Rentokil and Steritech Announce New North America Branding Initiative

READING, Pa. — Rentokil North America announced that following the acquisition of The Steritech Group in October 2015, it is rebranding its North American pest control operations as Rentokil Steritech.

The joining of Rentokil and Steritech creates an “unparalleled wealth of technical expertise and resources to provide superior commercial and residential pest services to customers in the United States and Canada,” the firm says. In the United States, Rentokil Steritech customers will be serviced by Rentokil’s regional brands: J.C. Ehrlich, Presto-X and Western Exterminator, while Canadian pest control services will operate under the name Rentokil Steritech. In order to ensure consistency, all Rentokil Steritech entities will follow the same service protocols in order to provide uniform service to all North American customers.

The Steritech Brand Standards business, a leading provider of food safety and operational assessments designed to help businesses mitigate risk and drive top line sales, will continue to operate under the Steritech name.

“We’re excited to bring together these great organizations,” said John Myers, CEO of Rentokil North America.

“It allows us to provide our customers with enhanced world-class service to protect their employees, customers, and businesses from pest dangers. With our network of more than 4,000 pest experts and technicians and a deeper well of technical resources than ever before, Rentokil Steritech is able to deliver comprehensive pest management solutions to any size business in North America.”

Correction

In the May Top 100 List, PCT incorrectly listed the location of Allgood Pest Solutions, #29. The firm is headquartered in Duluth (Atlanta), Ga. PCT apologizes for the error.

Rockwell Labs Internship Program Encourages Women to Pursue Careers in Sciences and Engineering

NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This spring, Rockwell Labs Ltd continued its internship program to encourage young women to pursue careers in science and engineering.

High school students Katie Prendergast, Taylor Messer and Ashlyn Liska completed the program through Northland CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) in which they worked at Rockwell for two-and-a-half hours per day during the 2016 spring semester in lieu of normal class work.

The students each spent time working in both the chemistry laboratory and the manufacturing area. Chemistry lab work included product quality control and specification testing, formulation work and product development. According to Rockwell, the company recently purchased its most advanced piece of high-speed, automated manufacturing equipment to date. The students assisted in the extensive testing and qualification to get the new machine running and producing product according to its specifications. They also assisted in the ongoing implementation of the company’s 5S and advanced manufacturing initiatives.

Both Prendergast and Messer graduated from high school in the spring and Liska has one more year. All three students have paid internships at Rockwell over the summer as well. Prendergast will attend Kansas State University, majoring in chemical engineering this fall. Messer will attend Creighton University in Nebraska to study biochemistry. Liska enjoys chemistry lab work and is looking forward to completing another CAPS internship this coming year in a different area of chemistry.

In addition, Sarah Piburn, who had participated in the CAPS program in spring of 2015, worked at Rockwell during winter break this past year and is now back this summer after completing her first successful year of engineering school.

“I continue to be impressed by the many talents and the drive and poise of these young women,” said Rockwell founder and CEO Cisse Spragins, Ph.D. “Taylor is definitely the academic one with a strong interest in research, and is an accomplished flute player as well. Katie is outgoing and practical, and has also spent the last three years assisting in the broadcasting of various sporting events. And Ashlyn, well, she just gets it done.”

University of Kentucky Announces 46th Annual Program

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The 46th Annual University of Kentucky Pest Control Short Course will be held Nov. 8-10, in Lexington, Ky. The conference includes a money-back satisfaction guarantee and features one of the strongest educational programs in the country, organizers say. Topics featured on this year’s program include how to “think” like an insect; diseases at the doorstep; multifamily housing; people versus profit; tips on running a small company; a workshop on servicing hotels, hospitals, schools, offices and food accounts; and helpful sessions on managing termites, fleas, bed bugs and varmints.

Featured speakers include Jeff Tucker, Larry Pinto, Fred Strickland, Sandy Seay, Mark Sheperdigian, Judy Black, Dan Collins, Stan Cope and T.J. Neary.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael F. Potter, Department of Entomology, S-225 Agricultural Science Building North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091; phone 859/257-5955; or email dthorpe@uky.edu. The conference is sponsored by the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology in cooperation with the Kentucky Pest Management Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Membership Nomination Forms Now Being Accepted

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Pi Chi Omega’s Membership Committee says it is looking forward to reviewing membership nomination forms for prospective new members before its next membership meeting at NPMA PestWorld in Seattle.

All nomination forms to be considered at PestWorld need to be received by the executive office by Sept. 6.

How can current Pi Chi Omega members help recruit new members?

1. Download the Membership Nomination Form and the Member Info Card at the organization’s website.
2. Read the form and familiarize yourself with the process.
3. Send an e-mail to a friend in the industry, who is not currently a member, who you think would be a great addition to the fraternity. Include a personal invitation to them. Sign the application under “Proposer” and include the signed application in your e-mail to the prospective member.
4. Encourage him or her to complete the application and get a second sponsor to sign it, then e-mail it to the executive office (office@pichiomega.org) no later than Sept. 6.

Stefany Hedman Westenskow Assumes President/CEO Positions at ThermaPure

VENTURA, Calif. — The ThermaPure companies announced in June that Stefany Hedman Westenskow has assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of E-Therm and TPE Associates, the licensing companies for ThermaPureHeat. Westenskow succeeds her father, David Hedman, who passed away peacefully at home on May 13 after battling cancer for several months. Hedman, age 59, was founder, president and CEO of the ThermaPure family of companies — Precision Environmental, PrecisionWorks, E-Therm, TPE and ThermaPure — and made remarkable contributions to the pest control and restoration industries by developing Therma-Pure’s structural pasteurization process of sterilizing structures using clean, hot air, the firm said.

“Our family and all of us at ThermaPure are deeply saddened to share the news of my father’s passing,” Westenskow said. “He leaves behind an important legacy of leadership, dedication to service, family and faith.”

Hedman’s passion as an inventor and entrepreneur began when he studied engineering and economics at Stanford University. He started the first of a series of companies out of a desire to reduce environmental hazards in residential and commercial structures without using chemicals. In the 1990s, he began developing ThermaPureHeat, the now-patented technology that is the application of clean, dry, hot air to a structure to reduce or eliminate environmental contaminants. Nearly 30 years later, Hedman’s invention is the leading technology in removing environmental hazards from homes and workplaces, with numerous patents and trademarks, according to the company.

Westenskow has been part of the ThermaPure companies’ leadership since 2007 and worked closely with her father on all management and operations issues while also overseeing the legal department for three years beginning in 2013. Westenskow says she plans to grow the ThermaPure brand with a renewed mission to protect and pursue innovative and environmentally sound solutions for pest and restoration issues. Westenskow is committed to honoring Hedman’s memory by “continuing the work he believed in so deeply and protecting what he worked so hard to achieve.” She pledged to run the companies as usual and as her father founded them, “with a stalwart and dedicated focus on innovation, environmental consciousness, teamwork, honesty, and smart and ethical business practices.”

Newly Redesigned Website for Green Gorilla Pro Line Vi

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Green Gorilla Pro Line Vi announced the launch of a new website, www.green-gorilla.com.

“Our market research and feedback from pest management professionals showed that a new website was critical so that users could find additional information with respect to this innovative technology, what options are available for the end users, how the system works and ease of use,” said Joe Malinowski, vice president of business development for Green Gorilla.

“We also added to the website a ‘Day in the Life’ video of a PMP as he goes about his day using the Green Gorilla Pro Line Vi,” he said. “We’re excited about the continued support to the pest control industry with respect to finding out more about the future in delivery systems.” Visit the new website at www.green-gorilla.com.

TruGreen and Scotts LawnService Close Merger

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — TruGreen announced in April it completed its merger with Scotts LawnService. Scotts LawnService is a former subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The merger of two companies in professional lawn service will bring more resources, local experts, enhanced service and innovation to customers, with a shared belief that life is better lived outside, the firm says.

As a result of the merger, TruGreen is expanding its services in lawn, tree and shrub care to about 2.3 million residential and commercial customers across the U.S. and Canada. TruGreen President and CEO David Alexander leads the newly combined company, which will operate as a privately held company under the TruGreen brand and remain headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Jim Gimeson, former president of Scotts LawnService, joins as chief operating officer, and John Compton, a Clayton, Dubillier & Rice (CD&R) operating partner and former PepsiCo president, will continue to serve as TruGreen’s chairman.

“This continues the significant momentum we have experienced since becoming a standalone company, and we’re excited to expand the capabilities we can bring to our customers to help them live more of their lives outside,” Alexander said.

Bayer Launches New Digital Educational Resource

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Environmental Science, a business unit within the Crop Science division of Bayer, announced the launch of a new digital educational resource for pest management professionals and distributer sales representatives (DSRs) within the pest management industry. The new Suspend PolyZone eLearning Module is now available for download on iPad via the Apple App store.

Suspend PolyZone is primarily an outdoor perimeter spray that offers up to 90 days of residual control through a novel polymer lattice that protects the active ingredient, deltamethrin, the company says. The eLearning module contains information about Suspend PolyZone, including proper application, efficacy and business benefits.

“Suspend PolyZone allows PMPs to extend their treatment interval, use less active ingredient and reduce callbacks,” said Ray Daniels, product manager, General Insect Control, Environmental Science Business Unit, Crop Science Division. “This module offers PMPs and DSRs a convenient way to find product information and train technicians on the proper use of the solution.”

For more information visit www.backedbybayer.com, or contact your local Bayer field sales representative or Bayer Customer Service at 800/331-2867.

Census Bureau: Five of the Nation’s 11 Fastest-Growing Cities in ‘The Lone Star’ State

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Georgetown, Texas, saw its population rise 7.8 percent between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, making it the nation’s fastest-growing city with a population of 50,000 or more, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Georgetown is part of the Austin-Round Rock metro area, which crossed the 2 million population threshold in 2015 for the first time, according to statistics released earlier this year. This metro area is also home to Pflugerville, the nation’s 11^th fastest-growing large city. Austin itself added more people over the period (19,000) than all but seven other U.S. cities.

Texas was home to five of the 11 fastest-growing cities (New Braunfels, Frisco and Pearland were the others), and five of the eight that added the most people (Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Dallas were the others).

New York remained the nation’s most populous city and gained 55,000 people during the year ending July 1, 2015, which is more than any other U.S. city. New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which is a separate county equivalent of New York State. The five boroughs are Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island. Queens (16,700), Brooklyn (16,000) and the Bronx (13,700) accounted for the bulk of New York’s growth.

Denver joined the list of the 20 most populous cities in the United States, moving up two spots to 19^th. It displaced Detroit, which fell from 18^th to 21^st. In addition, Seattle moved up two spots to 18th. Denver and Seattle were both among the nation’s 11 top numerically gaining cities.

Among the 15 fastest-growing cities, the only one outside the South or West was Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines. It grew by 6.5 percent, ranking third. Ankeny completed a special census on Dec. 10, 2014, that showed the population to be 54,598. The 2015 estimate puts the population at 56,764.

The statistics released cover all local functioning governmental units, including incorporated places (like cities and towns), minor civil divisions (such as townships) and consolidated cities (government units for which the functions of an incorporated place and its parent county have merged).

Other highlights:

• Seven cities crossed the 100,000 population threshold between 2014 and 2015: Hillsboro, Ore.; Vista, Calif.; Greeley, Colo.; Davie, Fla.; San Angelo, Texas; Jurupa Valley, Calif.; and Renton, Wash.
• Seven cities crossed the 50,000 population mark for the first time between 2014 and 2015: Poway, Calif.; Bonita Springs, Fla.; Edina, Minn.; Galveston, Texas; Logan, Utah; Leesburg, Va.; and Olympia, Wash. Two cities dropped below this threshold: Troy, N.Y., and Charleston, W.Va.
• Aside from New York, each of the 15 cities that gained the highest number of people between 2014 and 2015 were in the South or West. Three were in California (Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco).
• Arlington, Texas, rejoined the list of the 50 most populous cities, displacing Cleveland.
• Among the 50 largest cities in the country, there were several other cities that moved more than one position on the population ranking list since 2014. In addition to Denver and Seattle, Portland, Ore., rose two positons to 26^th; Baltimore fell three positions to 29^th; Colorado Springs moved up two positions to 40^th; and Omaha, Neb., fell two positions to 43rd.
• Last December, the Census Bureau released state population estimates that showed North Carolina crossed the 10 million population threshold for the first time. Contributing to the state reaching this milestone were Charlotte, which added nearly 18,000 people to make it the 10^th largest numerical gainer in the country, and Raleigh added roughly 11,000 people to rank 18^th. These two cities accounted for almost 28 percent of the state’s population growth.
• California and Arizona each had two cities on the list of the 15 fastest growing.
• Mount Pleasant, S.C., was the nation’s 10th fastest-growing city. Mount Pleasant is part of the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, one of the nation’s 20 fastest growing.
• Of the 19,505 incorporated places in the United States, around 76 percent (14,804) had fewer than 5,000 people in 2015. Only about 3.9 percent (754) had populations of 50,000 or more.

For more detailed information about the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., visit www.census.gov.

Freedom Solar, ABC Partner on San Antonio Solar Project

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — ABC Home & Commercial Services in San Antonio is now powered by the sun, thanks to a project recently completed by Freedom Solar Power.

Powered by 152 SunPower 327-watt, high-efficiency modules, this solar project will offset more than 75 percent of ABC’s electricity costs, and it will pay for itself in less than four years, the firm says. The solar project will save ABC Home & Commercial a total of $250,000 over the next 25 years, the guaranteed lifetime of the system.

“We’re excited to partner with one of Texas’ largest privately held companies on this meaningful new project,” says Kyle Frazier, Freedom Solar Power’s director of sales.

The environmental impact of the new solar project is equivalent to planting 47.5 trees or removing 5.8 cars from the road. “But this is just the icing on the cake,” Frazier says. “The real green for most building owners is the high yield on the investment, in this case a more than 20 percent internal rate of return. There isn’t a better place to invest, with less volatility, than solar power right now.”

Founded in 2007, Freedom Solar Power is a leader in turnkey solar installations in Texas, providing high-quality, cost-effective, reliable solar solutions for residential and commercial markets, the company reports.

“More and more business owners like ABC are looking at their energy needs with a long-term perspective,” Frazier says. “Solar reduces long-term operating costs and paves the way for businesses to be more profitable and environmentally friendly. ABC has joined a growing list of visionary companies that have the foresight to plan ahead for the future of their businesses, customers and employees, and our environment,” Frazier says.

Bobby Jenkins, owner of ABC, says: “We are a family-owned and -operated company founded in San Antonio that has decades of history serving the great state of Texas. The installation of this new solar project is another way we can continue to build upon our ongoing commitment to sustainability and serve our customers for many generations to come.”