PMF establishes Tesh and PMi Family Education Foundation Scholarship

The Pest Management Foundation has established the Tesh and PMi Family Education Foundation Scholarship, by PMP Hall of Famer Billy Tesh and his wife, Laurie.

“It is truly our pleasure to be able to establish a scholarship fund that will serve students interested in our industry. Besides hard work and dedication, education and continuing education are essential for the next generation of pest control professionals to thrive and remain successful in their efforts. It is so meaningful to our family to be able to contribute in such a way that gives back to an incredible industry that has given so much to us. It is our hope that the students who this scholarship will support, will understand the profound impact and difference they will be able to make in our communities. We are in the business of helping others, this opportunity, will do just that,” said Billy Tesh, president of Pest Management Systems, Inc., in Greensboro, N.C.

About the Tesh and PMi Family Education Foundation Scholarship

Award Amount: One award per year totaling $1,000

The Tesh Family and Pest Management Systems, Inc. (PMi) have established the Tesh and PMi Family Education Foundation Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating high school senior entering college or trade school or a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in any field with a GPA of 3.5 or higher each year.

Eligibility criteria

• Student graduating from high school entering college or trade school, or a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in any field with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Priority given to those whose families are employed by Pest Management Systems Inc.
• Priority given to those whose families serve in the pest control industry.

Application requirements

• Resume or curriculum vita.
• Current unofficial academic transcript.
• A one-page (minimum) essay describing applicant’s professional goals and aspirations and how he/she plans to use their studies to contribute to a field in urban pest management.
• At least one letter of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s work ethic, academic progress and how the applicant plans to use their studies to contribute to their field.
• Other supporting documents (research papers and proposals, faculty research participation, related industry internship participation, fellowship projects, industry work experience, etc.) can also be submitted.

Applications for all Foundation scholarships will open in October.

Further details on applying for these scholarships can be found at NPMAFoundation.org or contact Mike Bentley at mbentley@pestworld.org.

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Sacramento CA

Entomology leader recognized for field contributions

Dr. Arthur Appel, interim dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and interim director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, was recognized in May for his distinguished career as an entomologist.

Appel received the Distinguished Achievement Award at the National Conference on Urban Entomology in Atlanta, Ga. The award is the highest honor given by the organization to a researcher and presented the Arnold Mallis Memorial Award Lecture, the keynote lecture that launches the conference.

“This recognition reflects the outstanding contributions and meaningful impacts of his work to the pest control industry,” said David Held, chair of the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology. “Dr. Appel is an expert on urban cockroaches and their management and was a pioneer in researching the bait products now used almost universally for cockroach management.” 

About Dr. Appel

Dr. Arthur Appel

Appel is a significant contributor to the urban entomology field, beginning his career at Auburn University in 1985 as an assistant professor. He currently serves as the interim associate dean of research for the College of Agriculture and interim assistant director of the Experiment Station.

His research has examined insect toxicology, insecticide resistance, integrated pest management (IPM) and the development and evaluation of both conventional and biologically based pest-control strategies. Appel’s research focuses on urban entomology, particularly the biology, behavior, physiology and management of structural pests such as termites, cockroaches and fire ants.

Appel is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in his field, having served as a subject editor for leading scientific and technical journals including Pest Management Professional, Psyche, the Journal of Economic Entomology (Household and Structural Insects section) and Physiological Entomology. He has delivered keynote addresses at major professional meetings in Mexico and Malaysia and has provided leadership and service to the Entomological Society of America.

Stephen Gates, alumnus of the department and vice president of Cook’s Pest Control praised Appel’s years of significant contributions to urban entomology and pest control in a news release, “Dr. Appel’s work reinforces that effective pest control isn’t just about applying a product. It’s about understanding the problem and applying the right strategy.”

Appel expressed his gratitude for the award in a news release, “I’m grateful to receive this award, which also recognizes the important work of my students and technician.”

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Sacramento CA

Nisus Corp.: Bac-Azap

Bac-Azap Odor Encapsulation Technology is a liquid that uses a triple action to eliminate organic odors. It replaces tough odors with a fresh scent, encapsulates the odor molecules, and then a blend of microbes goes to work to consume organic odor-causing matter, eliminating the source of the odor. It’s excellent for eliminating dead animal, urine, vomit, feces, smoke and other organic odors, and for keeping drains clear of organic build-up.

Bac-Azap represents a great opportunity for pest management professionals (PMPs) who want to expand their service lines and provide more value to the customer. This can be an add-on service to the regular quarterly visit and can create new calls that generate new revenue. 

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.

NisusCorp.com

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Sacramento CA

Truly Nolen promotes sales manager

Truly Nolen Pest Control has promoted John Seigel to sales manager of the company’s West Texas and New Mexico service offices. Seigel will remain based out of the company’s El Paso, Texas service office.

Seigel joined Truly Nolen in 2015 as a termite technician and later advanced to pest control technician and territory specialist before entering the company’s Manager-In-Training program in 2025. Prior to joining the company, he worked with two other companies within the industry for seven years and was also an automobile salesman during that time.

“What I am most excited about in this new role is experiencing new challenges, meeting all the different people along the way, and helping them reach their sales potential,” said Seigel in a press release. “My favorite thing about working for Truly Nolen is the amazing culture it has and the number of resources we have available.”

“Throughout his tenure, John has played a key role in supporting operations, training new team members, and maintaining strong customer relationships,” said Emily Cruz, area manager, West Texas and New Mexico. “His leadership style is rooted in consistency, accountability and leading by example. John’s operational expertise combined with his sales performance and team-first mindset made him an easy choice for this new role.”

About Truly Nolen

Founded in 1938, Tucson, Arizona-based Truly Nolen of America is one of the largest family-owned pest control companies in the United States. Truly Nolen has over 80 branch offices in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. The company also has independently owned and operated franchises in an ever-growing number of territories including Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Canada, Puerto Rico and over 60 countries.

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Sacramento CA

Experts weigh in on what to learn from bed bug encounters

In the June 2026 edition of Pest Management Professional magazine, we asked the PMP Editorial Advisory Board:

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from a challenging bed bug job?

Dr. Hamilton Allen, BCE

Fox Pest Control

“Surprisingly, the lesson wasn’t related to pesticide application. Instead, I learned the importance of customer communication, training and empathy. After three services, we eliminated the bed bugs, but the customer’s identity was impacted several months after the service. The customer called in on a weekly basis with bed bugs on his mind. Having bed bugs can be a traumatic experience for some. Instead of dismissing the customer’s concerns, we had to train our management team and office staff to listen and provide solutions even though the insects were essentially absent.”

Dr. Mohammed El Damir, BCE

Adam’s Pest Control

“Success depends entirely on thorough inspection and precise treatment execution. Because bed bugs are resilient and often hide deep in voids, even small details matter. For example, pesticidal dust must be applied carefully; excessive amounts can actually repel bed bugs and cause them to avoid treated areas.”

Michael Broder

BHB Pest Elimination

“Consider the customer’s emotions and mental state. Bed bugs, more than nearly any other pest we deal with, can deeply affect a person physically, mentally and emotionally. Knowing they are living with bed bugs can cause sleep loss and impair their rational thinking.”

Doug Foster

Burt’s Termite and Pest Control

“More than any other pest, our clients really are depending on us to help them. Bed bugs create such an emotional response and trauma for those affected that you must give your best effort every time.”

Scarlett Nolen

Truly Nolen Pest Control

“A lesson my dad instilled: An educated customer is the best customer. Knowledge is power. Partnering with the customer at the beginning is the path to success, particularly with bed bugs.”

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Sacramento CA

Envu launches In2Care Certified Specialist offering

As National Mosquito Awareness Week approaches, Envu is showcasing the innovative In2Care Mosquito Station and expanding support for pest management professionals (PMPs) through the new In2Care Certified Specialist.

The launch of the In2Care Specialist certification, driven by growing product demand, is designed to help PMPs expand their mosquito services through training, business-building tools and industry recognition.

“The launch of the In2Care Certified Specialist offering marks an exciting milestone for Envu and our partners,” said Chad Noyes, campaign activation manager for mosquito management and ornamentals at Envu. “By becoming an In2Care Certified Specialist, we’re helping service providers connect with potential customers interested in installing In2Care around their homes and businesses more than ever before.”

The In2Care Mosquito Station uses an always-on, auto-dissemination technology that turns mosquitoes into carriers of control. By spreading active ingredients to hidden breeding sites, mosquitoes help interrupt breeding cycles beyond the station itself, delivering continuous control. The result is continuous control that can support recurring service opportunities for PMPs and provide LCOs with an easy-to-add revenue stream.

The new certification includes free training, exclusive tools and a listing on the In2Care Certified Specialist Map. To become certified, eligible PMPs and LCOs simply create a free Envu Horizon account and complete a brief online training course. Once certified, they’re then added to the map, helping consumers connect with trained experts who can install, maintain and optimize the system.

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 and 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.

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Sacramento CA

‘Drops of oil’ principles built one empire — and could build yours

Pest control is a business built on small actions repeated consistently over time. Every service completed correctly, every customer retained, every callback avoided and every route optimized may seem insignificant on its own; however, together they create lasting growth.

This concept is why I’ve always appreciated the story of John D. Rockefeller and his obsession with “drops of oil.” Rockefeller understood that tiny amounts of waste, repeated millions of times, became real money. Small improvements in processes and operations didn’t transform the business overnight, but over time, they compounded into one of the most successful companies in history.

How much does inefficiency cost?

Rockefeller’s “drops of oil” feels especially relevant in the pest control industry. Unlike some industries that chase the next big thing, pest control has always been a business of steady, predictable growth. Success is often measured in inches rather than miles. For example, a technician improves route efficiency. A branch reduces callbacks. A manager spends more time coaching. Customer retention improves by a percentage point. Each of these changes feels small in the moment, but over time, they stack on top of one another. Before long, what started as a series of minor improvements becomes a meaningful competitive advantage.

This concept of compounding has been championed by Warren Buffett throughout his career. Buffett’s success wasn’t built on a handful of spectacular decisions; it was built on decades of consistent gains that accumulated year after year. The lesson is simple, but powerful: small improvements, sustained over long periods of time, often outperform dramatic but inconsistent efforts. In many ways, the pest control industry is uniquely positioned to benefit from this philosophy because our business model itself is built on recurring relationships. Every customer retained, every referral earned, every renewal secured and every service delivered well becomes another building block for future growth.

Technological impacts

The question many businesses are asking today is whether artificial intelligence changes this equation. It’s an interesting thought. Historically, our industry has rewarded patience, discipline and continuous improvement. AI may accelerate the pace at which we discover opportunities for improvement, analyze data, communicate with customers or train employees. It may even help us find the next drop of oil faster than ever before. However,even if technology changes how quickly we identify opportunities, this doesn’t change the fundamental principle. Improvements only create value when people consistently act on them. Technology can point the way, but execution is what creates results.

From concepts to business opportunity

At Truly Nolen, this belief is at the heart of how we think about growth. We are committed to making iterative improvements that compound over time not because they generate immediate headlines, but because history shows they work. Every enhancement to the customer experience, every operational improvement, every leadership lesson learned and every innovation adopted is another drop of oil. Individually, these actions may seem insignificant. Collectively, they become the foundation of long-term success.

Rockefeller understood this. Buffett built a fortune around this. Subsequently, for those of us in the pest control industry, it remains one of the most powerful business lessons available. The future may bring new technologies, new tools and new ways of working, but the principle remains unchanged; the organizations that win are often the ones that never stop collecting “drops of oil.”

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Sacramento CA