ServiceMaster Announces Acquisition of Gregory Pest Solutions

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In late October, ServiceMaster, parent company of Terminix, announced the acquisition of Gregory Pest Solutions, a $26.5 million firm based in Greenville, S.C., that ranked #30 on the PCT Top 100. Also in October, PCT reported that ServiceMaster closed on the acquisition of Chicago area-based McCloud Services. These acquisitions greatly expand ServiceMaster’s footprint in the Southeast and Midwest, respectively.

“We continue to deliver on our commitment to build an industry-leading commercial pest business, starting with our Copesan acquisition in 2018, and followed by the acquisitions of other Copesan providers such as Assured Environments and Cooper Pest (Solutions),” Nik Varty, CEO of ServiceMaster, said in a press release. “We are excited to continue our progress by welcoming two additional providers in Gregory and McCloud. These acquisitions are helping us build a multi-brand service network while strategically adding incredible commercial talent and capabilities to differentiate ourselves in the eyes of our customers, and to take advantage of having the most recognized and preferred brands in the commercial sector.”

Varty added, “The Gregory and McCloud acquisitions accelerate this commercial journey. By adding extremely talented industry experts with strong capabilities in a variety of commercial sectors such as farm-to-table and multifamily housing, we add to our previous capabilities in the areas of national accounts management, bed bug treatments and urban pest solutions.”

Phil Gregory, founder and CEO of Gregory Pest Solutions, said in the press release, “We firmly believe that it’s been our core value of taking care of people, both the employees and our customers, that has made Gregory Pest Solutions the success it is today. As a Copesan partner, we had the opportunity to experience how ServiceMaster conducts its business. It is because of the shared commitment to caring that we chose to partner with ServiceMaster.”

Ben Walker will continue to be president of Gregory Pest Solutions. In addition to this responsibility, he will be the Southeast area leader of commercial pest operations, reporting to Greg Rutherford, president of Terminix Commercial. This follows the recent announcement that Andrew Klein, former CEO of Assured Environments, will serve as Northeast area leader of commercial pest, reporting to Rutherford. Stephanie Dickson and Chris McCloud also will continue in their leadership roles for McCloud Services, which will take a leading position as part of Terminix’s Midwest division. The management teams of both businesses also will have continuing roles in the respective divisional management teams. — Brad Harbison

ServiceMaster Acquires McCloud Services

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — ServiceMaster acquired Elgin, Ill.-based McCloud Services, a $25 million firm that ranked #31 on the most recent PCT Top 100 list. The deal closed in early October, a ServiceMaster spokesperson confirmed.

Founded in 1904, McCloud Services has grown to become a leading pest control provider in the commercial sector, particularly health care, hospitality, property management and retail industries. McCloud Services protects more than half of the nation’s largest food-related brands and services a 10-state region with more than 200 employees.

Since 2008, McCloud Services has been led by CEO Chris McCloud. Earlier this year, longtime industry professional Stephanie Dickson was promoted to president of McCloud Services. Both Chris McCloud and Dickson will continue to lead the business in their current roles, alongside the company’s existing management team.

Greg Rutherford, president of Terminix Commercial, said in a statement, “We are excited about teaming up with Chris, Stephanie and the McCloud Services team. This partnership, based on innovative pest management in the food industry, will strengthen our position in the Midwest, and our ability to provide exceptional commercial pest management experiences.”

In addition to expanding its Midwest footprint, Terminix Commercial will benefit from McCloud’s expertise in providing a next generation, data-driven platform for integrated pest management in the food supply chain, Rutherford said in the statement. “We intend to leverage the McCloud team to help us apply their innovative food industry practices across our global pest management system, leading the way to accelerate better and safer food practices and providing protection to millions of families.”

McCloud Services is a current stockholder and original Copesan Services partner. Chris McCloud served on the Copesan Board of Directors beginning in 2007 and concluding in 2018 when Copesan Services was acquired by ServiceMaster.

McCloud Services will continue to operate under its current brand.

LR Tullius acted as exclusive financial adviser to McCloud on the transaction.

Matt Stevenson Out at Terminix

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — ServiceMaster announced the departure of Matt Stevenson as president of Terminix Residential, as part of its Oct. 22 earnings call. Stevenson joined Terminix in 2017.

ServiceMaster CEO Nik Varty said a search is underway for a successor. In the interim period, until a successor is named, Terminix Residential’s operational leadership team will report directly to Varty.

“I would like to thank Matt Stevenson for his contribution to our Terminix Residential business over the last two years,” Varty said. “We drove higher NPS scores, improved safety and customer retention and remain confident that we have significant potential to further improve our operational excellence by continuing our culture transformation and driving an improved customer experience.”

Chris Stelzig Named ESA’s Next Executive Director

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Christopher J. Stelzig, CAE, has been selected to be the next executive director of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Stelzig, currently ESA director of strategic initiatives, will begin the new role Dec. 1.

The ESA Governing Board in October elected to promote Stelzig, adding to his tenure with ESA that began in 2000. He will replace outgoing executive director C. David Gammel, who announced in October that he will resign from his position on Nov. 30.

“Chris Stelzig has been an all-star on the ESA staff for many years now, and the Society owes a great deal of its growth and success over the past decade to his leadership and work ethic,” says Robert K. D. Peterson, Ph.D., ESA president and professor of entomology at Montana State University. “ESA and the entomological community are fortunate to have someone as experienced as Chris ready to step into this role, and my colleagues and I on the ESA Governing Board are excited to continue working with him as we take the Society to new heights.”

Stelzig has played a leading role in the development and growth of several key initiatives at ESA in recent years. Under his direction, the Society has launched a burgeoning government relations program that has increased the influence of ESA and entomologists on Capitol Hill and within the scientific community, including the formation this year of the Vector-Borne Disease Network, a coalition of more than 20 like-minded organizations working to reduce the impact of vector-borne diseases.

Stelzig also has guided the efforts of ESA’s Grand Challenges Agenda for Entomology, including a summit on Zika virus and mosquitoes in Brazil in 2016, a global leadership summit later that year in Orlando, and a third on invasive arthropod species in Vancouver in 2018. In 2004, Stelzig oversaw the launch of ESA’s Associate Certified Entomologist program, which has steadily grown under his watch to now more than 1,200 certified pest management professionals.

“I am very honored to be selected to continue to serve ESA in this expanded role,” Stelzig says. “Under the Governing Board and David Gammel’s leadership, the Society has done great things, and I’m committed to helping our leadership to ensure that these successes continue. Our strategic principles of social responsibility, global impact and increasing influence are critical to our long-term success.”

Stelzig was first hired at the Entomological Society of America as a marketing and public affairs manager in 2000, and he became director of membership and marketing in 2002. Between 2008 and 2012 he managed ESA’s member services and data operations in an independent contractor role before returning to an ESA staff position as director of strategic initiatives in April 2012.

Nisus Corporation Purchases Assets of Lord’s Additives

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Nisus Corporation announced recently that the firm has completed the acquisition of the assets of Lord’s Additives from owners Sandra and Steve Bales. The purchase includes all EPA and Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency registrations, product names and intellectual property. The Lord’s Additives name will remain with the existing company; however, Lord’s will no longer be in the zinc borate business. According to Kevin L. Kirkland, president and CEO of Nisus Corporation, “Zinc borate was a natural next step for Nisus Corporation as it is a great product for our Wood Preservation Division and our Agricultural Division that will sell liquid micronutrients.”

Nisus says the purchase of the Lord’s Additives assets will jump-start the company’s zinc borate business by giving Nisus immediate access to EPA and PRMA registration and an existing customer base. Nisus is currently the largest purchaser of Disodium Octoborate Tetrahydrate (DOT) in both the pest control industry and the wood preservation industry.

Zinc borate is currently used as a preservative in oriented strand board (OSB), siding and other composite products. It is also used as a fire retardant.

“Working with Steve and Sandra Bales on this purchase has been a real pleasure,” says Kirkland. “They have built a wonderful business and we look forward to building on that success.”

Nisus says its mission is to offer quality, sustainable pest and wood preservative products to industry professionals while providing the lowest possible impact to the environment.

Faith Oi to Address NCPMA Pest Control Technician’s School

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) recently announced that Faith Oi of the University of Florida will serve as a speaker for the 2020 Pest Control Technician’s (PCT) School. In addition, the association announced that its hands-on training program will now be offered on-site at the PCT School.

Oi is an associate extension scientist in urban entomology at the University of Florida and will discuss termites at the PCT School. Her presentation is titled “Termite Control: More than Applying a Termiticide.”

The PCT School will feature nationally recognized speakers leading educational sessions for pest management professionals as well as hands-on training sessions for pest management technicians. The association has announced changes to its hands-on learning session launched in 2019. The PCT School will again feature the NCSU Hands-On Spray School and Live Learning Course, which will now be offered on-site at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham.

The PCT School will be held Jan. 26-30, 2020, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, N.C.

PCOC Announces Fumigation Website Contest Winners

LIBERTY, Mo. — Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) announced the winners of its first website contest, sponsored by PCOC and Douglas Products. The contest recognized participating PCOC member companies for educating consumers about using structural fumigation to eliminate drywood termites from their homes.

Taking first place was Best Rate Termite Company, Spring Valley, Calif. Proven Termite Solutions, based in San Jose, Calif., received second place, and Thrasher Termite and Pest Control, based in Los Gatos, Calif., was awarded third. Major League Pest, based in Vista, Calif., received an honorable mention.

To enter the contest, companies submitted screen shots of their website pages promoting structural fumigation. A panel of communication professionals judged entries based on how easy it was to navigate through information, the visual and video content, and the depth and quality of the information provided.

Awards included $2,500 toward a paid Google Ads campaign for first place and $1,500 toward a paid Google Ads campaign for second place. In addition, first, second and third place winners received two co-branded Vikane literature pieces from Douglas Products. All four winners were awarded co-branded fumigation facts business cards.

“A company’s website may be the deciding factor whether or not the consumer contacts the company,” said Hannah Strasser, marketing manager for Douglas Products. “The PCOC website contest recognizes California companies that are doing an outstanding job of presenting information about their professional structural fumigation services.”

MGK Acquires Piedmont Animal Health Flynexx Brand

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — MGK, a provider of insect control solutions, recently announced that it has executed a purchase agreement to acquire the Flynexx brand assets from North Carolina-based Piedmont Animal Health.

The acquisition includes the Flynexx Granules fly control product and an EPA registration for the insect growth regulator (IGR) cyromazine.

“Flynexx is a great addition to the more than 15 products MGK currently offers in the animal health sector, which includes popular brands such as NyGuard IGR, Decimari, ULD BP 100, Onslaught FastCap and EverGreen Pro 60-6,” according to Lance Platt, animal health sales and marketing manager for MGK.

“Having an additional IGR with a unique mode of action further strengthens MGK’s ability to provide livestock producers and applicators with more rotational choices within MGK’s suite of innovative insect control solutions,” Platt said.

“The acquisition of the Flynexx business allows the immediate expansion of MGK’s animal health portfolio while also securing access to another IGR, which can be utilized for broader product development purposes,” added Don Sundquist, MGK’s director of business development.

Expect High Pest Pressure This Winter, NPMA Reports

FAIRFAX, Va. — The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released its bi-annual Bug Barometer, a seasonal projection of the pest pressure and activity Americans can expect to see in their respective regions of the country based on weather patterns and long-term forecasts, as well as pest biological behaviors. According to the group’s team of entomologists, pest pressure will be heightened this fall and winter as extreme fluctuations in temperature and precipitation across the U.S. are expected throughout the season.

“With most of the country still drying out from a hot, soggy summer, extreme late-season winter conditions predicted will have rodents and cockroaches fleeing indoors in record numbers,” said Jim Fredericks, NPMA’s chief entomologist. “Although most of the country won’t be battered by Old Man Winter until after the holiday season, pests like mosquitoes, ticks, termites and cockroaches that enjoyed this summer’s exceedingly wet conditions will have a few extra months to remain active before conditions turn blustery thanks to the mild, wet fall.”

Based on its analysis, the NPMA’s Fall/Winter Bug Barometer is forecasting a spike in major pest populations across the entire U.S. this season.