[News]

UPF&DA Charts Future at Annual Spring Conference

DALLAS, TEXAS – The ongoing evolution of the pest management industry also is requiring organizations like the United Producers, Formulators & Distributors Association (UPF&DA) to evolve. Industry consolidation, the "Great Recession" and static or declining membership have put added pressure on UPF&DA, as well as other industry trade groups, to adjust their mission in order to remain relevant.

Following disappointing attendance at last year’s Annual Spring Conference in Lake Tahoe, Calif., as well as a number of internal discussions about the pros and cons of holding its annual meeting in conjunction with RISE, a national trade association representing producers and suppliers of specialty pesticides, UPF&DA fielded a research study to assess member attitudes about the group’s long-term mission.

The study produced a number of interesting results, including a desire by members of the 42-year-old association to expand beyond its core strength as a networking organization. "The networking is great," observed Pete Comis, national sales manager, Bayer Environmental Science, but if the organization is to grow it needs wider exposure throughout the industry, as well as "out-of-the-box" thinking moving forward.

"I think the industry is mature and we have to decide how to address the needs of all of its members," added Tommy Reeves, vice president, Oldham Chemicals Co. "We’ve got to figure out how to get those people to the table."

One of the key challenges facing UPF&DA is a lack of clarity regarding its long-term mission. When members were asked why they joined UPF&DA, networking opportunities and staying on top of industry issues were mentioned most often in the survey, followed by member support and providing a unified voice for the industry (see chart).

"The fact members join UPF&DA for a broad range of benefits is great, but it also makes it difficult to focus on a single mission," observed Dan Moreland, publisher of PCT magazine, who moderated a panel discussion at this year’s Annual Spring Conference titled, "Why Do We Need UPF&DA?" The panel featured Steve Levy, Bell Laboratories; Tom Forshaw III, Forshaw Distribution; and Millard and Ada Oldham, Oldham Chemicals. All four participants spoke highly of how UPF&DA has benefitted their businesses, offering networking opportunities and a much-needed voice for formulators and distributors of specialty chemicals.

Levy described UPF&DA as a "standing army" of people ready and willing to protect the industry’s interests. "We don’t have an activist agenda, but it’s a very tight network," Levy told PCT in an interview prior to the Spring Conference. "If there’s a need to communicate, we’re able to do it rapidly. A group like this helps keep us focused as an industry and allows us to better communicate to the outside world."

While acknowledging critics who say UPF&DA’s accomplishments in recent years are somewhat lacking, Levy said, "I’m not sure that’s our charter. I think the cost of being a member of UPF&DA, attending the Spring Conference and participating in the meeting at NPMA PestWorld is a small price to pay for touching base with one another, promoting the industry and staving off all the demons we’re constantly fighting off. The work we do is very important." In addition, he said, UPF&DA allows him to stay on top of industry issues.

UPF&DA President Larry Eichler said he’s heard the criticism as well, which is why the organization decided to conduct the survey. "Our membership gave us a mandate to make some changes," he said, which UPF&DA has, starting with a more central location for its Annual Spring Conference, which was held in Dallas this year. "Gratefully, the attendance bore out we did the right thing and answered the call from our membership," he said. (This year’s conference drew 15% more attendees than in 2009.) "We took the survey results to heart and built the conference around it. We got remarkable feedback that there was still a lot of interest in our organization."

"This is an organization I’m very proud to be a member of," added Membership Chairman Chuck Kaz, president of The Bug Stop, Inc. "Everybody can bring something to the table. Let’s get the membership growing. If we’re not growing we’re dying."

Jim Sickora of Ehrlich Distribution, a relatively new member of the organization, said he finds his UPF&DA membership valuable. "I value the fact we are able to get together with a small group," he said. "I want to continue to support the goals of UPF&DA."

Perhaps Millard Oldham, one of the founding members of the association, said it best: "We need each other."

For additional information about UPF&DA or to become a member, contact Executive Director Valera Jessee at 770/417-1881 or visit www.UPFDA.net.
 

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NPMA and California association issue Endangered Species Act guidance

Fairfax, Va. – In conjunction with the Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC), the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has issued a guidance document for California PCOs on how to comply with a Stipulated Injunction ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, restricting the use of 75 pesticides in eight San Francisco Bay-area counties to protect 11 federally listed threatened or endangered species. The counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties, and most rodenticides and termiticides are among the restricted pesticides.

The Stipulated Injunction stems from a 2007 lawsuit filed by the activist group Center for Biological Diversity alleging that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to meet its obligation under the Endangered Species Act to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. While EPA does assess the potential risk a pesticide poses to wildlife including threatened and endangered species during the initial registration and re-evaluation processes, it has not formally consulted with the services when doing so, leaving it vulnerable to litigation.

The use restrictions outlined in the Stipulated Injunction will stay in place until EPA completes its review and any necessary consultation with the services, regarding the potential effects of a pesticide active ingredient to the subject species. In the meantime, the interim protective measures are no-use buffer zones adjacent to certain features within certain geographic areas in the eight counties. The buffer zones are different depending on the species at issue and the pesticide being used.

NPMA and PCOC expressed concerns about some of the restrictions included in the original proposal EPA issued for public comment last summer. Some of the use restrictions outlined in the Stipulated Injunction adopted by the court, including the use of rodenticides and termiticides and public health vector control programs, are greatly relaxed from the restrictions that were originally proposed.

Editor’s Note: Visit http://www.epa.gov/espp/litstatus/factsheet.html to see the full list of restricted pesticides and the species identified in the Stipulated Injunction. (The use of pesticides indoors is not covered by the Stipulated Injunction.)

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USDA begins national survey of honey bee
pests and diseases

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in June the beginning of a 13-state survey of honey bee pests and diseases conducted cooperatively by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU). The survey will help USDA scientists determine the prevalence of parasites and disease-causing microorganisms that may be contributing to the nationwide decline of honey bee colonies.

"Bee health is critical for the success of pollination-based agriculture, which produces about a third of our diet in the United States," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "There has been a disturbing drop in the number of U.S. bee colonies over the last few years while the demand for commercial bee pollination services continues to grow, and this survey will help us to better understand the factors threatening our honey bees so we can take effective action to protect them and the crops that they pollinate."

The voluntary survey includes 350 apiaries across 13 states and will last through the end of the year. APHIS developed the survey protocol jointly with ARS and PSU and allocated $550,000, provided by Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill, for the survey. Survey kits have been mailed to state apiary specialists, who will collect samples of bees and debris from the apiaries in their states. ARS and PSU scientists will test the samples for specific pests and pathogens. APHIS is particularly interested to know whether foreign mites of the genus Tropilaelaps have entered the United States.

The survey takes place in Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Once all the samples have been analyzed, APHIS will summarize the results and post the summary on its Web site.

Beekeeping is an essential component of modern U.S. agriculture, providing pollination services for more than 90 commercial crops and adding $15 billion in value. Since the 1980s, however, a number of factors have contributed to the declining health of U.S. honey bee colonies, including colony collapse disorder (CCD). In colonies exhibiting CCD, adult bees leave the hive and never return, abandoning the queen and eggs. APHIS, ARS, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and a number of other organizations have formed a CCD working group, which is researching the possible causal agent(s) of CCD. The survey results will provide valuable information in this effort.

For more information about the survey, please visit the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/honey_bees/survey.shtml.

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DATE BOOK

Aug. 3-5: Shooting in Sensitive Environments Workshop, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb. Contact: Stephen Vantassel, svantassel2@unl.edu or 402/472-8961 or visit http://icwdm.org.

Aug. 5-7: NPMA’s Carolinas/Mid-Atlantic Summer Conference 2010, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C. Contact: NPMA, 703/352-6762 or visit www.npmapestworld.org.

Aug. 29 -Sept. 1: 2010 Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials Annual Meeting, Charleston, W.Va. Contact: Bonnie Rabe 505/646-2133 or brabe@nmda.nmsu.ed.

Sept. 7-10: RISE 20th Annual Meeting, Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Fla. Contact: 202/872-3860 or visit www.pestfacts.org.

Sept. 8: NPMA’s Bed Bug Symposium (Oakland), Hilton Oakland Airport, Oakland, Calif. Contact: See Aug. 5-7.

Sept. 10: NPMA’s Bed Bug Symposium (Anaheim), Doubletree Hotel Anaheim/Orange County, Anaheim, Calif. Contact: See Aug. 5-7.

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Terminix’s John Chapman Passes Away at Age 60

MEMPHIS – John Chapman, director of technical services at Memphis, Tenn.-based Terminix, passed away on June 21. He was 60.

A graduate of Michigan State University, Chapman possessed a lifelong passion for nature and science. He began his career with Terminix in 1971 as a service professional at the company’s franchise in Corpus Christi, Texas. Chapman went on to lead a 38-year career with the organization, serving in various technical and leadership roles across the country.

He moved into a management role in 1974 when he accepted an assistant managerial position at the company’s Fort Worth franchise, but his heart never strayed far from the technical specialization and service aspects of the profession where his background was rooted. During his time at Terminix, he became one of the company’s foremost experts in termite behavior and treatment, and he was widely known as one of the pest control industry’s most trusted minds.

Prior to his death, Chapman served for 25 years as director of technical services at the Terminix corporate office in Memphis. He is survived by Sue, his wife of 38 years, and his two daughters (Stacey and Jennifer) and six grandchildren.

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NPMA announces results of 2010-2011 Board election

Fairfax, Va. – The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) announced the results of its annual board elections.  Kevin Kordek (A-Active Termite & Pest Control Co., Virginia Beach, Va.) has been elected to serve as president.  Ray Johnson (Johnson Pest Control, Sevierville, Tenn.) will serve as vice president. Laura Simpson (Dugas Pest Control of Baton Rouge, Inc., Baton Rouge, La.) will serve as treasurer and Kevin Pass (Action Pest Control, Evansville, Ind.) has been elected to serve as secretary.

"I am pleased to be selected as the association president by my industry peers," said Kordek. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue to promote the general interest and welfare of the pest management industry, as well as reinforce the value of pest management in protecting public health and property."

New members of the NPMA Board of Directors include:

• Past President Representative: Steven Scherzinger, Scherzinger Pest Control (Cincinnati, Ohio)

• At Large Director: Rick Bell, Arrow Exterminators (Atlanta, Ga.)

• At Large Director: Phil Cooper, Cooper Pest Solutions (Lawrenceville, N.J.)

• At Large Director: Mark O’Hara, Anderson Pest Solutions (Elmhurst, Ill.)

• At Large Director: Craig Thomas, Craig Thomas Pest Control, Inc. (Hyde Park, N.Y.)

• At Large Director: Alfie Treleven, Sprague Pest Solutions (Tacoma, Wash.)

• Region 2 Director: Don Jamison, Jamison Pest and Lawn (Nashville, Tenn.)

• Region 3 Director: Todd Sawyer, Sawyer, Inc. (Boise, Idaho)

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SipcamAdvan announces recent reorganization

Durham, N.C. – SipcamAdvan announced that Bob Yarborough has been appointed senior national accounts manager. Yarborough will focus on both maintaining and building SipcamAdvan relationships with customers. In addition, he will have responsibility for the Biocides and Home and Garden businesses.

Also effective immediately, George Furrer has been appointed director of specialty business. Furrer will have responsibility for both the marketing and sales of the turf and ornamental segments including sales management.

"Bob’s experience, expertise and excellent relationships with customers will further strengthen our commitment to be a distribution-focused organization," said Adam Burnhams, vice president of marketing and sales, SipcamAdvan.

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Greg Baumann resigns from NPMA; Joins Rollins’ technical services team

Fairfax, va. – Greg Baumann, vice president of technical services for the National Pest Management Association, recent-ly resigned to join Rollins Inc. as technical services director.

In his new role, Baumann will report to Tom Luczynski, Rollins corporate secretary and vice president of Orkin international development, franchising and support services. As part of the technical services group he will work alongside Paul Hardy, Frank Meek and Ron Harrison, all well-known names in the pest management industry.

"We are very happy to add Greg’s impressive breadth of experience to Rollins," said Luczynski. "He has been a very strong industry leader, and we look forward to the knowledge he will bring to our already impressive technical team."

Baumann told PCT this new position is a "wonderful opportunity to combine my technical and project management skills."

NPMA Executive Vice President Rob Lederer said, "Greg has been a tremendous asset to the organization and its membership for nearly two decades. While we are sorry to see Greg leave, we congratulate him on this new opportunity and wish him nothing but the best of luck."

Baumann, a 2006 PCT/Syngenta Professional Products Crown Leadership Award winner, has varied experience in the pest management industry, including time spent as corporate quality assurance auditor for The Hershey Company and operating his own home inspection business.

In related NPMA news, on March 31, Dr. Kathy Heinsohn, an entomologist for the association since 2006, left that position to join American Pest Management, Takoma Park, Md. As of press time, that position had not been filled.

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PCO News

Cascade Pest Control, based in Bellevue, Wash., acquired Executive Pest Control, also of Bellevue. The company also announced it re-launched its Web site, which now features a live chat feature, simplified navigation, streamlined news and customer review opportunities.

The team at Cook’s Pest Control, Decatur, Ala., recently protected its 100,000th structure with the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. Cook’s is one of the first authorized operators of the Sentricon system to reach this milestone.

A All Animal Control has opened two new franchises. The company’s Central Mountains, Colo., franchise, which opened in February, serves wildlife control customers in the counties of Clear Creek, Gilipin, Grand and Summit. And the company’s Northwest Louisiana office, which opened in March, serves customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

American Pest Management, Takoma Park, Md., was recently featured on the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," when it donated installation and service of the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System to help protect properties donated to a family and a nonprofit organization. Dow AgroSciences donated the components for the baiting system. For the eighth straight year, Training magazine recognized Atlanta-based Orkin as a Top 125 company at its annual awards banquet in February. In the awards, Orkin ranked No. 59 in 2010, up from No. 83 in 2009. Training magazine also recognized Orkin with an Outstanding Training Initiative award for its Women’s Resource Group’s Diamond Partnership Mentoring Program.

Faulkner Pest Service, Amarillo, Texas, won the pest service category for the Best of Amarillo Awards three years in a row. Owners John Faulkner and Kelly Byers partnered in 2008 to help meet the expanding customer needs in the Amarillo and Panhandle areas.

Alpha Ecological, based in Vancouver, Wash., acquired Cascade Pest Control of McMinnville, Ore., Ideal Pest Control of Phoenix, Ariz., and Bug Busters of Tucson, Ariz. The company now operates in six states: Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and Idaho.

Rentokil/Ehrlich Pest Control acquired Mountain Pest Control of Pocono Summit, Pa. Mountain Pest Control is a family-owned and -operated business that has been servicing Eastern Pennsylvania since 1980.

Bird Doctor Nationwide recently installed a bird control misting system at the New York Mets Citi Field stadium in Flushing, N.Y. Bird Doctor was contacted by Citi Field to prevent birds such as pigeons from taking up residence in the new stadium.

Western Exterminator Company, Anaheim, Calif., was named as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orange County Register. The company had been nominated as a Top Workplace by its employees.

ProTech Termite and Pest Control of Springfield, Va., has been approved for bedbugFREE membership.