NPMA Academy Provided Emerging Leaders with Three Days of Learning and Networking

ORLANDO, Fla. — Summer camp was in full-swing last week at the National Pest Management Association’s 29^th Academy in Omni Orlando Resort in ChampionsGate, Fla., with Olympic games, keynote speakers, learning labs and plenty of opportunities for networking and building connections that will last long after the games are done.

More than 200 pest management professionals (PMPs) were split into six color-coded teams to participate in several Olympic game events like water boat races, flip cup, tug of war, and the annual team talent shows, for the gold medal.

At the end of the day, only one team could come out on top.

The orange team, featuring co-captains AJ Alonso, Columbus Pest Control, Grove City, Ohio; Megan Jacobson, Steve’s Pest Control, Holts Summit, Mo.; and Derrek Hardy, Corteva Agriscience, also the event’s premier sponsor, won the gold medal, scoring the highest number of points from combined Olympic games. Rian Goins, Get Goins Pest Control, was awarded Rookie of the Year.

World-renowned fitness expert Andy P. was the week’s MC, leading fitness classes and keeping energies high.

NPMA’S LNC INITIATIVES. NPMA Chief Executive Officer Dominique Stumpf said Academy is one of her favorite NPMA events because of the “high-energy team spirit, witnessing learning in action and soaking in all of the networking and fun.”

Stumpf also shared an update on NPMA’s Leadership Network Council (LNC), the committee that oversees the planning of Academy throughout the year.  

First, she shared more on NPMA’s Leader Launch, an 18-month program that empowers individuals to become influential leaders who will gain invaluable resources, mentorship and access to industry experts. NPMA also launched Hives last year as a way to connect, collaborate and grow together, all virtually.

Applications for the next Hives group will begin in August, and individuals can apply for Leader Launch here.

© Amanda Joerndt

Jacobson, past chair of LNC, said the mission of the committee is giving back, and academy attendees this year were asked to bring a pair of socks for Grow Healthy.

Grow Healthy’s mission is to make a positive difference in children’s lives for physical activity and healthy living. The organization goes through 6,000 pairs of socks each year, Jacobson said.

Academy attendees donated more than 1,700 socks to the organization. Team blue had the most socks donated with 469 pairs.

Samantha Forrest, territory manager at Corteva Agriscience, said attendees might have some “terrifying moments” when stepping out of their comfort zone, but they should embrace every confidence building opportunity to develop personal and professional growth.

“This is what Corteva is all about. Collaboration is one of our core values at our company and that’s what this week is about,” she said. “We look for ways to ingrain our employees in this industry and network with folks they work with on a daily basis.”

HARRIS’ NO FAIL TRUST FRAMEWORK. Tuesday afternoon’s keynote speaker was Lt. Col. Jason Harris.

Harris, a 20-year United States Air Force officer, mission commander, and special operations pilot, has transitioned to the speaker circuit, where he shares his unique combat leadership lessons and expertise with high level associations and Fortune 500 companies.

Harris shared his No Fail Trust framework, the flight plan to cultivate a high-performance team. The three elements of the framework are easily replicated training, having standard operating procedures in place and empowering people to be better every day.

© Amanda Joerndt

Harris said by following the No Fail Trust framework, individuals have 106 percent more energy at work, 50 percent higher productivity and 76 percent more engagement.

“Trusted training and processes allow you to trust and empower your people,” he said.

Harris said failure is not an option for the work PMPs produce in the field every day, adding “we each have a role to play in creating a commitment culture.”

LEARNING LABS SPARK OPEN DISCUSSIONS. While lots of fun and networking was had throughout the week, attendees also got the chance to sit down and learn from one another on various business-related topics, like employee engagement, AI, hands-on sales, mid-level management training and building soft skills.

Forest, Joleen Matthews, American Pest project management and IT director, and Jennifer Fox, director of service delivery at Rentokil Terminix, led the employee engagement discussions on what employee culture means and struggles companies still face with engagement.

First impressions mean everything to Daniel Moran, Rollins Senior Quality Assurance Manager, who oversees a crew of QA specialists.

Moran said he believes a positive company culture starts on day one and setting realistic expectations to be successful.

“If you’re going to build a culture around safety and you have a new individual that starts with you, and your warehouse is a mess and there is no identifiable safety vision, you’ll lose those individuals,” he said.

Viking Pest Control Associate Manager David Brown said COVID-19 forced individuals to practice disengagement in their day-to-day lives, and in many industries, including pest control, some companies are still operating that way.

© Amanda Joerndt

“The times of empowering people and bringing people together is almost like a forgotten art because we operated that way for three years; People forgot how to be people,” he said. “If you don’t have the right people training new hires, you’re going to keep creating this cycle.”

Sprague Pest Solutions Director of Sales Paul Treleven led the hands-on selling techniques discussion where he shared the company’s sales playbook for every employee in the company to have at their fingertips to practice upselling and lead generation out in the field.

Treleven said by following the sales playbook, which was established last year in the company, Sprague has experienced a 19 percent increase in sales.

Treleven asked, ‘What makes a good salesperson?’ Attitude, coachability, sales skills and grit, he said.

“It’s all about being prepared,” he said. “Sales can be tough when you get some ‘nos’ in one week. Making sure you maintain positivity and being resilient” are keys for overcoming the nos.

The closing ceremony and team talent show took place on July 18. Many opportunities were provided for emerging leaders in the industry to network and socialize poolside at the resort to continue in-depth, valuable conversations.

© Amanda Joerndt