrow Exterminators, Fayetteville, Ga.
• Kevin Gordon, Cook’s Pest Control, Rex, Ga.
• Steven Baker, Future Services, McDonough, Ga.
• Paul Jury, Jury Pest Control Services, N. Augusta, S.C.
• Stevem McClain, Northwest Exterminating, Marietta, Ga.

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BedBug Central Announces Sale of ‘BlackOut’ to Protect-A-Bed

Lawrenceville, N.J. — BedBug Central announced the sale of its newly developed interception device, BlackOut BedBug Detector to Protect-A-Bed, a provider of bedding protection products.

BlackOut — an interception device that is placed under the legs of beds and upholstered furniture and designed to intercept bed bugs — was created by Jeffrey White, technical director of BedBug Central. The product was launched at the start of 2013 in a market that is estimated to be 400,000 total interception devices per year, BedBug Central says.

“Having seen the success Protect-A-Bed has with their mattress encasement lines, we’re excited to work together in creating a sales model that allows BlackOut to reach its full potential,” said White. “Our goal in working with Protect-A-Bed is to make interception devices a standard part of protecting your bed from bed bugs.”

According to Protect-A-Bed’s CEO, James Bell, BlackOut is an opportunity for the company to expand their presence in the category, outside of mattress protection. “We feel BlackOut is a great tool for consumers to protect themselves against bed bugs,” said Bell. “It really complements our philosophy to provide essential, state-of-the-art bed bug prevention and management tools.”

As part of this deal, Protect-A-Bed will continue to manufacture BlackOut in the United States and work closely with pest management distribution channels to ensure a proper supply chain to the industry.
 

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Chris Donaghy Named Outstanding Alumnus

NOVI, Mich. — Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences honored Christopher Donaghy, owner and CEO of Residex, with a 2012 Outstanding Alumni Award.

Chris Donaghy, left, receives the Outstanding Alumnus Award.

The award is the highest honor the College of Agriculture Sciences and the Ag Alumni Society present to select alumni who have achieved notable professional achievements and have brought distinction to themselves, the college and the university, Penn State said. The award is designed to invite outstanding alumni leaders to the university to share their special expertise with students, faculty and administration of the College of Agricultural Sciences, according to Penn State.

A 1985 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in entomology, Donaghy started his career in the pest management industry as a service technician with Parsippany, N.J.-based Western Pest Services. In 1996, he moved to Western subsidiary Residex Corporation, where he rose through the ranks to become general manager.

“When I graduated from Penn State, it was a dream come true to finally hold a diploma and one from such a prestigious university,” Donaghy said. “I carried my Penn State Pride into everything I pursued in my personal life and professional career.”

When Western Pest Services was sold in 2004, Donaghy led a group that acquired Residex from the new owners, and he became CEO and president of the company. Under his leadership, the company has grown from 12 distribution centers to 25 and now operates in 18 states.

Since 1996, Donaghy has been a member of several pest management industry associations, serving in various officer and committee positions. In 2011, he was named one of PCT and Syngenta’s Crown Leadership Award winners.

He has been involved with several charities including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Hospital and the Achilles Freedom Team, which provides hand-crank bicycles for disabled American veterans, enabling them to compete in major sporting events.