Hawx Pest Control adds senior director of technical services

Hawx Pest Control has selected Heather King Alonso, BCE, as senior director of technical services, further expanding the company’s advanced technical innovation initiative.

Alonso will collaborate directly with Daniel Baldwin, MPH, BCE, REHS/RS, FRSPH, vice president of technical services — and a member of Pest Management Professional’s editorial advisory board — to accelerate the development of Hawx’s next‑generation training architecture. The company says this is a system engineered to elevate service capability, operational precision and science‑driven decision‑making across all Hawx service regions.

“Joining the team at Hawx Services is an incredible milestone for me, but I’m also extremely excited about the opportunity to work closely with and be mentored by Dan Baldwin,” says Alonso. “Dan is a globally recognized expert whose experience is unmatched in this industry. To learn directly from someone with his level of technical mastery and proven success is incredibly exciting, and I look forward to absorbing his knowledge as we drive the future of pest management together.”

With nearly two decades of experience spanning urban pest management, technical training, regulatory strategy and organizational leadership, Alonso has served in senior roles at Target Specialty Products, Arrow Exterminators, American Pest Control and Dow AgroSciences, the legacy company of Corteva Agriscience. Her work includes leading multi‑state training teams, directing regulatory compliance efforts, managing learning management systems and producing technical content across Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) modules, webinars, workshops and live instruction.

As a Board Certified Entomologist with deep expertise in pest biology, pesticide application and training system design, Alonso has overseen corporate training departments, managed regulatory operations across the U.S. and Canada, and contributed to national industry committees including with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the United Producers, Formulators and Distributors Association (UPFDA) and Pi Chi Omega. Her background spans technical curriculum development, customer‑facing education, quality assurance and strategic leadership.

“Heather brings a level of operational maturity, technical depth and instructional clarity that aligns perfectly with Hawx’s next‑generation training initiative,” says Baldwin. “Her ability to design learning systems that are both scientifically rigorous and operationally practical will significantly accelerate the evolution of our national training and education platform.”

In her new role, Alonso will support the redesign of Hawx’s training and education curriculum, contribute to multimedia learning development and help advance a training ecosystem modeled on high‑performance engineering organizations, in addition to directly supporting field operations.

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Sacramento CA

How professional bat management has evolved for the better

When I first started doing bat work nearly 20 years ago, a detailed inspection was everything, and that hasn’t changed. A thorough inspection is still crucial to figuring out how bats are entering and using a structure.

What has changed tremendously, however, is how we document those problems, the materials we use to solve them, and how we communicate everything to the customer.

Starting out, I remember using a lot of spray foam, chicken wire, hardware cloth and cheaper caulks and sealants. These days, we’re doing a lot more custom fabrication with aluminum trim metal, galvannealed steel mesh, upgraded vent guards and higher-quality sealants. A metal bending brake wasn’t something we used much years ago. Now, we have one on every truck, and some type of custom fabrication is involved in almost every bat-proofing job we do.

The appearance of the finished work has become important, too. We have access to more colors of metal and sealants, which allows us to blend our exclusion work into the home instead of making the repairs stand out.

We’re not just trying to close a hole. We want the work to be durable, effective and look like it belongs on the house.

Keeping up with construction

We’ve also had to adapt as building practices have changed. One example is ridge vents. As more homes moved away from traditional roof vents and toward lower-profile ridge ventilation, we started seeing more bats getting underneath them. The plastic parts can warp or bubble over time, and sometimes the original installation leaves enough room for bats to gain access.

In the past, we might have had to remove the ridge vent, install screening underneath it and then reinstall the vent and cap shingles. Today, newer ridge protection systems allow us to address those areas much more efficiently. We’re seeing similar improvements with guards designed for gable vents, soffit vents and other common entry points.

Improving the customer experience

Technology has changed the inspection and customer experience just as much as the physical work.

I remember drawing diagrams of houses by hand and marking where I found problems. Now we take detailed photos and videos, build digital reports and send estimates electronically through our customer relationship management (CRM) system. Technology, including newer artificial intelligence capabilities, is making it easier to take the information we collect in the field and turn it into something customers can actually understand.

Communication has probably been one of the biggest improvements on the business side. Customers receive appointment confirmations, notifications when their technician is on the way and even a photo showing them who is coming to their homes. Estimates can be emailed immediately, and our systems allow us to follow up instead of relying on a handwritten estimate we left on someone’s kitchen counter.

Building a team and repeatable systems also has changed our response time. When I was a one-man operation, I could only help so many people and sometimes had to schedule customers much farther out than I wanted. Today, we typically can respond much faster because we’ve built systems that can be taught and replicated across our team.

There is a tremendous opportunity in wildlife and bat management, but it needs to be approached correctly. Invest in training and safety, especially ladder safety. Use high-quality materials. Take the time to conduct detailed inspections and communicate clearly with customers. Most importantly, stand behind your work. If something isn’t right, be accountable and go back and make it right.

The tools and technology will continue to change, but those fundamentals probably never will.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/how-professional-bat-management-has-evolved-for-the-better/
Sacramento CA

AMGUARD: Pest & Green Solutions Fall Savings

Get proven, long-lasting protection from bed bugs, spiders, flies and other insects with NUVAN PROSTRIPS and NUVAN PROSTRIPS+.* From trusted pest control provider AMGUARD Environmental Technologies, NUVAN PROSTRIPS offer continuous vapor action in difficult-to-reach places like attics, garages, pantries, closets, sheds and more with minimal odor and no mess. Save on NUVAN PROSTRIPS, NUVAN PROSTRIPS+ and more pest and turf/ornamental products now through Dec. 31, 2026, with the AMGUARD Pest & Green Solutions Fall Savings program.

About AMGUARD Environmental Technologies

AMGUARD Environmental Technologies is an emerging provider of non-crop and specialty technology solutions for the U.S. public health; pest control; ornamental and greenhouse; golf; lawn and landscape; foodservice and consumer markets. It is the specialty markets division of AMVAC Chemical Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corp.

From its headquarters and labs based in Morrisville, N.C., part of the Research Triangle Park region, AMGUARD discovers, develops and commercializes a diverse portfolio of proven chemistries, innovative technologies and green solutions into diverse markets. Its team is committed to protecting the population from disease vectors, mitigating structural pest damage, creating healthy foodservice environments and outdoor living spaces, and maintaining outdoor sports and recreation venues. Its mission is to provide customers with powerful technology solutions to keep their businesses strong and growing.

AMGUARD.tech

* Restricted-use pesticide. Products sold by AMGUARD on or after May 21, 2024, are labeled for use as a restricted-use pesticide. Existing products in the channels of trade may be used as labeled.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/amguard-pest-solutions-fall-savings/
Sacramento CA

University of Tennessee professorship honors Arrow Exterminators’ chairman

Arrow Exterminators announced the Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship has been established at the University of Tennessee in honor of the company’s longtime owner and chairman.

The professorship recognizes his contributions to Arrow Exterminators and the pest management industry while supporting education and leadership development for future generations. Thomas is a member of the Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame (Class of 2009).

The Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship was created with an initial gift of $100,000 and a commitment to raise an additional $500,000 through the pest management industry. It will create lasting faculty support while celebrating Thomas’ legacy of service, entrepreneurship and industry advancement.

For 54 years, Thomas has devoted his career to Arrow Exterminators, a company that has been in business for 62 years, serving as owner and chairman. He has helped shape the company into one of the premier family-owned pest management firms in the nation. As the visionary behind Arrow Exterminators’ growth, Thomas has provided the steady leadership, values-driven culture, and long-term strategic direction that have guided the company to $500 million in annual revenue.

“The University of Tennessee helped shape my foundation for leadership, and it is my hope that this professorship will help prepare future generations to serve, lead and strengthen the pest management industry for years to come,” Thomas said.

The professorship reflects Thomas’ deep commitment to education, leadership development and the future of the pest management profession. By supporting exceptional faculty at the University of Tennessee, it will strengthen teaching, research and outreach that prepare future leaders, advance practical knowledge and serve the needs of students, businesses and communities.

“To so many people, he is Joe Thomas, the visionary leader who helped build Arrow Exterminators into what it is today. To me, he is Daddy,” said Arrow Exterminators CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick, Thomas’ daughter. “I have had the blessing of watching him lead with humility, integrity and a deep love for people. This professorship is a meaningful way to honor not only his remarkable career, but also the values he has lived every day and passed on to our family, our company, and our industry.”

Through the collective support of Arrow Exterminators, industry partners, colleagues and friends, the Joe Thomas Endowed Professorship will stand as a permanent tribute to Thomas’ remarkable service, his University of Tennessee roots, and his lifelong dedication to building people, companies and an industry with vision and integrity.

About Arrow Exterminators

Family-owned and -operated since 1964, Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators is the largest family-owned pest and termite control company in the United States, ranked by revenue. It has 201 service centers, over 3,700 team members and revenues exceeding $500 million. Featuring QualityPro accreditation by the National Pest Management Association, the company offers innovative and environmentally responsible services to protect homes and businesses of customers and operates in 16 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/university-of-tennessee-professorship-honors-arrow-exterminators-chairman/
Sacramento CA

Protected: Why trust matters more than ever

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/why-trust-matters-more-than-ever/
Sacramento CA

BASF: Prelontra and Selontra

Effective rodent management requires a strategic approach grounded in real activity, account sensitivity and long-term prevention. BASF’s switch approach is two-fold: Prelontra Rodent Monitoring Soft Block helps determine when to monitor, when to activate control and how to help reduce the risk of future infestations. When used alongside Selontra Rodent Bait, Prelontra supports a flexible, informed framework for managing rodent pressure across a range of account types.

The direct Selontra switch is best suited for accounts where rodent activity is already confirmed, and rapid population reduction is the priority. Selontra features a non-anticoagulant mode of action that helps combat resistant rodents and stops feeding after a lethal dose. Its active ingredient, cholecalciferol, also helps reduce the risk of secondary toxicity to non-target animals, which is an increasingly important consideration as regulatory attention continues to grow. For best results, success should be measured by activity reduction, not bait consumption alone.

Prelontra offers a more measured path for sensitive environments, rodenticide-restricted accounts, or situations where neophobia may slow bait acceptance. As a non-toxic monitoring soft block, it verifies feeding, identifies pressure zones and helps build feeding confidence before Selontra is introduced. After control is achieved, rotating back to Prelontra supports continuous monitoring and prevention. Together, Prelontra and Selontra give professionals a practical switch strategy for smarter, more sustainable rodent management.

About BASF

BASF Corp., headquartered in Florham Park, N.J., is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022.

BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future by combining economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of its customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. BASF’s portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions.

In addition to Prelontra Monitoring Soft Block and Selontra Rodent Bait, BASF offers many pest control solutions to professionals, including, but not limited to:

• Termite Bait Solutions
• Alpine Cockroach Solutions
• Alpine Flea & Tick Solutions
• Alpine WSG
• PT Brand Pressurized Insecticides
• Fendona CS
• Termidor line
  

PestControl.BASF.us

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/basf-prelontra-selontra/
Sacramento CA

Atticus: Antapex WSG

Atticus LLC’s new brand alternatives — including Antapex WSG, featuring dinotefuran — combine trusted active
ingredients and agronomic value, giving you more options to command the season.

Antapex WSG contains the active ingredient dinotefuran, a nonrepellent insecticide that provides quick
kill of key pests in and around residential and commercial structures, food-handling establishments and
production animal housing. Antapex is an easy-to-use granule formulation that readily dissolves in water
with no clogging of nozzles and filters. When applied as a surface spray, Antapex provides residual
control of a broad spectrum of insect pests, including ants, cockroaches and bed bugs.

Atticus offers several other insecticides for pest management professionals (PMPs) and vector control specialists, including:

• Turonyx Ultra FX (beta-cyfluthrin, imidacloprid)
• Turonyx Ultra Ready-to-Spray (beta-cyfluthrin, imidacloprid)
• Talak (bifenthrin)
• Elusion 2 SC (chlorfenapyr)
• Tirade 1% Dust (cyfluthrin)
• Tirade CS with EnduraCap Technology (cyfluthrin)
• Adjourn SC (deltamethrin)
• Notion 2 SC Flex (imidacloprid)
• DeVito With EnduraCap Technology (lambda-cyhalothrin)
• Nixlo IGR Concentrate (pyriproxyfen)
  

About Atticus LLC

Atticus is a demand-driven manufacturer of battle-tested chemistries. It’s 100 percent American-owned, with a purpose to enhance daily life and be committed to long-term viability. Through the Cary, N.C.-based company’s EcoCore portfolio, Atticus focuses on the beautification of the environment. With 95 percent manufactured on U.S. soil and one of the broadest, most diversified portfolios in the industry, the Atticus team aims to execute with clarity and focus — delivering on its value proposition: Relevant. Simple. Reliable. 

AtticusLLC.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/atticus-antapex-wsg/
Sacramento CA