PestWorld 2026 speakers and programming announced

The National Pest Management Association announced the keynote speakers and Main Stage programming for PestWorld 2026, taking place October 20–23, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. This year’s event will bring together pest management professionals from around the world for four days of education, networking, innovation, and industry celebration centered around the theme “Built for Your Business.”

PestWorld 2026 will begin on Tuesday, October 20, with the Opening Ceremony on the Main Stage, sponsored by envu, featuring emcee and mentalist Sean Bott. Designed to energize attendees and set the tone for the week ahead, the Opening Ceremony will bring the entire industry together for an unforgettable start to the event. Through his engaging mix of entertainment, audience interaction, and inspiration, Bott will help attendees build momentum and prepare to make the most of everything PestWorld has to offer.

On Wednesday, October 21, sponsored by Corteva, award-winning broadcaster and human connection expert Riaz Meghji will take the Main Stage with his keynote presentation, Every Conversation Counts: Building Extraordinary Relationships in a Changed World. Drawing from his experience interviewing influential leaders across industries, Meghji will share practical strategies for creating authentic conversations, building trust, and fostering meaningful connections. Attendees will gain insights into communicating with purpose, navigating conflict with empathy, and asking the right questions to create breakthrough moments that inspire action.

The Main Stage programming will conclude on Thursday, October 22, with keynote speaker Kyle Scheele and the annual Industry Awards presentation, sponsored by Syngenta. In his keynote, Becoming an Idea Factory, Scheele will challenge the myth that creativity is something people are simply born with, demonstrating instead how innovation can become a skill cultivated throughout an organization. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to generate stronger ideas, unlock their teams’ creative potential, and build cultures where innovation thrives.

Following the keynote, NPMA will recognize outstanding individuals and organizations whose contributions continue to shape and strengthen the pest management industry during the annual Industry Awards presentation. Awards presented during PestWorld 2026 will include the Pinnacle Award, Culture Catalyst Award, Technology Adopter Award, Emerging Leaders Award, Women of Excellence Award, Excellence in Sustainability Award, NPMA Gives Award, Committee of the Year Award, and Committee Chair of the Year Award.

Click for more on how you can attend PestWorld 2026.

About the NPMA

The National Pest Management Association is a non-profit organization with more than 4,000 members. It was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property from the diseases and dangers of pests. The association has had many notable leaders over the years, including Pest Management Professional Hall of Famers Bill Buettner (Class of 1998), Dr. Ralph Heal (Class of 2003), Dr. Phil Spear (Class of 2004) and Bob Rosenberg (Class of 2013), to name just a few.

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Sacramento CA

Allergy Technologies: ATAHC Asthma

Asthma disproportionately affects residents in affordable housing, where pests such as cockroaches, rodents, dust mites and bed bugs are common triggers. The Allergy Technologies Affordable Housing Control (ATAHC) Program now offers a science-backed approach, in conjunction with a healthcare provider, called ATAHC Asthma. This new offering is designed to improve respiratory health by targeting these allergens through integrated pest management and preventative measures. Among ATAHC Asthma’s components is ActiveGuard Mattress Liners, which help prevent both bed bug and dust mite infestations, lowering allergen levels in high-risk homes.

About Allergy Technologies

Allergy Technologies’ mission is to improve the environmental conditions in which people live. This focus led to the establishment of its trademarked ATAHC Program, which has proven to successfully control and prevent the scourge of bed bugs in both affordable housing and other community and hospitality facilities.

Allergy Technologies notes that its flagship product, ActiveGuard Mattress Liners, is “the only EPA-registered product labeled to deliver two-year bed bug and dust mite prevention, preventing future infestations by killing bed bugs and dust mites in the most challenging environments, such as affordable housing.”

ATAHCnow.com/atahc-asthma

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Sacramento CA

BASF: Fendona CS

Effective mosquito control requires an integrated approach that combines source reduction, larval control, adulticide applications and community education. Professional-grade insecticides remain a vital tool in protecting public health when mosquito populations pose disease risks.

One solution supporting these efforts is Fendona CS controlled release insecticide from BASF. Powered by alpha-cypermethrin and formulated with advanced microencapsulation technology, Fendona CS provides up to 90-day residual control on a variety of mosquito species and other key labeled pests. The controlled release helps protect the active ingredient from environmental degradation, delivering consistent performance even in challenging outdoor conditions. 

For mosquito management programs, Fendona CS can significantly reduce adult resting populations around structures. Targeting shaded harborage areas — such as under decks, along foundations and around dense vegetation — creates a protective perimeter that complements larval control programs and source reduction efforts. Fendona CS has also shown to have ovicidal properties, preventing mosquito eggs from hatching into adults when treated.

In addition to mosquito treatments, Fendona CS is recommended for quarterly outdoor maintenance, perimeter treatments including landscape and turf areas, spiders and tick management. Talk to your distributor about special pricing when you purchase Fendona CS 120-ounce bottles by pallet or half pallet.

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.

PestControl.BASF.us

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Sacramento CA

Pro Techs Pest Control keeps company in the family

Todd Gennette, who founded Concordia, Kan.-based Pro Techs Pest Control in 2023, has sold the company to his son Ty Gennette and longtime employee Derek Newlin and his wife, Paula Newlin.

Ty Gennette, and Derek Newlin, who worked with Todd for years and Derek’s wife, Paula, have purchased Pro Techs and will lead it into the next generation of pest control. Both Ty and Newlin are qualified as Master Technicians in pest control. Ty will handle the operational side of the company. Derek, who is a loan officer at the Guaranty Bank in Beloit, will help out in the evenings and on weekends.

“Dad always hoped that Derek and I would take it over, but things held that back for awhile,” said Ty told the Concordia Blade Empire in a news article about the sale. “Derek and I and Paula started talking about it last summer. And Derek’s son Will always had aspirations to be in the business, too. The timing was perfect.”

Ty and the Newlins plan on aggressively expanding the business. “Right now we basically service a 60-mile radius, up into southern Nebraska,” added Ty. “Our goal is to expand that and add more technicians. The sky is the limit for Pro Techs. There’s smaller companies in the area that Derek and I have talked about owning, so we’re going to be very aggressive in expanding.”

“Our role models are our fathers, Martin Newlin and Todd Gennette and also Tom Zugelder,” Derek told the Concordia Blade Empire. “They were in this business their whole lives, and Ty and I learned a lot from them. The pest control industry has always been a part of us, and we will continue that tradition into the next chapter of our lives.”

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Sacramento CA

Protected: What 100 PMPs told me about their phones

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Sacramento CA

Bird-X acquires Symterra

The acquisition expands the Bird-X portfolio and marks another step forward in the company’s mission to lead the future of technology-driven bird management solutions.

Symterra built its reputation on an innovative approach to bird deterrence using proprietary electromagnetic frequency technology designed to prevent birds from landing and establishing roosting sites. Under the new ownership structure, the technology will now operate as Symterra by Bird-X, supported by Bird-X’s engineering expertise, customer support infrastructure, operational capabilities and global market reach.

The addition of Symterra Pulse introduces a new technology tier to the Bird-X ecosystem and expands the company’s ability to address complex bird pressure challenges with more integrated and sophisticated solutions.

Symterra Pulse features a clean, low-profile design and scalable installation options suitable for commercial buildings, warehouses, industrial facilities, towers, transportation infrastructure and other sensitive applications. The system is designed to create an invisible deterrent zone that birds instinctively avoid.

“When we set out to find the right home for Symterra, we weren’t looking for just any acquirer — we were looking for the right one,” said John Smalley, former CEO of Symterra. “Bird-X is the undisputed leader in innovative bird control, with a legacy and market presence that no other company in this space can match. But what truly convinced me was their vision. The Bird-X leadership team doesn’t just want to maintain that position — they’re committed to pushing the technology forward in ways that genuinely excite me. Symterra Pulse was built to solve a problem the industry hadn’t properly cracked and for the first time, we now have the resources, infrastructure and support behind us to scale that solution the way it deserves.”

“This acquisition is about more than adding a product line,” said Jeff Spencer, President & CEO of Bird-X. “Symterra’s technology represents an exciting step forward for the bird control industry. Combined with Bird-X’s expertise, service and global reach, we can offer customers more advanced and integrated solutions than ever before. By bringing together EMF technology with Bird-X’s proven sonic, visual, laser and physical deterrent systems, we’re expanding our ability to solve complex bird control challenges for facilities around the world.”

About Symterra by Bird-X

Symterra Pulse is an advanced, patented bird deterrent system that uses proprietary electromagnetic frequency (EMF) technology designed to discourage birds from landing and establishing roosting sites. Featuring a clean, low-profile design and scalable installation options, the system is well suited for commercial buildings, industrial facilities, warehouses, towers, transportation infrastructure and other sensitive environments.

Now operating as Symterra by Bird-X, the technology is backed by Bird-X’s engineering expertise, customer support infrastructure and global operational capabilities, further strengthening the company’s portfolio of advanced bird control solutions.

About Bird-X

Bird-X is a global provider of bird control and bird management solutions, with more than 60 years of experience protecting commercial, industrial, agricultural and government properties worldwide. The company offers the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of bird deterrent technologies, including sonic, visual, laser, physical exclusion and advanced technology systems, supported by technical expertise, responsive customer service and reliable fulfillment capabilities.

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Sacramento CA

Syngenta: SecureChoice Mosquito Assurance Program

Mosquito season means customers want fast-acting, reliable mosquito control so they can enjoy their properties to the fullest. The SecureChoice Mosquito Assurance Program from Syngenta can help you deliver proven mosquito reduction on a 30- or 60-day treatment cycle.

The 60-day treatment protocol features the combination of Demand CS insecticide and Archer insect growth regulator, which provides a quick knockdown of adult mosquitoes while disrupting the mosquito life cycle.

The Demand CS + Archer Multipak — containing 2 quarts of Demand CS and 5 pints of Archer — can provide a cost-effective solution for the 60-day treatment cycle. Demand CS at a lower use rate is recommended for the 30-day treatment cycle.

Offer your customers a life uninterrupted by mosquitoes with the SecureChoice Mosquito Assurance Program. 

About Syngenta PPM

Syngenta Professional Solutions is focused on developing tomorrow’s technologies and practices that empower customers today to protect and enhance the places where people live, work and play. Its scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for customers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. The company holds a presence in over 100 countries with multiple headquarters across the globe for its branches.

SyngentaPMP.com/Mosquito

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