Ask almost any pest control company owner about their biggest challenge today, and you’ll hear the same answer: finding good people.
But what if the problem isn’t that great employees don’t exist? What if the problem is that we don’t recruit, hire and onboard employees with the same intentionality we use to win customers?
Biggest hiring mistake
Most companies invest heavily in marketing. They build websites, manage reviews, create customer service standards, develop sales processes and constantly ask, “How can we create a better customer experience?”
Yet when it comes to hiring, many companies have no real system at all. The employee recruiting process is often little more than posting an ad and hoping someone applies. Interviews become casual conversations instead of a structured process designed to uncover whether someone actually can perform the job. Resumes are polished marketing pieces, not proof of capability.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is hiring based on personality instead of performance. Every position should include a practical skills assessment:
If someone will answer phones, let them handle sample customer calls.
If they will sell services, have them complete a role-play.
If you’re hiring a service technician, have them spend a day riding along with a supervisor or experienced technician.
Let them see what the job really involves and let your team evaluate how candidates interact, learn and engage. Also, pay candidates for this working interview. It’s a small investment — and far less expensive than making the wrong hire. Don’t guess what someone can do. Verify it.
Beyond skills, it’s equally important to determine whether the person is naturally suited for the role. Assessments like the Kolbe A Index help identify whether a candidate’s instinctive way of working aligns with the position, dramatically improving the odds of long-term success.
But hiring is only the beginning.
Make a good impression
Too many companies spend weeks recruiting someone, only to have them show up on day one with no plan. No prepared workspace. No structured orientation. No clear training path. No excitement. First impressions matter just as much for employees as they do for customers.
Finally, don’t ignore poor fits. Keeping employees who lack the required skills, don’t align with your culture or simply aren’t right for the position is expensive. It affects morale, increases turnover, frustrates your team and ultimately impacts the customer experience.
Here’s a simple truth: If you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of your customers.
The best way to treat employees
Treat your employees as your first customers. Market your company to them. Create a hiring process worth experiencing. Invest in onboarding. Train with intention. Hire for both capability and fit. Your customers will notice the difference.
If you need help building a hiring system that consistently attracts, selects and develops the right people, we would love to help — whether it’s designing a better hiring process, implementing practical skills assessments, using the Kolbe A Index to ensure the right fit or creating an onboarding experience that sets new employees up for success. Schedule a conversation with us and let’s build a team that helps your business thrive.
Spencer Bachman is a second-generation pest management professional, and owner of the Pest Control Business Coach consulting firm based in Canton, Ga. You can reach her at Sheri@PestControlBusinessCoach.com.
“The Zoo Teen program is designed to prepare young people for future careers in the zoo community by building job-transferable skills, exploring jobs and connecting with others passionate about wildlife,” Columbian Park Zoo Educator Ryan Madden said in a news release.
The program’s stated mission is to “provide an opportunity for area youth to engage with Columbian Park Zoo, gain an appreciation for the importance of zoos and conservation, to explore animal-related careers while building transferable job skills, and to empower youth to become community leaders/advocates for conservation action.”
The 30 “Zoo Teens” go through an application and interview process and, if accepted, complete training in animal husbandry, zoo safety, teaching and customer service.
“During the summer, the Zoo Teens volunteer at least 45 hours of service working alongside zookeeper mentors to learn the inner workings of the zoo. The zoo also provides opportunities to learn about other animal-related careers, including meeting with local wildlife conservation groups and an end-of-summer trip to a larger Midwest zoo to learn how different zoos are run,” Madden said. Applications for 2027 will open in mid-January.
“Franklin Pest Solutions is dedicated to working with children of all ages to encourage their interests in the natural world,” Janelle Iaccino, marketing director with Franklin Pest Solutions, said in a news release. “It’s so important for all of us to understand the importance of the balances in nature and why honoring and preserving natural resources including animals and insects are so critical.”
2026 Zoo Teens speak of their experience
Five of this year’s Zoo Teens explain some of their favorite aspects of the program:
“I am always getting the opportunity to do new things. I love getting to do Animal Encounters where we bring out one of our ambassador animals to have an up-close meeting with the public. I love this because it not only teaches kids about how magical animals can be, but also is a chance for adults to learn more about animals they are hesitant about.” — Kinley McCoy, 15, who hopes to pursue a career as a zoo educator or in zookeeping
“I love coming to the zoo and not knowing what I’m going to be doing or where I will be working each day. I especially enjoy working with the educational ambassador animals. They all have unique care requirements and personalities that make it one of my favorite places to work. It’s fun to engage with guests through animal encounters to teach them about an animal and how they can help conserve wildlife.” — Cohen Alfano, 17, third-year Zoo Teen who is interested in a future in wildlife biology
“My two years in the Zoo Teen Program have yielded wonderful memories and unforgettable hands-on experiences that could only be made possible by being a Zoo Teen. The program has taught me that an animal’s role goes beyond making up the food web, which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem. Animals also give insights into ecosystem health and provide resources to other species through abandoned shelters, leftovers from a hunt and more.” — Yaritza Torres-Muro, 16, who wants a career in animal psychology and anesthesiology
“My favorite animal at the zoo seems to change every year, but I always feel the most connection to the goats. It is always fun learning their names and almost growing alongside them as I am soon to age out of the program.” — Ethan Furst, 16, who plans to puruse a career in zookeeping or zoology
“[A Brazilian rainbow boa named Rio is] my favorite because he is very curious, has a fun personality and I love how well he does when I take him out for encounters with the public. The Colombian Park Zoo Teen program has allowed me to work with domesticated animals as well as more exotic and endangered species.” — Piper Burke, 16, whose dream job is either an animal behavioral scientist or a marine biologist
“Learning about the balance of humans and nature is both critical and rewarding, and working with animals helps the teens, and all of us, understand that balance. We would love to have any of the Zoo Teen Program teens work with Franklin in the future,” Iaccino said in the news release. “It’s so wonderful to see kids immerse themselves in nature and care so much about the environment. After all, they are the ones who will inherit it and with teens like this, there’s so much hope for our world.”
About Franklin Pest Solutions
Since 1929, Franklin Pest Solutions has been trusted in the Midwest to keep homes and businesses free from insects, rodents, and more. Like its sister company, Rose Pest Solutions, Franklin uses cutting-edge technology, environmentally friendly methods and personalized unique solutions to create and maintain healthy living environments.
Founded in 1860 and owned by the Dold family, Rose Pest Solutions serves communities in all of Chicagoland, the Greater Milwaukee area and South-Central Wisconsin. Franklin Pest Solutions serves Indiana and Kentucky. The company boasts three Pest Management Professional magazine Hall of Fame honorees: Company founder Solomon Rose (Class of 2001) and longtime leaders Bob and Judy Dold (Class of 2002).
About Columbian Park Zoo
Founded in 1908, Columbian Park Zoo is the second-oldest zoo in Indiana. It is approximately 6 acres in size and is located in historic Columbian Park in Lafayette, Ind. The Zoo features several “immersion” exhibits and the animal collection consists of nearly 200 animals representing approximately 90 species.
Atlanta, Ga.-based Arrow Exterminators held its annual Fiscal Year Summit at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, where it welcomed more than 500 team members and partners to the two-day event.
The summit, which took place July 29 and 30, brought together company executives, managers and corporate support teams to celebrate a record-breaking 2025-2026 fiscal year and set the stage for continued growth in 2026-2027.
During the event, Arrow Exterminators recognized outstanding achievements from across the company, including surpassing $475 million in total revenue, while introducing its new internal fiscal year theme, “Lead Every Day: Chasing Greatness.”
“What makes this company special has always been our people and the way they care for one another, our customers and the communities we serve,” Arrow Exterminators CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick said in a news release. “This summit gives us the opportunity to celebrate everything our team accomplished together over the past year while also looking ahead to what we can achieve next. I am incredibly proud of our team and excited about the opportunities in front of us.”
The first day of the summit included company awards and recognition, along with a keynote presentation from Ryan Leak, author of Leveling Up. Leak challenged attendees to take greater ownership of their personal and professional growth and shared practical insights for continuing to develop as leaders.
Day two focused on leadership development and featured a motivational workshop led by Randy Gravitt, who challenged attendees to be intentional about the way they lead and the impact they have on those around them.
“Our theme this year, ‘Lead Every Day: Chasing Greatness,’ is about recognizing that leadership isn’t limited to a title or a position,” Arrow Exterminators President and COO Tim Pollard said in the news release. “It’s about the choices we make every day, how we support our teams and how we continue raising the bar for ourselves and our company. Randy’s message reinforced that perfectly and gave our leaders a great foundation as we begin another exciting year at Arrow.”
About Arrow Exterminators
Family-owned and -operated since 1964, Atlanta, Ga.-based Arrow Exterminators is the largest family-owned pest and termite control company in the United States, ranked by revenue. Joe Thomas,Chairman of the Board, is a Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer (Class of 2009).
Arrow has 201 service centers, more than 3,700 team members and revenues exceeding $475 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.
In pest management, there’s a dangerous middle ground that doesn’t get talked about enough: the space between poor service and excellent service. It’s what I call “good enough” pest control.
It’s not sloppy. It’s not negligent. But it’s also not solving the real problem. And, over time, it’s costing our industry more than we realize.
“Good enough” pest control is easy to spot in the field. It’s a technician treating baseboards out of routine. It’s a follow-up completed without a true inspection. It’s by-the-book bait placements that don’t align with actual activity.
Nothing is technically wrong. But nothing is truly targeted, either. Because the technician is on autopilot, there is an increased risk of callbacks and recurring issues, which can lead to customers beginning to lose confidence in the service. This is because customers don’t evaluate pest control the way we do. They don’t see product selection, dilution rates or treatment strategies.
They see one thing: results.
You can follow every label instruction and apply every product correctly, but if the issue persists, the customer perceives failure.
How we got here, and how to get out
This issue rarely stems from a lack of effort. In most cases, it is the result of operational pressure and routine that push service toward “good enough.”
Common contributors include tight scheduling, treating visible activity rather than identifying root causes, over-reliance on standard service patterns and lack of structured feedback from callbacks.
Take a hard look at how you’ve trained your technicians vs. what is expected of them in the field. At meetings, you may instruct them to take the time needed to investigate each account and get to the bottom of what’s causing a pest infestation. But in reality, are you scheduling enough time per stop to make that happen? Are you doing random audits of their notes for different accounts to see how detailed they are at each stop, or is there a blank space in the notes section again and again?
Callbacks are the canary in the coal mine
Callbacks are not just part of the job; they are feedback from the field. In an industry built on solving problems, the ability to learn from callbacks may be one of the most valuable skills of all.
When a callback occurs, do you automatically assume the technician failed in some way, or do you accompany them to the account to figure out what is really going on? In most cases, callbacks fall into three categories:
Biological: The infestation was heavier than expected or still within its reproductive cycle.
Chemical: Product selection, environmental conditions or degradation reduced effectiveness.
Service: Missed areas, improper placement or lack of thorough inspection (“good enough” pest control).
When companies begin categorizing callbacks this way, patterns quickly emerge. If callbacks are frequently tied to service gaps, provide additional training or inspection protocols. If they’re tied to product performance, make adjustments in material selection or application strategy. Then use those patterns to guide your next steps.
When technicians understand why a callback occurred, they gain confidence in their ability to solve similar issues in the future. This shifts the mindset from reactive to proactive — one of the most important transitions in technician growth. Regardless of the callback category, the goal is to move from “good enough” toward “best efforts.”
Thomas Pest Services, based in Albany, N.Y., officially celebrated the opening of its new branch located at 12 Shenandoah Drive in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Aug. 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by company leadership, community partners and local officials.
Per a news release, the new location “strengthens the company’s presence in New York’s Capital Region while improving service throughout Saratoga County and neighboring communities. By establishing a permanent northern branch, service professionals who cover the region will spend less time traveling to and from route territories, allowing for greater operational efficiency, increased appointment availability and faster response times for customers.”
“At the heart of every decision we make is our team,” Thomas Pest Services VP Sarah Thomas Clark said in the news release. “By opening a branch closer to where many of our technicians live and work, we’re creating a better experience for our employees while continuing to provide the responsive, high-quality service our customers have come to expect. When our technicians spend less time on the road and more time focused on inspections, treatments and customer care, everyone benefits.”
The Saratoga Springs branch marks another milestone in Thomas Pest Services’ continued growth. Earlier this year, the company announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters, reinforcing its long-term investment in Upstate New York and providing additional space to support its expanding operations. They also recently announced expansion of their service area into northern Ulster and Dutchess counties. The Saratoga Springs office builds upon that momentum by extending the company’s operational footprint farther north. The branch also provides a strategic base for technicians servicing residential and commercial accounts throughout the region.
“Our growth has never been about simply adding locations,” President Bill Clark said in the news release. “Each investment is made with purpose, to find ways to better serve our customers, support our employees and build a stronger organization for the future. This branch helps us accomplish all three, and we’re excited to continue growing alongside the communities we serve.”
About Thomas Pest Services
Thomas Pest Services has been protecting the health, homes and pets of the Capital Region and Hudson Valley for three generations with full-service, people-first pest prevention and treatment programs.
Thomas Pest Services provides integrated pest management services for residential and commercial customers throughout the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Now led by a third generation of the Thomas family, the company offers comprehensive pest prevention, inspection, monitoring, exclusion and treatment services while emphasizing environmentally responsible practices and ongoing technician training. Committed to community support and exceptional customer care, the company “treats little things like big things to deliver guaranteed satisfaction.”
By Anna Iversen, BCE, PCO Technical Service Manager
Liquid termiticides are a well-used and effective tool in termite control. Use relies heavily on the active ingredient of the termiticide going everywhere it needs to go. It can be challenging to accomplish that task, however; there may be voids that are inaccessible to the spray droplets, for example.
In these cases, a foam can be an important component of a successful program, whether for subterranean or drywood termites. Foams are formulated to expand, allowing for application in areas that may be tough for traditional liquid suspensions to reach. The surfaces of the foam bubbles make contact with the substrate for longer. In fact, a thick foam can almost “crawl” around obstacles and through tunnels, getting the active ingredients where we need it. Many foams are sold in ready-to-use cans, which makes application easier: In addition to no mixing or miscalculation risks, users can climb up and down a ladder more effortlessly with a can than with a sprayer/foamer.
Although foams are an excellent tool, they often are best used in combination with other termite control methods, including liquid termiticides, baiting systems, dusts and wood treatments. Using multiple tools allows pest management professionals (PMPs) to address termite activity from different angles and improve overall treatment effectiveness.
BASF
Dr. Jason Meyers
By Dr. Jason Meyers, Senior Technical Services Representative
To ensure you are field-ready for termites, consider adding these two inspection practices if they aren’t already part of your checklist:
1. Use moisture directionality to find hidden colonies. Instead of only checking high moisture zones, follow the gradient. Termite foraging tubes often align with slow drying pathways — like the downstream side of a gutter leak or a condensation trail under old heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) lines. Mapping where moisture migrates helps PMPs locate cryptic activity faster, especially in slab on grade structures.
2. Prioritize “micro disruption” perimeter checks. Termite pressure can shift subtly based on landscaping changes. When customers add mulch, edging, river rock or planter beds, treat these as trigger events for micro disruption inspections. A five-minute focused check around new soil to structure contact points can prevent a small conducive condition from becoming a full infestation.
Nisus
Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE
By Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE, National Director of Technical Services
Termites remain one of the most difficult structural pests to control because of their hidden biology, large colony sizes and ability to exploit even the smallest treatment gaps. Every termite protection method has strengths and weaknesses. Bait stations can provide colony suppression and monitoring when termites find and feed on them; liquid termiticides create protective treatment zones; and wood treatments protect vulnerable structural components directly. However, no single approach can account for every environmental condition or structural change over time.
Moisture, soil movement and natural degradation can impact the longevity of liquid termiticides, while landscaping changes such as adding mulch, soil, flower beds or other materials against the foundation can unknowingly create pathways that bypass treated areas. Bait stations also can become damaged or unknowingly removed during construction or landscaping, or left inaccessible, potentially creating vulnerable areas around the structure. At the same time, termite activity patterns and environmental conditions can influence how quickly termites locate bait systems.
That is why layering multiple technologies together makes sense. Adding borate treatments directly to wood provides another level of protection, helping increase the overall chances of long-term termite control while also creating additional value and service opportunities for PMPs.
Neogen
Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE
By Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE, Business Unit Specialist
Many termite infestations are driven not only by termite pressure, but also by structural conditions that provide concealed entry points, excess moisture or direct contact with cellulose. Understanding these risk factors helps PMPs identify vulnerabilities before significant damage occurs and allows for more effective recommendations during inspections. Common conducive conditions include:
Wood-to-soil contact, including siding, door frames, lattice, deck supports and porch components.
Poor drainage and improper grading that allow moisture to accumulate near foundations.
Expansion joints, slab cracks and utility penetrations that create concealed entry points.
Dense vegetation and excessive mulch that conceal shelter tubes and retain moisture.
Construction debris, wood scraps, cardboard or other cellulose materials left in crawlspaces or beneath slabs.
Obstructed inspection zones caused by insulation, stored materials, landscaping features or structural modifications.
Subterranean termites are opportunistic foragers that readily exploit these conditions. Identifying and documenting conducive conditions during inspections improves risk assessment and helps clients understand the corrective actions that can reduce the likelihood of future termite activity. Addressing these issues as a part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy can significantly improve long-term protection.
Ensystex
Michael Boyd
By Mike Boyd, Technical Market Manager
When nature calls, no one wants to discover an “out of order” sign on the outhouse.
Any wooden structure can be invaded by subterranean termites, but outhouses are particularly vulnerable because they sit directly in nature. Avoiding this frustrating predicament can be achieved in three steps:
1. Remove conducive conditions by rerouting rainfall, repairing leaking roofs and avoiding ground-to-wood contact through the use of concrete piers.
2. Treat the often-exposed wood of the outhouse by spraying or painting a borate product directly onto all unpainted, raw interior and exterior wood surfaces.
3. Dig a trench approximately 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep tightly against the outside walls of the outhouse — without gaps — and apply an appropriately labeled nonrepellent termiticide evenly into the trench at a standard rate of 4 gallons per 10 linear feet.
Following these steps definitely will leave you sitting pretty.
Rockwell Labs
Nick Godfroid
By Nick Godfroid, BCE, Technical Specialist
As PMPs, one of our highest priorities is properly identifying pests. One of the most common misidentifications we encounter is between winged ant and termite alates. Here are three key differences that can help you distinguish between the two:
1. Antennae. All ants have elbowed antennae that form a distinct angle. Termites have moniliform antennae that, when magnified, resemble a string of beads. When observing with the naked eye, they typically appear straight.
2. Waist and abdomen. Ants have a narrow, constricted “waist” that separates the thorax and abdomen, which helps regulate their temperature. Termites lack this constriction and instead have a straight, uniform transition from the thorax to the abdomen.
3. Thorax shape. My favorite way to tell them apart is by examining the thorax, which can be done easily with the naked eye. Ants tend to have a more pronounced thorax that appears humped. In many cases, it is so raised that the wings seem to attach to the sides rather than the top. Termites will have a flatter thorax and wings that are attached dorsally.
Syngenta
Dr. Chris Keefer
By Dr. Chris Keefer, BCE, Technical Services Manager
Effective termite management comes down to five essential practices, which can help ensure effective results and client trust:
1. Conduct thorough, regular inspections. Create diagrams, take photos, document conducive conditions and use technology like moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to pull together a cohesive picture of what the account’s risk level is.
2. Correct conducive conditions. Eliminate moisture sources and wood-to-ground contact. Direct water away from the structure, ventilate crawlspaces properly, use vapor barriers and request that the customers store wood in a separate area.
3. Learn about construction. Become familiar with all types of construction used in your area. Contact a builder to learn more and to visit structures in various phases of construction.
4. Use proper identification. Different termite species dictate different treatment protocols. Use a microscope, collect alates and soldier termites and reach out to universities, extension agents or industry experts for help.
5. Be upfront with clients. Explain processes in detail through writing, verbal communication, photos and video.
AMGUARD
Dr. Chuck Silcox
By Dr. Chuck Silcox, Product Development Manager
Experienced termite technicians often memorize an “elevator speech,” which is a series of facts that can be shared with the owner of the structure they are treating — ostensibly, in the amount of time it would take to ride an elevator with the person. Your speech should cover these four highlights:
1. Explain that subterranean termites must maintain contact with the soil to obtain the water that is necessary to sustain the colony. The objective of your liquid termiticide application is to create a chemical barrier between the structure and the soil.
2. Point out that no liquid termiticide barrier is 100 percent complete, and that is why your company uses a nonrepellent active ingredient — so the termites cannot detect and avoid treated soil.
3. Note that the active ingredient also is rapidly transferred throughout the colony, resulting in its collapse.
4. Conclude by saying that long soil residual is another characteristic of the active ingredient. You can even provide data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service showing its documented efficacy. See the most recently published report in the October 2025 issue of Pest Management Professional magazine (p. 30); a new report will appear in the magazine later this year.
Technicide
Jim Harper
By Jim Harper, Founder and CEO
Professional dust pesticides are especially effective in termite service for three key reasons:
1. Deep access to voids and galleries. Dust can penetrate cracks and hidden areas where termites travel.
2. The transfer effect. Termites carry dust particles back to the colony, spreading the treatment to others. Studies have shown dust application can achieve high mortality rates in termites over time.
3. Long residual performance. Certain nonrepellent dusts can remain effective for months in protected spaces.
For more than 50 years, Florida A&M University (FAMU), through the Entomology Programin the College of Agriculture and Food Sciencesin cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education, has hosted the annual W.L. Peters Annual Field Day and Workshop in Entomology. As the longest-running continuing education program at FAMU, the event has become a trusted resource for pest management professionals (PMPs) across the southeastern United States.
Each year, the program provides practical, research-based training on current pest management issues while helping participants earn the continuing education units (CEUs) required to maintain their pesticide applicator licenses. Today, participants can earn CEUs for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
FIELD DAY PIONEERS: This photo from 1968 shows, from left, entomologists Drs. Tomáš Soldán, Biology Centre CAS Czech Republic; Bill Peters; Vladimir Landa, Czech Academy of Sciences; and Manuel Pescador, FAMU. (PHOTO: JANICE PETERS)
TODAY’S LEADERS: John Dukes III, left, is chair of the 2026 Field Day Advisory Committee. Dr. Lambert Kanga is an entomology professor and chair of FAMU’s entomology program. This photo was taken during the 2024 event. (PHOTO: DR. ANAMIKA SHARMA)
The workshop traces its origins to the mid-1970s, when the vision of creating an educational program for the pest management industry first took shape. According to Dr. Bill Peters’ widow, Janice Peters, the late Dr. Vladimir Landa of the Czech Academy of Sciences inspired the idea of developing an event that would bring universities and the pest management industry together while delivering practical, science-based information to professionals.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: At the 2025 Field Day, the wood-destroying organism (WDO) class was one of many that were well attended by PMPs from around the region. Field Day usually attracts between 250 and 300 attendees. (PHOTO: DR. ANAMIKA SHARMA)
DOWN MEMORY LANE: Students with the FAMU Entomology and Center for Biological Control team during the 2016 Field Day. (PHOTO: JOHN DUKES III)
From the beginning, the workshop served as a gathering place for students, pest management professionals (PMPs), researchers, industry leaders, vendors and representatives from government agencies. Much like a professional conference, the event combines educational presentations, networking opportunities and exhibits showcasing the latest products and technologies. With strong support from sponsors, vendors and organizations such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the workshop has steadily grown into one of the Southeast’s premier educational events for the pest management industry.
The program owes much of its development to Ruben Capelouto, a Tallahassee PMP who began teaching urban entomology and structural pest control courses at FAMU in 1970 as an adjunct instructor and later as a professor. Dr. Peters was instrumental in bringing Capelouto to the university, where he introduced students to both the scientific and entrepreneurial aspects of entomology.
Recognizing the need for professional education and diversity within the pest management industry, Capelouto organized meetings of industry representatives in 1978 and 1979 that ultimately led to the establishment of the Annual Field Day and Workshop in Entomology in 1980.
2014 SCHOLARSHIPS: This group of students were awarded the Capelouto Scholarship during 2014 Field Day. (PHOTO: JOHN DUKES III)
TEAMWORK: FAMU team during 2024 Field Day. From left are Dr. Lambert Kanga, Janice Peters, and Drs. Anamika Sharma, Susie Legaspi and Sabrina Hayes. (PHOTO: JOHN DUKES III)
The first full Field Day event was held in 1980. Presentations by Robert Clements and Dr. John Mulrennan Jr. emphasized community service and insect collections while helping establish the foundation for what later became Florida’s recertification program for PMPs. Before statewide recertification requirements were fully implemented, individual programs focused on specific topics.
The fourth Field Day highlighted wood-destroying insects (WDI), the fifth focused on rodent management, and the sixth program in 1983 addressed turf pests. In that same year, the workshop moved to the Donald L Tucker Civic Center, in Tallahassee, Fla., where it continued to be held until 2016, moving to Tallahassee State College (TSC) (then known as Tallahassee Community College) the next year. Since then, the meeting has been organized at TSC. Before 1991, the meetings were held in February. In 1991, the meeting date shifted from February to November, resulting in two workshops being conducted that year.
FLORIDA COLLEGE RIVALRY IS ON THE AGENDA: Dr. Rebecca Baldwin, director of the University of Florida (UF) Entomology and Nematology Education and Outreach Program, and UF Professor Emeritus Dr. Phil Koehler — also a PMP Hall of Famer (Class of 2015) — were among the speakers for the 2025 Field Day. (PHOTO: ANAMIKA SHARMA)
NETWORKING AND LEARNING: FAMU administrators and Dr. Buggs Exterminators Inc. team during the 2024 Field Day, from left are Dr. Lambert Kanga, Kirphton Fray, Dr. Robert Taylor, Dr. Steven Leong, John Dukes III, Dr. Dale Wesson and Dr. Muhammed Haseeb. (PHOTO: JOHN DUKES III)
Following Capelouto’s passing in 1980, the Ruben Capelouto Scholarship Fund was established in his honor. The scholarship continues to support undergraduate and graduate entomology students at Florida A&M University, reflecting his lasting commitment to education and the future of the pest management profession.
“Field Day has impacted lives,” says John Dukes III, founder of Dr. Buggs Exterminators Inc. in Gainesville, Fla. Not only was he one of the first award winners in the program, but since 1987 has been chair of the event’s advisory committee. “People meet each other and build relationships. It’s become much more than a venue to obtain CEUs. It has developed organically into an organization that provides unique opportunities for networking, personal growth and intentional learning.”
RENEWING FRIENDSHIPS: Event co-founder Janice Peters chats with longtime attendee Bob Kunst, president of Fischer Environmental Consulting, Mandeville, La. Kunst is also a Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer (Class of 2010). (PHOTO: JANICE PETERS)
The program has regularly attracted between 250 and 300 PMPs annually. Although attendance declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, participation has steadily rebounded. Since its inception, multiple individuals have received education or continuing education credits through the program. The majority of attendees have come from small businesses, while the remaining participants represent commercial and public facilities.
“I have had the privilege of attending over 40 Annual Entomology Field Days since the first event,” says Dennis Justice, founder of Assured Audit Pest Prevention in Tucson, Ariz. “The courses provide valuable practical information that can easily be implemented in one’s business. My fondest memories include seeing Dr. Peters in his Hawaiian print shirts and admiring the spectacular insect artwork created by Jan Peters.”
LONGTIME LEADER: Ruben Capelouto in 1979. (PHOTO: JANICE PETERS)
Charles Dixon, a long-time attendee and industry leader, first attended the workshop in 2001, shortly after earning his Florida operator’s license. Encouraged by another PMP from his town of Thomasville, Ga., Dixon soon realized that FAMU Field Day provided one of the most economical ways to earn CEUs for multiple states.
“The classes and labs have always had engaging and knowledgeable instructors,” Dixon adds. “Every year, I returned to my business with new knowledge and ideas to implement. Over the years, I developed friendships with many attendees, and those conversations were just as valuable as the classroom learning. Every year, I look forward to seeing old friends and continuing to learn.”
Special recognition is due to Janice Peters, who co-founded the event, and FAMU Entomology Program Chair Dr. Lambert Kanga, whose leadership has become closely intertwined with the workshop’s history.
When asked how she managed so many successful Field Days, Peters replies simply, “I don’t know — it just happened.”
Dr. Kanga adds, “This workshop is more than CEUs; it is a tradition of collaboration, innovation and professional growth that continues to benefit our industry.”
The 50th annual W.L. Peters Field Day and Workshop in Entomology will take place on Nov. 4-5, 2026. To register, visit TinyURL.com/39fm4zd2.
FAMU Assistant Entomology Professor Dr. Sharma is the director of the W.L. Peters Annual Field Day and Workshop in Entomology. She can be reached at anamika.sharma@famu.edu.
If you have programs or events you think could inspire fellow PMPs, please send a writeup and photos to pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.
If someone will answer phones, let them handle sample customer calls. 
