Protect what matters with PBC: The Pest Control Insurance Experts!
Since 1934, Program Brokerage Corp. has been the go-to insurance partner for pest management professionals nationwide. As the official endorsed broker of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the firm brings industry-leading expertise and tailor-made coverage to keep your business safe and thriving.
Coverage you can count on:
General Liability
Property
Inland Marine
Umbrella Excess
Commercial Auto
Worker’s Compensation
Nationwide coverage (excluding Alabama, Hawaii, South Dakota and Wyoming)
Customized. Cost-Effective. Trusted. Let PBC handle your insurance needs so you can focus on what you do best: protecting homes and businesses.
About PBC
Program Brokerage Corporation (PBC) is a powerful market resource known for its wide range of offerings and capabilities. The New York City-based firm is also a partner for carriers reaching out to the commercial insurance buyer in innovative, cost-effective ways and has pioneered an innovative approach to Purchasing Group Insurance buying, which has won popular acclaim.
Pasadena, Tex.-based Control Solutions Inc. (CSI) has announced the promotion of John Woodward to PCO director for the CSI Pest division. Woodward succeeds Sam Pass, who was recently promoted to head of sales.
Across Woodward’s short tenure with CSI, his leadership abilities, industry knowledge and impact with customers and the sales team made him a natural choice to step into the vacated role. In his new position, Woodward will lead the CSI Pest sales organization and help guide strategic initiatives supporting pest management professionals nationwide.
Woodward brings more than 35 years of experience in the pest control industry. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in agricultural marketing from Arizona State University and began his career with Target Specialty Products. His background includes key roles with Whitmire Micro-Gen, Burns Pest Elimination, BASF and Geotech Supply/Forshaw.
Woodward resides in California’s Sierra Foothills with his wife of 37 years, Debbie. They have three children and three grandchildren. Outside of work, he enjoys country living, playing guitar and attending live music events.
“John’s leadership presence was evident from day one,” said Sam Pass, CSI head of sales, in a news release. “While his time with CSI has been brief, his ability to connect with customers, lead teams and think strategically made him the clear choice to step into this role. I’m confident he will continue to elevate the CSI-Pest division as we grow.”
About Control Solutions Inc.
Control Solutions Inc. is a Texas-based manufacturer committed to delivering solutions for pest control professionals, turf and ornamental markets, production animal health and residential consumers. CSI is a member of ADAMA Professional Services.
Nisus, an industry leader in sustainable pest control and structural protection solutions, announced today that Pro-Shield Nsulation is now available in California. Pro-Shield is an insecticide that is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It doesn’t just insulate structures, but also protects them against termites, cockroaches, ants, crickets and other labeled pests.
Pro-Shield Nsulation offers another level of protection against structure-destroying pests. As blown-in insulation installed by licensedpest management professionals (PMPs) that combats pests commonly found in attics, wall voids and crawlspaces, it also offers superior energy efficiency and soundproofing. With 14.72 percent orthoboric acid blended into the cellulose fill, Pro-Shield is an ideal complement to industry staples such as Bora-Care and Tim-bor, the borate-based termiticidal, fungicidal and insecticidal products that are long-trusted entries in the company’s portfolio. This innovative solution offers PMPs an additional revenue stream and serves as a smarter way for homeowners to safeguard their homes.
Nisus considers the addition of the product to be a natural expansion to its lineup. Made with cellulose that is 100 percent recycled and manufactured with up to 50 percent renewable energy, Pro-Shield meets Nisus’ exacting sustainability standards while fulfilling the needs of both PMPs and end-users.
“Pro-Shield is not your average insulation,” Harry Bryan, Nisus VP of business development for Nisus Corporation, said in a news release. “It’s not a treated article — it’s a pesticide in and of itself. Pro-Shield combines the proven power of borates with the insulation properties of cellulose, offering a multi-layered defense system that does more than just keep the home warm — it helps protect one of your biggest investments from hidden threats.”
Pro-Shield is the next step of many for Nisus as it continues to enhance its already robust structural protection offerings. Jim Sparks, director of product sales for Nisus, noted in the news release, “Our nationwide sales and training team provides exceptional education on the ins and outs of defending property from pests and other threats. PMPs can present an entire roster of home protection strategies to builders and homeowners. Our team will demonstrate new revenue streams from the crawl space to the attic.”
Nisus President and CEO Lee Barrett agrees, adding in the news release, “PMPs are critical to the defense of public and private property from wood-destroying organisms. We are excited to offer them an exciting new way to do that, especially with a product that helps them to do so sustainably and effectively while providing their customers with a new service that brings peace of mind. Our team is always available to answer any questions about Pro-Shield Nsulation — whether it’s about installation best practices or label specifics. We’re here to support our fellow industry professionals every step of the way.”
About Nisus
Nisus is a privately held company that manufactures sustainable products for the professional pest control industry, industrial wood protection industry and the agricultural liquid micronutrient industry at its manufacturing plant based in Rockford, Tenn.
Enjoy significant savings when you purchase select BASF Pest Control solutions in pallet or half-pallet quantities from authorized distributors from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 15, 2026. Qualifying products include 500-gram bottles of Alpine WSG, 120-ounce bottles of Fendona CS and 8-pound pails of Selontra Rodent Bait (full pallet only). Certain restrictions may apply.
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.
As Valentine’s Day chocolates, sweets, and candy gifts pile up in kitchens and pantries across the US, the pest control experts at Excel Pest Services are warning homeowners that leftover treats could be doing more harm than good.
Improperly stored chocolate and candy can quickly attract rodents and insects, increasing the risk of infestations in the weeks after Valentine’s Day, when many people forget about half-eaten boxes and novelty sweets.
“Chocolate and sugary candy are some of the most attractive food sources you can leave out,” says Nick Ferrante Jr., ACE at Excel Pest Services, in a news release. “Once pests find an easy food supply in a pantry or cupboard, they’ll keep coming back, and they won’t stop at the candy.”
With colder weather still pushing pests indoors and food sources outside becoming scarce, Ferrante says Valentine’s leftovers often become an unexpected trigger for pest problems.
Eliminate these mistakes to avoid pests
1. Leaving opened chocolate in cardboard packaging
Cardboard is among the least protective materials when combating pests like rodents, which can chew through it within minutes, and insects that utilize the structure of the box to stay hidden while helping themselves to a snack.
“With Valentine’s chocolate, packaging is usually opened and handled multiple times,” Ferrante added in a release. “That makes minor access points harder to spot, especially underneath or along seams. Once scent residue is left behind, pests will continue returning to the same location.”
2. Storing sweets in cupboards that aren’t disturbed daily
Thinking of using a high shelf or even a darkened kitchen cabinet? These are places where it is easy to forget about your Valentine’s candy and provide lengthened periods of darkness, warmth and stability, making it the perfect spot for pests to hide out.
“Rodents will memorise food locations,” Ferrante said. “If a food source remains available over multiple nights, they adjust their movement patterns to revisit it regularly. At that point, activity often escalates from foraging to nesting nearby to reduce travel distance.”
3. Assuming sealed gift packaging is pest-proof
While the elaborate packaging of candies may be pretty, it isn’t protective. Foil trays, thin plastic wraps, and decorative tins slow pests down but don’t prevent access. Rodents can smell chocolate through packaging and will gnaw directly through weaker points, while ants and cockroaches exploit microscopic gaps or condensation buildup.
“We frequently trace infestations back to gift packaging that homeowners believed was sealed,” Ferrante said. “In reality, it only delayed access, not prevented it.
4. Ignoring melted or compromised chocolate
It is so easy to forget about or get tired of chocolates. However, when left for too long, chocolates soften and reharden, providing a stronger odor compound which can seep into shelf liners and packaging. Essentially leaving a marker for pests to navigate back to.
“From a detection standpoint, compromised chocolate is significantly more attractive,” Ferrante noted. “Even after the chocolate itself is removed, residue can continue drawing pests back to the same location.”
5. Leaving candy-related waste inside overnight
Empty wrappers, trays, and boxes retain food scent long after the chocolate is gone. When these are left in indoor trash bins, especially overnight, they act as scent trails that guide pests deeper into kitchens and pantries.
“Once pests associate a specific area with sugar or fat sources, they don’t stop at the trash,” Ferrante warns. “They begin exploring surrounding cupboards, walls, and voids, looking for additional food or nesting opportunities.”
What can customers do to stay safe?
To reduce risk, Excel Pest Services advises homeowners to:
Transfer chocolate out of original packaging into airtight glass or hard plastic containers
Inspect pantry shelving for crumbs, residue, or packaging damage
Remove uneaten Valentine’s sweets promptly, rather than storing them indefinitely
Seal indoor trash tightly and dispose of it regularly, especially after gift unwrapping
Monitor for early warning signs, including gnaw marks, grease trails, ants, or damaged packaging
“Chocolate is a high-value food source for both rodents and insects,” Ferrante says. “When it’s left accessible, it increases the likelihood of ongoing activity rather than one-off sightings.”
Excel Pest Services experts recommend a thorough post-Valentine’s pantry check as part of seasonal pest prevention, particularly while colder weather continues to push pests indoors.
Atticus’ new, trademarked Tirade CS with EnduraCap Technology, powered by the active ingredient cyfluthrin, is a controlled-release insecticide that delivers broad-spectrum pest control of both crawling and flying pests. It offers indoor and outdoor treatment for up to 90 days. The EnduraCap Technology encapsulates the active ingredient, which aids in extended residual activity and reduces human and pet exposure.
About Atticus
Based in Cary, N.C., Atticus LLC is a demand-driven manufacturer of battle-tested chemistries, established in 2014 and built from the ground up with a clear purpose to Enhance Daily Life. Through its agriculture and ecocore portfolios, the Atticus team is committed to helping professionals maximize their input requirements with dependable solutions. As an independent company, it executes each step of every project with discipline, to turn strategy into trusted results.
The Nebraska State Pest Control Association (NSPCA) recently announced registration for the 2026 Urban Pest Management Conference has opened. The event will span across two days, where attendees spend time networking with vendors to learn about the best products and services in the industry and earn continuing education credits (CEUs) by attending sessions with speakers.
About the event
The event will take place in Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 18-20 at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel.
Educational speakers will take the stage across each day speaking on topics such as stored grain insects, driving and safety awareness, professionalism, cockroaches, sanitation and much more.
This year will be the first ever where CEUs will be scanned. Attendees are required to have their license in order to receive credit.
How to register
The NSPCA asks that resistration is completed in one of the ways below:
Mail form to NSPCA, 10460 North Street, Fairfax, Va. 22030
About the NSPCA
The Nebraska State Pest Control Association functions, in part, to provide educational opportunities to its members and other interested parties. The association holds a variety of seminars and lectures on topics as diverse as the biology and control of specific pest species to proper pest inspection and identification procedures to environmental awareness and safety issues and practical business topics as well.
