As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas, and PestWorld 2026 was no exception. A record-setting number of pest control industry pros turned out Oct. 20 through 23, the NPMA’s biggest event so far. Attendees and exhibitors embraced the Western theme with their attire, booth design and giveaways. Check out the highlights below.
This year’s Day of Service featured playful puppies. Aardvark Pest Management’s Alyssia Zimmaro cuddles with a furry friend. PHOTO: PMP STAFFThe Texas Pest Control Association’s Executive Director Todd Kercheval offered attendees a Texas-sized welcome during the Oct. 21 Main Stage session. PHOTO: PMP STAFFThe National Pest Management Association’s PestWorld 2026 booth featured a Western theme. PHOTO: PMP STAFFMany of the educational sessions offered at PestWorld 2026 allowed participants to earn continuing educational units. PHOTO: PMP STAFFPestWorld 2026 attendees head to educational sessions, which covered technical and business topics. PHOTO: PMP STAFFNational Pest Management Association CEO Dominique Stumpf, CAE, welcomes attendees to PestWorld 2026. PHOTO: PMP STAFFAnderson, Calif.-based Big Time Pest Control President and CEO Mike Bullert, tells PestWorld 2026 attendees about his pest control journey at the Oct. 21 Main Stage session. PHOTO: PMP STAFF
The 2026 PMP Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony took place Oct. 19 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. This year’s inductees are Mark Boyd, founder of Control Solutions Inc.; Bobby, Raleigh and Dennis Jenkins of ABC Home & Commercial Services; Frank Meek of Rollins; and the late Gene White of Rentokil. Visit the PMP Hall of Fame website.
For those who knew him, either from working side-by-side with him or sitting through one of his many technical presentations at a pest control industry event, the induction of Eugene “Gene” Donald White II, BCE, into the Pest Management Professional (PMP) Hall of Fame likely seems to be years overdue.
Baby-faced Gene White in his younger years. (Photo: White Family)
But no one could have predicted his sudden death at age 64, with heart failure after a surfing lesson while in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Society for Vector Ecology 2022 International Congress. In fact, it is with some regret we are inducting him this year as our posthumous candidate, as we wish we could have him here to enjoy the accolades. Because there are so many accolades to share.
From athlete to entomologist
White was one of four children born to the Rev. E. Donald White and his wife, Peg; he also had a paternal
half-sibling. Born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Green, a city outside Akron, Ohio, White loved nature, art and being on the track and football teams. Green High School went undefeated in football his senior year, which led to a scholarship to Glenville State College (now University) in West Virginia.
In 1981, fresh from college with a biology degree and a minor in oral communications, White came back to Northeast Ohio to work as a technician with Orkin Pest Control — while also playing for the Canton Bulldogs, a semi-professional football team. As the story goes, a teammate also worked in pest control and got him into the now-defunct Metro Exterminators as a technical director. That position led him to interact with Bio-Serv, the distribution arm of Rose Pest Solutions (then known as Rose Exterminator Co.).
By 1984, he signed on with Rosefor the beginning of a long and fruitful career.
From managing the Rose office in Fort Wayne, Ind., to becoming a corporate trainer at the then-headquarters in Troy, Mich., the company also led to White settling down and becoming a family man. He married Nancy White (no relation!) in 1985, who worked for Able Pest Control, and had three daughters: Kelsey, Kyle and Karey.
Gene White in high school. (Photos: White Family)
Higher education
By the early 1990s, White felt a pull to further his education every time he attended the Urban Pest Management Conference at Purdue University. In 1993, he was accepted into Purdue for his master’s of science degree in entomology and moved his family to West Lafayette, Ind. He returned to Rose in 1996 after earning his degree.
Not only had White worked for a company that was founded in 1860 by PMP Hall of Famer Solomon Rose — and thus considered to be the oldest continuously run pest control firm in the United States — but his post-graduate work had another PMP Hall of Fame connection: Under the guidance of Dr. Tim Gibb, White was able to close a termite research project begun in the 1940s by Purdue legend Dr. John Osmun (Class of 1997).
He returned to Rose after graduation, staying until 2013, when then-Rentokil North America (now Rentokil-Terminix) hired him to be a technical director for its Central Market, from Canada to Mexico. He traveled extensively, training hundreds and eventually earning a promotion to technical director of all of Rentokil North America.
Worldwide influence
At the time of his passing, White was excelling in the position he had held since 2017, global director of vector management. It was a position created shortly after Rentokil Vector Disease Control International (VDCI), a holding company with the largest mosquito control and lake management service divisions in the U.S.
Gene White’s photos of pests both in the wild and under a microscope are still used by PMP today. (Photo: White Family)
White’s combination of industry knowledge, educational expertise, sense of humor and an enthusiasm for helping people around him succeed made him the perfect candidate for the new role. Although mosquitoes and other vector pests were not his top specialty, he made it his business to learn as much as he could so he could best manage Rentokil teams focused on this service segment in 30 countries worldwide.
At the time of his passing, White left behind his wife, Janet, as well as two daughters, three stepchildren, and a combined 10 grandchildren. His daughter Kelsey preceded him in 2020. Two grandchildren and a great-grandchild have been born since.
Industry fraternity Pi Chi Omega, of which White was a longtime member, today offers the Gene White Field Excellence Grant, created with support from Rentokil Terminix, Burt’s Pest Control and the Indiana Pest Management Association. As a grant instead of a college scholarship, the intention is to “fund projects or career milestones like advanced skill acquisition, conference attendance, technical courses or new product/concept creations.”
White’s professional legacy lives on not only through the grant and through the hundreds of professional-level photographs of insects, wildlife and even business-themed “stock art” he took over the years, but through the hearts and minds of the many pest management professionals he helped train and encourage over his lifetime.
The newest addition to the iQ product lineup, STREAMLINE iQ, is a multiple-catch mouse trap powered by Bell Sensing Technologies. Sleek and durable, its small profile makes it ideal for any account. With the ability to check each device from up to 100 feet away for rodent activity trend analysis, STREAMLINE iQ minimizes labor and gives pest management professionals (PMPs) data to make informed decisions, while eliminating checking empty traps.
About Bell Labs
Founded in 1974 by the late Malcolm Stack, a member of the Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame (Class of 2004), Bell Labs today is based in Windsor, Wis., and manufactures rodenticides and other rodent control products available to the pest control and agricultural industries on six continents. It is led by another Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer, CEO Steve Levy (Class of 2022). Bell’s complete line of products includes rodenticides, tamper-resistant bait stations, smart rodent monitoring devices, glue boards, mechanical traps, and attractants.
It’s that time of year again, to start thinking about protecting shrubs from winter deer damage. What will you use on your customer’s property? Deer Free Winter Armor is the right answer to that question. Deer Free Winter Armor, a sought-after winter-only deer repellent, has been available for professional use and a trusted product since 2008.
Deer Free Winter Armor continues to be available through SiteOne Landscape Supply, Central Pro Supply and Advanced Turf Solutions. One application lasts all winter long with no colored film. Only mix with water, according to the label instructions, and you’ll be on your way to making your customers very happy this winter.
Deer Free Winter Armor also acts as an antidesiccant, which means it protects against winter wind burn. This natural deer repellent is made in the USA by the Natural Products Company – NAPROCO LLC, doing business as Garden Girls Repellents.
Remember, in severe winter conditions, deer will eat almost anything. Check for deer browsing and reapply if necessary. For warm winter climates where plants are in constant growing season, continue to use Deer Free Summer Armor in the fall and winter months. Both products are available in 1- and 2.5-gallon concentrate jugs and in 55-gallon drums.
About Garden Girls Repellents
NAPROCO LLC/Garden Girls Repellents LLC has been producing natural pesticides since 2008. Each member of the team comes with many years of experience in manufacturing, pesticide production and pesticide applications. The company’s goal is to maintain the belief in using the least amount of chemicals in homes, businesses and the environment, to provide excellent service, and to produce all-natural and effective pesticides in the ever-increasing demand for green products. We hope you will catch our vision and grow with us.
Steve Gullickson, president of MGK, the Environmental Health Division of Sumitomo Biorational Co., will step down Dec. 31, 2026. Randy Nelson will succeed him Jan. 1, 2027. Nelson has worked for MGK for more than 40 years. Gullickson will stay on as a consultant to support Nelson and the division through the transition.
Gullickson joined MGK in 1998 in a sales and marketing role and was named president in 2006. During his 28 years with the business, he helped guide MGK’s growth, expand its capabilities and strengthen its position as an insect control partner.
His tenure included MGK’s move into branded products, starting with the launch of Pyganic Crop Protection in 2000. The company later expanded its branded portfolio into professional products, animal health and vector control.
“Steve’s leadership has helped shape MGK’s growth and establish a strong foundation for our Environmental Health Division,” Shinsuke “Shin” Shojima, president and CEO of Sumitomo Biorational, said in a news release. “We thank him for his many contributions and the commitment he has brought to our customers, employees and business. Randy’s extensive experience and understanding of our organization position him well to lead the division into its next chapter.”
Nelson has held roles in manufacturing operations, sales, marketing, customer service, accounting and finance during his career with MGK. The company notes that he combines operational and financial experience with a deep understanding of the company’s customers, markets and people.
“I am honored to take on this responsibility and build on the foundation Steve and our team have established,” Nelson said in the news release. “Our customers depend on us for effective insect control solutions, practical expertise and dependable support. I look forward to working with our employees and partners to continue meeting those needs and bringing new solutions to the markets we serve.”
About MGK
In 1902, Alexander McLaughlin went into the business of importing ground spices, plant leaves, barks, fruits and flowers for use in pharmaceuticals and food. Six years later, he incorporated the business with partners George King and John Gormley. The company, McLaughlin Gormley King (MGK), soon realized its product shipments containing flowers in the chrysanthemum family of plants were never infested with live insects. Today, the Minneapolis, Minn.-based manufacturer develops insect control products for professional, commercial and agricultural markets.
Four generations of family leadership have guided MGK since its founding. In 1989, MGK became an affiliate of Sumitomo Chemical Co., a critical relationship to its long-term successes in chemistry, technology, sales and growth.
MGK now operates as the Environmental Health Division of Sumitomo Biorational, which was formed in April 2026. Sumitomo Biorational, based in Libertyville, Ill., operates three divisions: AgroSolutions, Environmental Health and Public Health & Forest Health.
Envu introduced pest management professionals (PMPs) to Vitora, its next generation of pest management products, during the National Pest Management Association’s PestWorld 2026 event in Grapevine, Texas. From Oct. 20-23, attendees stopped by the Envu booth for a demo of the first product in the new brand, Vitora Dust. The new products were designed to help PMPs streamline operations.
“The new Vitora brand of products will also help customers evolve as local regulations change,” Gokhan Vergon, head of pest management and public health at Envu, said in a news release. “Our customers rely on us for solutions they can trust for the future: products that are highly efficacious, that reduce callbacks and allow their business to grow.”
Vitora represents the next generation of pest management, thoughtfully designed with a new, proprietary active ingredient called flupyradifurone: a non-neonic designed for changing pest pressure. It binds differently and enables more efficient, faster control than traditional non-neonics, even in the most challenging spaces, the company says. As the regulatory environment and customer demands continue to evolve, this novel technology will help PMPs keep pace with the changes.
Vitora Dust features dual active ingredients: beta-cyfluthrin and the new, proprietary flupyradifurone. The dust helps to eliminate resistant infestations and provides the reliability PMPs need to get the job done.
Vitora Dust has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but at press time is pending state approval and not yet available for sale. PMPs can sign up with their Envu representative to test the product and pre-order.
PMPs can also register and explore the benefits of Envu Horizon, a program that helps PMPs earn more from their purchases. Those who enroll by Oct. 31, 2026, will earn rewards on all qualifying purchases dating back to June 1, 2026, as well as continued rewards on qualifying purchases through the rest of the year.
About Envu
Envu was founded in 2022, a company built on years of environmental science experience, for the sole purpose of advancing healthy environments for everyone, everywhere. Envu offers dedicated services in: Professional Pest Management, Forestry, Ornamentals, Golf, Industrial Vegetation Management, Lawn & Landscape, Mosquito Management, and Range & Pasture. Envu collaborates with customers to design innovative solutions that meet their requirements today and well into the future. The Envu portfolio consists of over 250 trusted and well-known brands. The company employs more than 1,000 people, operates in 100 countries and has four global innovation hubs.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) honored several industry leaders during PestWorld 2026 in Grapevine, Texas. The annual event took place Oct. 20-23 at the Gaylord Texan Resort. At the opening ceremony Oct. 20, NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf, CAE, presented two awards:
• Curtis Rand, president of Rose Pest Solutions in Northfield, Ill., and chair of the NPMA PestVets Council, received the 2025-2026 Committee Chair of the Year Award.
NPMA presented eight more awards at annual awards ceremony on Oct. 22:
• Ryan Olson, COO and third-generation owner of Yankton, S.D.-based Olson’s Pest Technicians, received the Emerging Leaders Award. This award recognizes rising stars who have already made significant contributions to the association or the pest management profession and have shown potential for leadership and continued service. Rentokil Terminix sponsors the award.
Ryan Olson
• Cincinnati, Ohio-based Scherzinger Pest Control received the NPMA Gives Award, which recognizes member companies that have shown leadership through their dedication and contributions to their communities. The company was founded in 1934 by Bernard Scherzinger, and is today run by his great-grandsons Kurt and Eric Scherzinger, who are president and VP of sales and marketing, respectively. Their father, Steve, who still owns the business, is the son of Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Ed Scherzinger (Class of 2011) — and also served as the 2005-2006 NPMA president. PestPac by WorkWave sponsors the award.
• Tower Pest Control, based in Hialeah, Fla., received the Excellence in Sustainability Award. The award recognizes companies that have made outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship in the pest management industry. Nisus Corp. sponsors the award.
• Pisgah Pest Control, based in Brevard, N.C., received the Culture Catalyst Award, which celebrates companies that have built exceptional workplace cultures through strong core values and employee engagement. Arrow Exterminators sponsors the award.
• BugBros Pest Control, based in Tulsa, Okla., received the inaugural Technology Adopter Award. The new award recognizes pest management companies that have embraced innovative technology to drive business growth. FieldRoutes sponsors the award.
• Marillian Missiti, president of Buono Pest Controlin Watertown, Mass., and the 2023-2024 president of NPMA, received the Women of Excellence Award. The award recognizes female PMPs who show outstanding leadership and have made notable contributions to the development and growth of other women in the industry. Target Specialty Products sponsors the award.
Marillian Missiti
• Russ Ives, chairman of Rose Pest Solutions in Madison Heights, Mich., received the Pinnacle Award, NPMA’s most prestigious honor. The award recognizes an individual who has contributed to the success of both the association and the industry over a lifetime or career. Ives is a third-generation PMP who served as the 2015-2016 president of NPMA, following in the footsteps of his father, Bill (1977–1978), and grandfather, Harlem (1954–1955).
