[News]

Dold to Run for Congress in 2014

CHICAGO — Former Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), president of Rose Pest Solutions, announced plans to run for U.S. Congress in 2014, to represent the 10th District of Illinois.

Dold served as U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 10th congressional district from 2010 to 2012, before losing his re-election bid last November to Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)

In a statement posted to his campaign website, www.doldforcongress.com, Dold wrote, “As someone who broke the mold and earned a reputation as one of the most independent-thinking, moderate members of Congress, and as someone who was never afraid to work with anybody who shared a desire to solve problems, I share your frustration with the current lack of compromise and the consistent stalemate in Washington.

“Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many of you about the problems you are facing in your businesses, in your households and in your communities. You have encouraged me to carry your voice forward in 2014.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.doldforcongress.com.
 

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Residex Appoints New Chairman of the Board

NOVI, Mich. — Residex recently announced changes to the structure of its ownership board. Chris Donaghy, founder of Residex and orchestrator of the Residex/Turfgrass merger, will move to the position of chairman of the board. “This is the natural progression of the merger plan that Chris developed in 2010,” said Frank Ralko, vice president of operations, Residex. “Chris’ contributions to Residex are without parallel. Residex functions as a family that cares for one another and our customers.”

Ralko added, “Chris has successfully unified the cultures of two companies and communicated his vision of what Residex needs to be in order to be successful in a dynamic marketplace. The senior management team has been working diligently to execute the merger plan that was laid out by Mr. Donaghy in late 2010. His seminal work laid the critical foundation pieces to our current structure.”

The announcement reflects Donaghy’s long-standing plan to bring the organization together, oversee the physical relocation of headquarters, the merging of two enterprise software platforms and standardization of company policies and procedures, before moving into the role of chairman. Most importantly, he wanted to foster the development of two organizations into a stronger single entity.

“Chris has demonstrated his passion for the success of this merger time and time again,” said Todd Griebe, company president. “He played a crucial role in making the merger happen and was instrumental in bringing the two companies together. He has worked tirelessly to communicate our clear, consistent mission and vision to all of our dedicated staff. The road forward is paved so we can focus on serving our customers with the best products and solutions in the industry.”

Griebe added, “I personally want to thank Chris for the time and energy he has devoted to me, our people and the industry in making Residex what it is today.”
 

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Continuous Property Maintenance Code Additions Defeated

FAIRFAX, Va. — During the week of April 21, the International Building Code meeting was held in Dallas, and as part of that meeting, NPMA worked to prevent two proposals from being added to the Property Maintenance Code.

Both of the plans included language that NPMA’s WDO Division determined could be detrimental to the industry. Specifically, the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) was attempting to define an “infestation” as the simple presence of pest debris/residue. In a second NCHH proposal, Code Officials would be allowed to regulate the storage and application of pesticides. With this second proposal’s effects at the state level, NPMA partnered with ASPCRO to defeat this proposal. The final results of NPMA’s actions were that the preemption has been preserved and “infestation” will not be defined by the simple presence of pest debris/residue.

 

Syngenta Unveils New Branding for Professional Pest Market

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Syngenta Professional Pest Management (PPM) unveiled its new branding and visual identity “For Life Uninterrupted.” The new brand transformation demonstrates that Syngenta is a committed partner of choice for Pest Management Professionals (PMPs), the company said. With its broad product portfolio of innovative, focused solutions and industry experience, Syngenta said it is well-equipped to help PMPs deliver life uninterrupted to their customers.

“It is the mission of Syngenta PPM to give people confidence that they can conduct their lives uninterrupted by the nuisance of pests,” said Bob Goglia, head of marketing for Syngenta PPM in North America. “Our scale and expertise means we excel at creating innovative solutions that tackle problems responsibly. It also ensures people and businesses are treated with consideration, allowing them to quickly get their lives back to normal.”

“For Life Uninterrupted” is founded on three key messages:

• The renewed position of Syngenta as a leader in the PPM market.
• The shared resources and expertise of its expanded team, building on the acquisition of the DuPont Professional Products insecticide portfolio in 2012.
• The ability to deliver solutions and help improve the lives of millions of people around the world.

As part of its new visual identity, Syngenta developed new product logos using clean, bright colors to capture the spirit of freshness and professional cleanliness.

“Our products, expertise and leadership will help PMPs address pest challenges quickly and effectively,” said Dave Ravel, head of sales, Syngenta Turf & Landscape North America. “We are committed to delivering innovative pest control solutions and support services to help PMPs succeed in delivering a pest-free environment so their customers can live their lives uninterrupted.”

For information about Syngenta Professional Pest Management, visit www.syngentapmp.com.
 

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Copesan Makes Donation to Support Pest Management Education and Research

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Copesan announced its contribution of $13,408 supporting two internationally recognized charitable organizations providing scholarship funds and research support to the pest management industry.

Sponsored by Syngenta, a long-time Copesan supporter, Copesan’s Annual Charity Raffle raised more than $88,000 for Pi Chi Omega and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Pest Management Foundation for research over the last 12 years, Copesan said. “The entire Copesan family is proud to continue our tradition of supporting both Pi Chi Omega and the NPMA Pest Management Foundation,” said Deni Naumann, president, Copesan. “Every year, our partner team members share their success with the pest management industry through the contribution of these dollars. We are excited to be a part of growing strong, future leaders and continuing essential scientific research and development in our industry, benefiting clients and providers alike.”

The raffle was held during Copesan’s 13th annual conference attended by more than 300 members of the Copesan Partner network and pest management suppliers, collecting $6,254 in just a few days. Copesan matched this amount for a total donation of $12,508 to be equally divided between Pi Chi Omega for scholarships and the NPMA Foundation for research. Additionally, a record $900 was raised for Pi Chi Omega in the auction of a unique “Arthropod of the Hour” clock featuring preserved insects on the face. The clock was created by Dr. Gerry Wegner, technical director and staff entomologist at ProGuard/Varment Guard Commercial Pest Solutions of Columbus, Ohio, a Copesan Partner, who has been graciously donating these clocks for a number of years.

In addition to raffle ticket sales at the annual conference, Copesan also promoted early morning yoga classes and walking sessions to attendees for a nominal fee to further benefit these worthy causes with the donation of all proceeds from these events.
 

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Terminix Gives Back to Maui and Keiki Closet

MAUI, Hawaii — About 400 Terminix employees participated in “Make it Maui,” an event to supply local elementary schools with backpacks, school supplies, books and bookshelves. Each participant was chosen based on set standards of performance. To be selected, most employees had to rank in the top three in their region, Terminix said.

Doug Bell, Maui branch manager for Terminix, said that more than 500 backpacks were passed out to a program called Keiki Closet, which allows teachers in Maui to identify students in need and supply them with school supplies. In addition to the backpacks, 82 bookshelves stocked with more than 4,000 books that were given to Wailuku Elementary in order to start a school library.

The event took place during Terminix’s annual Awards of Excellence at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua on Maui. The “best of the best” at Terminix come together each year to celebrate the Awards of Excellence, and to complete a charity project.

“It’s an investment in the community that will perpetuate itself. These kids may be leaders for us in the future. Any time a company or organization can invest in the community, it rewards itself,” said Wes Otani, Hawaii region manager, Terminix.

“People felt good; you could tell,” Terminix’s Bell added. “We knew we were doing the right thing and we were helping people out. When we had the actual awards, kids from Wailuku Elementary came. I’m not sure if there was a dry eye in the house.”
 

Study: Consumers Find Pest
 

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Services Through Word of Mouth, Truck Signage

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Results from a recent Google survey conducted by Pest Control Marketing Systems (PCMS) found that 49 percent of U.S. consumers find a pest control company by referral from a friend or family member.

The survey polled 10,474 Internet users nationwide, 1,361 of which currently use a pest control firm. With such a percentage choosing companies based on a word-of-mouth referral, the survey results emphasize the importance of client retention and quality customer service, PCMS says.

The runners-up to referrals were online searches (13.1 percent), Yellow Pages listings (12.2 percent) and truck signage (12 percent), the firm reports. The survey suggests that because truck signage is inexpensive relative to Yellow Pages ads, truck signage is likely a more cost-effective marketing channel and yields a better return on investment for pest control companies.

While these numbers hold true for the general population, the data is slightly different for older age groups, the firm reports. For the 55+ demographic, 17 percent found their pest control company through Yellow Pages listings, where only 6 percent found them through online search. “Knowing this data, companies who focus on an older demographic should continue to invest in traditional marketing methods, such as Yellow Pages listings, and minimize their investment in online advertising,” said PCMS President Ryan Levesque.

A summary of the survey results can be found at www.pestcontrolmarketingsystems.com.

 

FMC Grant to Fund Workshops, Classroom Resources and More

PHILADELPHIA — FMC Corporation recently sponsored free professional development workshops, resources and a teacher’s lounge at the Philadelphia Science Festival through a $100,000 grant, the company announced.

On April 20, teachers were able to see non-stop experiments, interactive activities and a line-up of live entertainment at the Science Carnival on the Parkway, and all regional teachers were invited to visit the Science Carnival teacher’s lounge for free classroom resources, to meet scientists and to register to win a school supplies gift card or a teacher trip to an FMC research lab.

Also, through its “Teaching the Science of Curiosity” grant, FMC is sponsoring a free Summer Science Institute course for Philadelphia School District teachers. An FMC scientist will visit these courses, which cover an introduction to chemistry, astronomy, landforms, sound and restless earth.

“By connecting teachers with real scientists and giving them training and resources, they will be better equipped to engage students and spark their interest in future job opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math,” says Barbara Del Duke, FMC’s senior manager of public affairs and community relations. “Students can turn today’s curiosity into tomorrow’s innovation.”

FMC cited research that has shown that students are more curious and interested when they connect science principles with real-world applications for their sponsorship of these programs. “Public education budgets, especially in Philadelphia, are stretched. FMC is providing a solution because our scientists remember the teachers who inspired them. That’s the important work science teachers do every day,” Del Duke added.
 

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Univar Names FVM Strategic Communications as New Agency of Record

AUSTIN, Texas — FVM Strategic Communications (FVM), a full-service communications and advertising agency based in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., has been named brand agency of record for Univar Environmental Sciences.

Karl J. Kisner, vice president of marketing for Univar Environmental Sciences, said the agency’s focus will be on enhancing Univar’s brand identity and positioning the company as a global distributor of specialty chemicals and equipment.

“FVM will work closely with Univar’s marketing department to improve our merchandising, marketing and integration of the use of new technologies,” Kisner said. “This will help us create better selling tools.”

“We’re excited to hit the ground running with Univar. We feel confident that our expertise in strategic communication and deep understanding of the pest control industry will only add to our overall experience with them,” said Laurie Van Metre, president and founding partner of FVM.

FVM’s breadth of services and capabilities combined with more than two decades of experience within the pest control industry, as well as public health and turf and ornamental markets, made it a natural fit for Univar Environmental Sciences, Univar said. FVM was most recently the agency of record for BASF Pest Control Solutions.
 

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Critter Lookup App Now on iTunes

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Critter Control has made available its new Critter Lookup app for the iPhone, used for identifying wildlife and insects.

Users can browse a catalog of small, medium and large mammals, snakes and reptiles, insects and birds to identify the animal or pest in a yard or home, Critter Control said.

The app also features a photo identification component. Users can snap a picture and email it directly to a Critter Control representative, who will reply with an identification, the company said.
 

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Temprid ‘Save the Day’ Winner Announced

MONROE, Ohio — Bayer announced Robert Dunlap, owner of No-Bugs Pest Management, Monroe, Ohio, as the winner of its Temprid “Save the Day” Contest.

Last summer, Bayer called upon PMPs to share triumphant stories of when they “saved the day” by tackling a pest problem using Temprid SC Insecticide. Following several months of online voting by PMPs across the country, Dunlap was declared the winner and recipient of free Temprid and an all-expense paid trip for four to Las Vegas.

For more information visit www.backedbybayer.com.
 

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Juan Angulo Jr. Honored at UPF&DA Spring Conference

Orlando, Fla. — Juan Angulo Jr., the second-generation owner of Superior-Angran, San Juan, Puerto Rico, was named an “Honorary Member” of UPF&DA at the organization’s Spring Conference, April 23-24, in Orlando, Fla.

Angulo is one of a handful of industry representatives to be named an “Honorary Member” of UPF&DA. Others on the distinguished list include Millard and Ada Oldham, Oldham Chemicals Co.; Bill Brehm, B&G Equipment Co.; Juan Angulo Sr., Superior-Angran; Norm Ehmann, Univar; Tom Forshaw Jr., Forshaw Chemicals; Cal Stephenson Sr., Stephenson Chemical Co.; and Clayton Wright, B&G Chemicals & Equipment Co.

Prior to UPF&DA President Tommy Reeves presenting the award to Angulo at a reception on the first day of the conference, PCT Publisher Dan Moreland shared Angulo’s family history with those in attendance.

“The history of the pest management industry…is the history of families. And few families are as universally respected or loved more unconditionally than the Angulo family,” he said. “Perhaps because of their remarkable personal history, the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers of the Angulo clan, appreciate family more than most. That’s because this ‘First Family’ of the Caribbean pest management industry — with its early roots in Cuba — was nearly broken apart during Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959.”

Juan Angulo Jr. was only 9 years old when he fled his family’s homeland with his mother and sister, posing as tourists, to escape the increasingly repressive Castro regime. “Each of us had $5 in our pockets, which is the only money they would allow us to take with us,” he recalls. “In Havana Airport the authorities took us to different rooms to interrogate and search us because people were trying to take jewelry and other valuables out of the country. But we had to appear like we were visiting family in the United States, so we didn’t take anything but our clothes and $5,” leaving behind their father, who had hatched the plan in pursuit of the ultimate human aspiration — freedom to shape one’s own destiny.

Juan’s mother, Maria, said she cried when the airplane rolled down the runway and lifted off from Havana International Airport, leaving behind the man she first met as a young girl in Cuba. “We were leaving everything behind we had worked so hard for and I was leaving without my husband. We were all alone.”

“Unable to secure a visa to flee the country through traditional channels, Juan Angulo Sr. obtained one under an assumed name and flew to Jamaica a few months later, where he let his family know he was alive,” Moreland said. “While in Jamaica, with the help of the Catholic Church, he served as manager of a halfway house for displaced immigrants, helping Cubans re-establish themselves in a new country.”

After three months, the elder Angulo was able to scrape together enough money to travel to Miami and rejoin his family. Ultimately, the family relocated to Puerto Rico in 1960, where Juan Sr. accepted a position selling pesticides for a local agricultural products distribution company.

He launched Superior-Angran from the family’s garage in 1972. “The rest, as they say, is history,” Moreland said. “Juan and his wife, Sylvia, followed in their mother’s and father’s footsteps, investing in the business and expanding the family’s legacy throughout the Caribbean, extending a helping hand to fledgling pest control businesses throughout the region, much as Juan Angulo Sr. was given a helping hand during his darkest hours decades before.

“Perhaps because they were forced to leave so many family members behind when they fled Cuba with only the clothes on their back,” Moreland said, “the Angulo’s appreciate the value of relationships, and work particularly hard to nurture their ‘family’ relationships — both personal and professional — more than most.”

It’s a legacy that continues to this very day as the third generation of the family, Jacqueline Angulo, manages the day-to-day operations of the business.

In reflecting about her father, Jacqueline says the first word that comes to mind is “honor” because, she says, “he always does things for the right reason, for the greater good,” a lesson rooted in his family’s deep faith. Jacqueline says her father is the perfect complement to her mother — the love of Juan’s life — who is more talkative and outspoken than her husband, a strong woman with a passionate streak and an artist’s creative sensibilities. “They are like the sun and the moon,” she says, “one cannot live without the other.”

At 60, Juan Jr.’s life “has come full circle,” Moreland said, “grandfather of Carolina, 8, and Sebastian, 7, about the same age he was when he was forced to flee Cuba more than half a century ago, a frightened boy with an uncertain future.”

That future is no longer uncertain today thanks to the hard work and dedication of Juan Angulo Jr., a man who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the pest management industry and UPF&DA.