The R&R Roundtable was designed to bring a number of viewpoints on restoration-related topics together in one place. This month, five companies specializing in mold remediation are sharing their viewpoints on product options, training, remediation misconceptions, and more.
LaVerne, Calif.-based California Pest Management sponsored veteran Nitro Funny Car driver Jeff Arend to drive at the Auto Club National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Finals at the Pomona Fairplex, Nov. 14 – 17, 2019, in Pomona, Calif.
The racing team sponsored by California Pest Management in Texas, 2019. PHOTO: CALIFORNIA PEST MANAGEMENT
California Pest Management sponsored a press luncheon at the California Pest Management offices for photos and interviews of the car owners, Peter and Helen Russo, along with the La Verne, Calif.-native Jeff Arend. At the event, local Target Specialty representative Carolyn Sagara had the rare experience of sitting in the cockpit of the car, reports Jim Harmon, owner of California Pest Management.
The last time Arend drove the Russo Funny Car was at the NHRA Finals in November 2018.
“When I first wanted to get into sponsorship in motor sports, I contacted Jeff via Facebook, and we developed a friendship, and eventually we did a small sponsorship on the Funny Car in 2018 for the last race of the season in Pomona, Calif.,” says Harmon. “We received a lot of positive response from the community and had a blast doing it, so that this year, they offered me the whole car and we went for it with a full sponsorship for the last three races of the season and full team sponsorship. The car owners, Helen and Peter Russo, are here in the states from Australia each year just for the last three races of the season. Jeff Arend is the driver and tuner of the car, and the crew are from all over the world, helping out the Russo’s on the car. As a small business, we understand that level of dedication and effort, and that is why we decided to continue sponsoring the team.”
Since 2016, Arend has driven a limited schedule in the Russo Funny Car. He competed at three races in 2018 for the Russo’s, including the last two of the season at Las Vegas, Nev., and Pomona, Calif. He qualified at both with a 4.11-second elapsed time.
Arend has won four career NHRA national events.
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The fortunes of every restoration firm are inextricably linked to the fortunes of insurance companies.
Bug Busters Inc. acquired Divine T.E.A.M. Pest Control, based in Winder, Ga. The acquisition of Divine T.E.A.M. allows Bug Busters to expand its footprint in northeast metro Atlanta, Ga.
From left are Bug Busters’ Court Parker, COO; and Kimberly and Terence McLean of Divine T.E.A.M. Pest Control. PHOTO: BUG BUSTERS INC.
Terence and Kimberly McLean, owners of Divine T.E.A.M. Pest Control, established the operation in 2005.
Bug Busters has provided pest management to Atlanta, Ga., clients for more than three decades from offices in Woodstock, Ga., (serving the north metro Atlanta community) and Fayetteville, Ga., (serving the south metro Atlanta community).
“The acquisition of Divine T.E.A.M. increases the density to our Winder and northeast metro Atlanta market,” says Court Parker, COO of Bug Busters Inc.
Both family-owned companies offer a broad range of residential and commercial pest management and termite control services. The agreement brings Bug Busters bed bug inspections and professional wildlife services to clients throughout the northeast metro Atlanta area.
“We’re excited about what the Bug Busters Inc. and Divine T.E.A.M. Pest Control teams can do together to expand our presence, to enhance our service offerings and to grow in the Winder and northeast metro Atlanta, Ga., market,” continues Parker.
In addition to its service offices in Georgia, Bug Busters operates out of a Chattanooga, Tenn., office. Bug Busters was founded in 1984 and is a member of the National Pest Management Association, Georgia Pest Control Association, Certified Pest Control Operators of Georgia, the Tennessee Pest Control Association and the South Carolina Pest Control Association.
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Treating contents has always been, and always will be, a necessary component in the restoration industry. Unless a home or business is completely empty when damaged, there will be a variety of items that need attention.
Football season is wrapping up with bowl games and playoffs—both college and pro. The business year, on the other hand, is just beginning for most of you. A commonality in both ventures is that it’s critical to work hard for the full four quarters. As my home team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, used to say: be 60-minute men.
PCOpro from Brownyard Group is an admitted insurance solution designed just for pest control operators. Recognized as an industry leader, this specialty insurance program offers broad general and professional liability coverage, including E&O Liability with coverage for Financial Loss in addition to BI and PD. Additional features include coverage for sudden and accidental pollution liability, automobile pollution liability, and job site pollution liability which includes environmental damage. The program also includes options for commercial property, business auto, workers’ compensation, third-party employee dishonesty, inland marine and commercial excess liability. PCOpro is written with highly rated insurance carriers at competitive premium rates through your local insurance agent or broker.
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We live in the pampered era of couch potatoes and desk jockeys. From 2-hour long commutes, to 8-hour Netflix binges, we are successfully neglecting our need for daily exercise. In the United States alone, less than 23% of the population commits to even the most pitiful of exercise standards. Picture in your mind’s eye that unwilling 77%. It’s possible that 40–60% of them are plagued with mold or biotoxin illness, which would explain their unwillingness to engage in adequate physical activity. If only they knew what you’re about to discover—how to remove mold from your body with exercise. Then, perhaps they’d feel encouraged to push through that foggy, mold malaise and commit to detoxifying their bodies by moving their bodies.
The most basic mold detox protocol will work just as well as a general biotoxin illness treatment. So, whether you suffer from mold, yeast, food allergies, or even heavy metal toxicity, the advice shared here for how to get mold out of your body will be beneficial both short-term and long-term for most types of illness. At the conclusion of this article, you will find links to additional forms of detox, such as diet and natural herbal remedies, which I strongly advise you to include alongside the specific exercise routines mentioned below.
At varying paces, and in varying ways, every part of the body renews itself.
Your red blood cells have a quick life span of roughly 4 months due to their strenuous and demanding journey through your circulatory system, carting oxygen to your body’s various tissues.
Your skin—or epidermis—endures excessive wear and tear, thanks to its role as the outermost protective layer of your body. This requires your skin cells to completely rejuvenate themselves every 2 to 4 weeks.
Your body hair can take anywhere from 3 years (if you’re a man) to 6 years (if you’re a woman) to reach its full life span and replace itself.
Your liver works overtime to purify innumerous varieties of contaminants from your body. It absolutely must renew itself every 150 days just to avoid damage from everything you put it through.
The cells that line your stomach and intestines have a very difficult job because they are continually battered by corrosive stomach acids, foods, and biotoxins. Of all the cells in the body, by far, theirs is the shortest life span—3 to 5 days.
Your bone cells regenerate at an almost constant rate, but the complete process takes a full 10 years. (Not-so-fun Fact: Over time, this process of renewal slows down and our bones become thinner and less dense as we age.)
You may be wondering, “Okay, but how long does it take for mold to get out of your system?” Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all mold detoxification timetable. As you can see, different cells detoxify and renew at different speeds, depending on how much work you and your lifestyle require of them. Abusing or neglecting your body’s physical (i.e. exercise) and nutritional needs will inhibit your body’s ability to sufficiently (and efficiently) detoxify and renew itself. In addition, certain genes—such as HLA-DR—cause a carrier’s body to store toxins and attack itself instead of targeting mold, yeast, and other biotoxins, and eliminating them from the body. The good news is that, whether you suffer from self-neglect or a genetic vulnerability to mold illness, exercise will accelerate the detoxification process.
The key to detoxifying exercise is its effect on the blood. Exercise causes the blood to circulate more effectively throughout your body, allowing more oxygen and other nutrients to quickly and more easily reach your hardworking organs and muscles.
As a result, the lymphatic system better circulates tissue fluids. Hormones and harmful materials are more easily released and transferred to their final destinations thanks to the improved blood circulation.
During exercise, the pituitary gland releases human growth hormone, which tells the body to increase the cell production of bone, muscle and other tissues. As for the thyroid gland, exercise fine-tunes its hormonal signal that regulates body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, which will improve the work of the immune and nervous system.
Exercise activates the sympathetic nervous system (increasing heart and breathing rate, as well as blood pressure). Aside from flushing bacteria and mold spores out of the lungs and airways, physical activity causes epinephrine and norepinephrine to be released into the bloodstream, which activates a cellular reaction that suppresses the production of cytokine cells. In other words, exercising has an anti-inflammatory effect on the immune system as a whole, which allows it to work more thoroughly and efficiently to target and battle biotoxins that would otherwise trick the immune system into causing self-harming inflammation.
Inflammation is the number one culprit behind chronic illnesses related to mold exposure. Exercise causes a positive change in antibodies and white blood cells, which allows them to correctly target mold and other biotoxins; and use inflammation in a more appropriate and positive way, instead of committing inflammatory self-harm.
When the heart and the mind are unwell or suffering from excessive or mismanaged stress and anxiety, every system in the body is compromised and inhibited from performing at its best. Exercise combats this by stimulating the nervous system to release a variety of positive chemicals in the brain that influence and enhance psychological wellbeing and cognitive function. This, in turn, can help govern and equip the immune, endocrine, lymphatic, and circulatory systems to work at optimal levels.
Sweating is one of the most common—and effective—avenues through which toxins are expelled from the body. This part of the automatic nervous system is best induced by exercise.
The key to eliminating mold from your body is to simply move your whole body each day. You might have read or heard the phrase, “Never skip leg day!,” which is usually tacked on exercise memes that mock an anonymous bodybuilder whose legs are not as developed as his upper body. While strength-training and muscle-building does improve the immune system, the goal here is not to avoid being disproportionate. By working your entire body, you drain and activate the lymphatic system and supply the blood and tissues with more oxygen needed for eradicating the organs of biotoxins.
The second most important key to eliminating mold from your body is to move your whole body to the point of sweating. Sweat is the body’s natural way to not only cool the body down, but also eliminate waste and cleanse itself. Sweating draws mycotoxins and other biotoxins out of the body through the skin. You may notice that mold-induced acne or rashes will clear up within a week or two of whole-body exercises. Hair loss may slow down or stop completely, as well, on account of the sweat clearing out the pores and follicles of the scalp. In addition, the chronic dry skin, chapped lips, and cracked heels that so often are caused by mold or yeast will clear up and finally heal thanks to sweat’s cleansing effect on the body’s ability to produce its own oily moisturizer (sebum).
So, when considering how to remove mold from your body with exercise, which exercise routine is best? As mentioned before, you need to focus on moving your whole body. If you’re a beginner or you’re suffering from obesity and/or painful joints, it is perfectly fine to begin your journey with low-impact exercises, such as walking, the recumbent bike, the elliptical, and the rower. The recumbent bike will not require the use of your upper body, but it is a good starting point if you are unaccustomed to strenuous exercise.
Rebounder (exercise trampoline)—When it comes to mold detoxification, the rebounder takes the cake. This is because the rebounding motion engages every system of the body. It stimulates all internal organs, especially the intestines, detoxifies fatty tissues, moves the cerebral-spinal fluid, and creates a stronger response within the cells—namely the self-propelled immune cells responsible for obliterating viruses, bacteria, and mycotoxins. Just five minutes a day on a rebounder is enough to promote and accelerate the body’s fight against mold toxicity.
Are you considering a rebounder? Check this one out.
Power Plates (vibration platforms)—Standing on a vibration plate will spark positive activity within the lymph nodes and strongly promote lymphatic drainage. Small muscle contractions caused by the user’s attempts to maintain balance engage the circulatory system in a special way that significantly forces fluids to flow more efficiently throughout the body, promoting the organs to expedite the detoxification process. Ten to fifteen minutes on a vibration platform is enough to induce mild to substantial sweating, as well.
Do the power plates pique your interest? Well, you have several options:
LifePro Waver Vibration Plate Exercise Machine
Lastly, there is the combined benefits of stair climbing and vibration, such as the ExerVibe Climber, but with a price tag of nearly $6000, it’s a rather unlikely candidate for most us. Still, there’s always the stair climber at your local gym, and some gyms even provide vibration plates. Either machine is an excellent choice for detoxification, and only 5–10 minutes a day is necessary to encourage your body to detox.
Whether you can invest in an exercise machine, gym membership, or just a pair of sneakers, if you’re suffering from mold exposure or mold toxicity, it’s imperative that you start moving your body every day. Don’t be discouraged by your physical or financial limitations. Vigorous walks, climbing the stairs in your home, jumping jacks, and even simply marching in place can help rid your body of stubborn mycotoxins.
Anti-Fungal Diet to Help Cure a Yeast Infection
Foods to Eat When You Have Mold or Yeast in Your Body
Foods to Avoid When You Have Mold or Yeast in Your Body
You are Drinking Mold in Your Coffee
Preventing the Effects of Fungal-Derived Aflatoxins in Peanut Butter
10 of the Moldiest Foods on the Market
6 Types of Foods that Reduce Mold-Derived Inflammation
Radishes: An Anti-fungal Powerhouse
Mold Sickness: Will Activated Charcoal Help?
Myco-ZX: How Effective are its Ingredients?
Essential Oil Sprays and Herbal Medicines: Battling Mold Naturally
For more information regarding mold, mold prevention, and mold solutions, please check out the rest of MoldBlogger.com.
Article by Amanda Demsky from the MoldBlogger team.
In most restoration and remediation firms, the (techs) front-line guys and gals are the money. Yes, other departments play a role, but the dollars are realized with production techs. They produce the work, fill in forms; either paper or digital, create sketches, write estimates, set, monitor, move and pull equipment and smile for the customer who sometimes isn’t always peachy.
Rose Pest Solutions added to its number of Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) professionals. Longtime Ohio supervisors Billie Jones and Steve Currier recently earned the certification through the Entomological Society of America.
Billie Jones. PHOTO: ROSE PEST SOLUTIONS
The designation rewards individuals who have trained as professionals in the field of urban pest management through continuing education, self-study and on-the-job experience. Applicants must pass a 150-question exam that requires a broad knowledge of pests, integrated pest management, and pesticides, along with laws and regulations.
Billie Jones, who currently serves as the Regional QA Supervisor for the West Ohio region in Cincinnati, has been with Rose Pest Solutions since 2000. He started as a technician in the Lansing, Mich., service area before being promoted to a service supervisor in 2013. Jones monitors the training and quality activities in western Ohio, performs spot inspections on a number of commercial accounts and trains technicians during the onboarding process at Rose. He lives in Troy, Ohio.
Steve Currier. PHOTO: ROSE PEST SOLUTIONS
Steve Currier started at Rose Pest Solutions in 2007 and is currently the Regional QA Supervisor for Rose’s East Ohio region in Cleveland. He oversees technician operations ensuring Rose Pest Solutions continues to exceed industry standards for clients throughout the Midwest. Currier resides in Delta, Ohio.
“Billie and Steve are integral parts of our team,” says Russ Ives, president and CEO of Rose Pest Solutions. “They already do such an outstanding job leading our West and East regions in Ohio, and with their recent designation as Associate Certified Entomologists, Rose now has 11 ACE professionals on staff throughout the company, bolstering our commitment of providing industry-leading service to residential and commercial clients throughout the Midwest.”
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IMAGE: SERVICEPRO
Smart Branding is one more way for your pest control company to upsell services through ServSuite. This can be achieved by leveraging all outbound emails and printable documents to promote additional services to your clients. ServicePro identifies how important branding touchpoints are for a service company, so now they not only bring cutting-edge technology, but can also help your business grow. Feel free to reach out to ServicePro for information on Premium and Professional packages. Learn more via video at Youtube.com/watch?v=DQq4IdQTjDo&feature=youtu.be.
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PHOTO: SYNGENTA
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) initiated a charitable program to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. At the start of RISE’s 2019 Annual Meeting reception, attendees filled 576 food bags that were given to school children in the Tucson, Ariz., area.
Stephanie Schwenke, marketing manager at Syngenta Crop Protection, helped develop the program through the RISE Programs and Membership (P&M) Committee. She joined the committee in 2018 to find ways to engage next-generation professionals.
Stephanie Schwenke
“The give-back event was something new and different and allowed for networking and the formation of new friendships,” Schwenke says. “Moreover, it was a purposeful activity that enabled us to get food to children who don’t have enough to eat over the weekend.”
At Syngenta, Schwenke focused on agricultural markets for seven years before moving to the turf market in 2011. Her portfolio includes herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators. Among her responsibilities is introducing new solutions to the market.
In addition to her work with RISE, Schwenke also engages with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, National Association of Landscape Professionals, and other groups supporting sports turf managers.
Participating in RISE’s P&M Committee allows Schwenke to enhance relationships with industry partners.
“We all really need to take the responsibility to ensure we have a future and that it looks vibrant,” says Schwenke. “Collaborating with industry partners through the RISE committees is one way of doing that.”
PHOTO: SYNGENTA
Schwenke says she plans to continue to enhance RISE programming for 2020 and engage members at all professional levels.
“We are looking to grow and diversify what the RISE membership looks like and who makes up the committees,” she says. “We’re already seeing results in things like attendance and participation in the give-back and the RISEing Professionals Latte Hour. The new programming and professional development opportunities are beneficial to everyone; no matter where you are in your career, professional development and staying engaged in industry concerns and issues is important.”
“There really is an open invitation for any members to join RISE committees,” she continues. “With seven different committees, there’s a place for everybody. It’s essential that we keep bringing in new energy, ideas and ways to engage within the industry. And it’s important for people to be in the room where it happens.”
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PHOTO: SENESTECH
ContraPest, manufactured by SenesTech Inc., is a non-lethal liquid contraceptive bait that reduces fertility in both male and female Norway and roof rats. The product is now available in two deployment systems with tank sizes of 400mL or 550mL, depending on the bait station being used for your specific location need. Please read and follow label instructions for deployment. It is registered for indoor, non-food use and within 1 foot around external perimeters of transit systems, public and private buildings, commercial residential structures, and/or other man-made structures.
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The Kansas Pest Control Association held its annual meeting on Dec. 6. The membership unanimously elected the following to represent the association on the board of directors, as well as officers for 2020:
LOGO: KANSAS PEST CONTROL ASSOCIATION
The Kansas Pest Control Association is a state-level organization of pest control professionals that seeks to provide programs and services that assist its members in achieving success in business operations, as protectors of health, environment and property in Kansas. The following goals are outlined in its mission statement:
The association was founded in 1948. In 2015, it established its Master Technician Program, geared toward pest management professionals committed to becoming experts in the industry. The program provides hands-on training, and each session is taught by top professionals and educators, including entomologists. It provides a continuous series of workshops investigating major pest groups, including but not limited to blood feeders, rodents and wildlife, termites, commercial and stored product pests, cockroaches, pest ants, occasional invaders and flies.
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Mary Laws sits with Hope Adcock and the branch manager and regional manager for Clegg’s Pest Control. PHOTO: HOPE ADCOCK
We recently came across a great story about how a pest control technician helped a customer have a merry Christmas this year.
During a routine quality check, Hope Adcock met Mary Laws, a long-term resident at a senior housing complex. Adcock is a certified field inspector and wildlife damage control agent with Clegg’s Pest Control.
During the visit, Adcock commented on Laws’ beautiful display of holiday cards. But Laws told her they were all from years prior, as she hasn’t received any new ones.
“When I came back to the branch, I had already decided to send her a card,” Adcock said. “I told the office staff what was going on, and they sent cards, too.”
Adcock, who has been in the pest control industry for more than 10 years, said Laws really made an impact on her.
“She’s so funny, so upbeat,” Adcock says. “And one of these people you can’t help fall in love with.”
After getting help from staff at her branch, Adcock reached out to the members of the Women in Pest Control (WIPC) group on Facebook, asking them to send cards to Laws.
Mary Laws stands beside a floral arrangement sent by a member of WIPC. PHOTO: HOPE ADCOCK
“Within minutes of posting,” Adcock says. “We had people all over the United States saying, ‘I’ll send her a card, what’s her address?’ It just blew my mind.”
Since Adcock reached out on Facebook on Dec. 10, members of WIPC have really stepped up. As of Dec. 23, Adcock says Laws has received 15 cards from Clegg’s Smithfield branch, 32 cards from women in the WIPC group, a bouquet of flowers and multiple gift cards.
“She is so in love with the fact that people are taking the time out of their day for as something as simple as sending her a card,” Adcock says.
Founded in 1960, Clegg’s Pest Control is based in North Carolina. The company’s 13 branches, including the Smithfield branch, that cover all of North Carolina and parts of South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
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Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators has grown to become the sixth-largest pest control company in the United States with revenues exceeding $235 million. As a third-generation, family-run business, Arrow respects the hard work that goes into building pest management companies, and understands the value of providing a solid foundation to structure mutually beneficial agreements. It strives to be a partner that’s involved at every step along the way, providing a smooth transition for your customers and your team. Whether you’re ready to sell or just exploring options, call 800-281-8978 or visit arrowexterminators.com/mergers.
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Fumigation Service & Supply (FSS) Inc. hosted two educational sessions for the food industry Dec. 10 in Chicago, Ill., and Dec. 12 in Atlanta, Ga.
PHOTO: FSS
Rod Wheeler, world renowned expert on food security, discussed how to protect our world’s food supply against adulteration and terror threats. James White, a Safe Quality Food auditor and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in food plant auditing, presented on the food code and how to handle audits and auditors.
Representatives from Insects Limited Inc., Bayer, Pelsis, Woodstream and Liphatech offered perspectives on everything from the latest remote sensing technologies to the recent registration of CO2 as a pesticide for use in rodent burrows.
PHOTO: FSS
FSS’ John Moore, Pete Mueller, Jeff Waggoner and Josh Wilhelm presented on topics ranging from microbial control using chlorine dioxide, fumigation of commodity and structures, and the latest approach to pest management using a DynamicIPM approach.
“We are glad to have the opportunity to present the latest in the industry,” says Jeff Waggoner, VP and general manager of FSS. “Our service, product and education approach remains as much a focal point for FSS Inc. today as it did 37 years ago when the original purpose statement was written. It’s not easy to put together, and we thank all of our sponsors and attendees who made these events such a fun time. We enjoy ‘Sharing Through Education.'”
FSS’ next opportunity to learn from leaders in the global pest management industry will take place in Africa. The 14th Fumigants & Pheromones Conference, co-hosted by Insects Limited, will be held at Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on May 12-14, 2020.
Visit Insects Limited’s website for more information and conference registration. The conference’s schedule of events can be found here. Early registration for the conference ends April 1, 2020.
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IMAGE: PEST CONTROL INSULATION
The new 575PCO insulation blowing machine, exclusive to Pest Control Insulation, provides an output rate of up to 93 30-pound bags of TAP Pest Control Insulation per hour — yet still uses common household current. Safety guards provide operator protection, and the removable hopper allows easy access to the machine’s all-steel airlock for convenient cleaning. The dual agitators enhance the conditioning of insulation fibers. A cord hanger and hand pendant hanger offer cord storage. The machine comes with a 150-foot, wired remote control with a three-position switch, giving the operator increased control over the feed and blower speed.
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ServiceMaster acquired Crazy Frog Pest Control’s service centers and operations in Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho.
LOGO: SERVICEMASTER
Crazy Frog was founded by Mike Stosich, Travis Harwood and Lance Riddoch in 2012. Since inception, the company has expanded with service centers in California, Florida, Idaho, Texas and Washington.
The Potomac Co. advised Crazy Frog on these transactions, which closed in November 2019. Terms were not disclosed.
ServiceMaster’s subsidiary Terminix International also acquired Lytle’s Termite & Pest Control located in Morehead, Kentucky. The Aust Group represented Lytle’s as the exclusive financial adviser for this transaction. The Paramus, N.J.-based consulting firm was founded by Stuart Aust, who is a member of Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) Editorial Advisory Board.
Lytle’s was founded in 1982 by Nick Lytle. In 2010, Nick exited the company and passed the business to his son, Norman.
“We are excited for Norman on this great milestone,” says Daniel Aust, director of M&A for The Aust Group. “The acquisition will add more density to Terminix’s footprint in the Greater Lexington market.”
ServiceMaster also recently acquired Burke Pest Control in Binghamton, N.Y; Gregory Pest Solutions in Greenville, S.C.; McCloud Services in South Elgin, Ill.; Seitz Brothers Exterminating in Tamaqua, Pa.; and Inspect-All Services in Conyers, Ga.
ServiceMaster entered the European market this year with the acquisition of Nomor Holding in Sweden and also purchased IoT service provider Pest Pulse in Ireland. The company also recently named Kim Scott as president of Terminix Residential. In addition, Southwest division vice president Lance Martin was promoted to vice president of field operations, reporting to Scott.
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Meet the man behind R&R's newest web-exclusive column, The Intentional Restorer.
Ryan Gates, total quality manager at Versacor Managed Pest Solutions, earned the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) designation.
Ryan Gates. PHOTO: VERSACOR
The ACE certification recognizes pest management professionals with strong experience in insect-related work and whose training in entomology has been achieved through continuing education, self-study and on-the-job experience. The Entomological Society of America administers the ACE program.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to further advance within the industry and hope that the knowledge gained in the process will prove valuable to Versacor in the future,” says Gates.
Gates joined Versacor in 2015 and was promoted to the position of total quality manager in January 2018. He holds a certified applicator license in multiple categories in six states.
As total quality manager, Gates manages Versacor’s overall quality program and conducts training of company personnel. In addition to providing initial service training to new associates, Gates maintains the ongoing training of branch personnel, which includes all specialized certifications. Acting as the safety officer of Versacor, Gates also works to ensure a safe working environment for all associates and manages Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance for the company.
Versacor is based in Southlake, Texas, and serves Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The company was named one of the 2020 Best Companies to Work for in Texas for the third year in a row.
“We strive each day to maintain a company culture of involvement, opportunity and recognition,” says Jason Eicher, president of Versacor. “Additionally, our associates are passionate about what they do and are fully committed to our clients. This level of commitment is what makes Versacor succeed and excel in our industry.”
The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of Texas Monthly, the Texas Association of Business, Texas SHRM and Best Companies Group. The list is made up of 100 companies.
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The Tech-Reach Bait Pro bait applicator extension offers pest management technicians the ability to reach far above, behind and around a customer’s items. No bait is wasted because the bait tube attaches on the end of the 24-in. extension. Engineered to be fast and accurate, with a lightweight, compact design, the extension fits all 1-oz. bait tubes.
The post Technicide: Tech-Reach Bait Pro Extension appeared first on Pest Management Professional.
On a beautiful Friday morning in the quiet little country town of Pine Island, Minn. (population 3,263) a family welcomed their new infant son. When life is so brand new and so tiny you become very aware just how fragile and dependent that life is.
Ben Miller, left, owner of AAI Pest Control, stands next to Kemp Anderson, right. PHOTO: KEMP ANDERSON CONSULTING
Terminix acquired AAI Pest Control, headquartered in Salida, Calif. The deal closed Dec. 10 and terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition will strengthen Terminix’s presence in California’s Central Valley and the Bay Area. The company’s two branch locations, in Salida and Tracy, Calif., are optimized with a branch supervisor who oversees the technicians and can respond to customer issues efficiently.
Owner Ben Miller took over AAI in January 2011 from his father-in law and Founder Mike Rogers. Before taking over the company, Miller, the husband of Rogers’ daughter Gretchen, was brought on as VP of operations in June 2003. Together, Miller and Rogers worked to increased the company’s recurring revenue.
After working together at AAI for seven years, Rogers transferred ownership to Miller in order to transition to retirement.
Rogers founded AAI in 1982 and spent more than 40 years in the pest control industry. He retired from the business to focus on time with his wife, kids and 11 grandchildren.
Since Miller took over AAI, he led the team through the Great Recession and increased the company’s profitability. Miller and the entire AAI team will join Terminix.
AAI Pest Control was represented by Kemp Anderson Consulting.
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RISE Governing Board Chair Gilles Galliou, Bayer Environmental Science, tells his story during the RISE Annual Meeting in Marana, Ariz. PHOTO: RISE
The shift in the political makeup of state legislatures to one-party majorities — except one — in the 2018 elections resulted in many pesticide-focused bills and longer active engagement by more people on those bills in 2019 legislative sessions. Bills focused primarily on single active ingredients or classes of chemistry, including rodenticides and neonicotinoids, along with bills seeking to amend school and other integrated pest management (IPM)-related laws.
As 2019 began, many pest management professionals (PMPs) began talking with newly elected legislators and their staffs about our industry and its benefits. Those conversations continue, and are equally important as we look to 2020 legislative sessions.
In addition to talking directly with newly elected policymakers, RISE continued its social media conversation about pest control and plant health around the house and yard on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For the past three years, our And not Or program has connected with millennial homeowners in a relatable way, by providing resources for home and lawn care for both the do-it-yourself and the hire-a-professional consumer. We’ve learned homeowners need and seek advice and personalized solutions to create the home and lifestyle they want.
As we think about the best ways to engage and make a personal connection, video rises to the top. RISE had nearly 6 million views of its how-to video content, and created nearly 50 million impressions and 9 million engagements with its content from 2016-2019. These engagements tell us people are open to a conversation with us, and information about our products and services that are relevant to their lives. We’ve learned being active in the social conversation makes a big impact on perceptions about pesticides and their value.
Engagement and storytelling also were the focus of this year’s RISE annual meeting (Editor’s Note: For additional coverage of the meeting, please see RISE holds 29th annual meeting). Two hundred members and partners, including National Pest Management Association (NPMA) leaders, met to set strategy for 2020 and increase direct on-the-ground engagement in our industry advocacy. RISE Governing Board Chair Gilles Galliou, Bayer Environmental Science, told his story, touching on personal and professional milestones to kick off our advocacy engagement program for 2020. He highlighted the impact of making personal connections by sharing firsthand relatable experiences that can lead to a conversation about our industry and its important work — building trust one conversation at a time.
As the year ends, RISE continues to engage with next-gen consumers and new legislators, and we’re asking everyone in our industry to take time between now and January to tell their personal story to family, neighbors, friends and those we’ve elected to represent us. The NPMA has excellent resources to help start the conversation, and we have resources, too, at DebugTheMyths.com.
REARDON has led the communications and public affairs efforts for RISE for more than a decade. Based in Washington, RISE is the national association representing the manufacturers, formulators, distributors and other industry leaders involved with pesticide and fertilizer products used in turf, ornamental, pest control, aquatic and terrestrial vegetation and other non-food/fiber applications. Learn more at PestFacts.org and DebugtheMyths.com.
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Bug Off Pest Control Center offers “Everything in Pest Control”: supplies, equipment, technical backup and business support. It’s also known for such offerings as career training programs, workshops, specialty courses, special events and, of course, The New York Pest Expo. Its website features an exclusive PCO Store, technical articles, a video archive and employment opportunities. Whether you visit the Manhattan showroom or visit online, “come to us for what we sell and for what we know.”
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If you’ve encountered pigeons in urban areas that don’t have a full set of “toes,” you might be wondering whether it was a genetic thing, or perhaps an infection. It’s a common enough phenomenon in European cities like Paris, France, and London, England, that a research team decided to study the cause.
What the team of scientists from France’s National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) and the University of Lyon found out, according to a Phys.org article, was surprising: Human hair plays a role.
In CNN International’s coverage, the MNHN’s Frédéric Jiguet said “he came up with the idea for the study after noticing mutilated pigeons as he walked through the Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden, in Paris.”
While studying 46 sites around Paris, the team recorded the instances of “stringfeet,” which occurs when pigeons get human hair wrapped around their toes as they walk around. They noticed a pattern that in neighborhoods where there are hair salons, the more instances of stringfeet.
“The string might just fall, but sometimes it forms a knot around a toe, and in the end the toe dies and falls off,” Jiguet told CNN International.
This surprised the scientists, who, according to their abstract in the December issue of Biological Conservation, originally “hypothesized that mutilations would be predicted by local overall environmental conditions, potentially related to local organic, noise or air pollutions, so gathered such environmental predictors of urban pollutions. We showed that mutilations do not concern recently fledged pigeons, and that their occurrence and frequency are not related to plumage darkness, a proxy of a pigeon’s sensitivity to infectious diseases.
“Toe mutilation was more frequent in city blocks with a higher degree of air and noise pollution, while it tended to increase with the density of hairdressers. In addition, the number of mutilation on injured pigeons was higher in more populated blocks, and tended to decrease with increasing greenspace density, and to increase with air pollution. Pollution and land cover changes thus seem to impact pigeon health through toe deformities, and increasing green spaces might benefit bird health in cities.”
Readers, we have to say “stringfeet” is a new concept to us. Have you heard of it? Have you seen it, and if so, was it near a hair salon?
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PHOTO: INSECTS LIMITED
Stay one step ahead of infestations and customer complaints with remote pheromone monitoring provided by SightTrap, which puts cameras in your traps and gives you access to essential information and data on your computer and smartphone. SightTrap powered by ForesightIPM gives users a high-tech tool for preventing problems before they happen.
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Photo: CarmenMurillo/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
The industry’s need to offer quality service and produce high profit margins rests on pest management professionals’ (PMPs’) ability to select the software provider that best fits their business models.
My company specializes in the software conversion process for PMPs and other service providers. For years, we’ve worked with PMPs with companies that range from $2 million to $80 million in revenue, but we’ve learned some lessons along the way that hold true for PMPs of all sizes.
We understand that it’s quite difficult to measure software systems against each other. It’s never a one-size-fits-all proposition, so research and planning — and a good bit of soul-searching — will help you decide what you really need and what you don’t. What follow are seven factors to consider during your software decision-making process.
Don’t get caught up by a system that offers a few features that only affect 10 percent of your operations. Try to remain focused on what you really want in a new system, what is costing you the most money today, and all areas of improvement that new software can provide. Is scheduling taking too long? Are you still using paper and missing out on opportunities to connect with your customers digitally? Do you need a system that will allow you to train new staff more quickly and easily? Take the time to evaluate how each system measures up against one another, and consider future feature developments in your decision making.
In your active search and onboarding process, include key team members who will use the system daily, such as your lead customer service representative, field technician, and scheduler. And don’t forget your accounting staff. Give these team members an opportunity to share needs that should be addressed during the decision-making process. Including them also will lead to greater buy-in and less resistance to change.
Think of switching software as a way to implement the changes you’ve wanted to make to your core business operations, but the status quo has gotten in the way. Maybe you’ve wanted to move your technicians from hourly compensation to production commissions, or introduce a new incentive program, or implement monthly billing for your customers. Changing software is a great opportunity to accomplish any internal or external changes you’ve wanted to make, all while using software conversion as the perfect “scapegoat.”
If done right, the software conversion implementation process should not cause major interference with your business operations. Ask a lot of questions, and make sure you are realistic about the onboarding timeline. What is the software training model: videos, live interaction, or a combination of both? What training resource materials are available to your staff? The training process potentially can be a time vacuum for your staff, so be sure to build in a realistic timeline for them to absorb a lot of information and make some major mental shifts in the way they normally perform their jobs. It may seem counterintuitive, since it is peak busy season for PMPs, but summer actually is a great time to start shopping for software and putting a plan in place. This way, the actual implementation can take place during the winter downturn.
Also, consider what post-conversion support will look like for your staff. To whom will they turn for questions or immediate needs? And how will they do it — phone call, email, live chat online? Again, be sure to ask questions during the shopping process.
Consider hiring a third party if you’re thinking about switching software. Remember, a software salesperson’s job is to “sell,” as it should be. However, if you’re having a hard time navigating the pros and cons among systems, a contracted third party will be able to objectively evaluate each system on your behalf. The expert you hire can create a core set of feature comparisons that should be taken into consideration — some of which you might not have previously considered. Additionally, hiring a third-party consultant can alleviate some of the personnel resource allocation strain, allowing you and your staff to remain focused on keeping the business going.
Understand your data and the data migration process, which is going to have a few bumps along the way in even the smoothest transitions. No one knows your business like you do, so have a plan in place to compare your key metrics during the data testing process. If you aren’t confident managing this yourself, a third-party resource should be able to assist you.
The way “we’ve always done it” won’t help you keep up with industry trends. It also may be holding you back from revenue and marketing opportunities that now exist with new technology. So, go ahead and consider the switch.
NEWPORT is president of Newport Advisors, Charlotte, N.C. Learn more at GetNewportAdvisors.com.
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Since its inception, the RIA Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) Committee has been moving forward like a freight train. Month after month this movement gains momentum in a way that is unprecedented in the property repair industry.
IMAGE: NCPMA
The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) updated the app for its Pest Control Technician’s (PCT) School. The version of the 2020 app is updated with new content under the “Upcoming Events” section.
“We are excited to again offer this great resource for our attendees and give them a way to have the most up-to-date event information right at their fingertips,” said Clint Miller, NCPMA president. “The 2020 PCT School app will be continually updated with the latest schedules, speaker information and downloadable documents.”
The app is free and is available for download in the Apple and Google app stores by searching “NCPMA PCT School.”
The app offers up-to-date information about the event, including session schedules, speaker information and push notifications. It will be updated regularly with the latest information available for attendees.
The 2020 event will feature nationally recognized speakers who will lead educational sessions for pest management professionals, as well as hands-on training sessions for pest management technicians. The program was designed for pest control technicians, their suppliers, nuisance wildlife control agents and others closely involved with pest control operations. The school’s general program offers phase training with the opportunity to earn continuing certification units and information for technicians, owners and managers.
This year, the NCPMA is making some changes to its hands-on learning session, which was launched in 2019. The North Carolina State University’s hands-on spray school and live learning course will still be offered, but will be on-site this year.
The event is in its 70th year and is organized in partnership with the North Carolina State University Department of Entomology.
The 2020 NCPMA PCT School will be held Jan. 26-30, 2020 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham. Registration is now open.
Dr. Faith Oi.
PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH
Dr. Faith Oi, an associate extension scientist in urban entomology at the University of Florida, will also speak to pest management professionals at the NCPMA’s 2020 PCT School. She will discuss termites at the PCT School with a presentation titled, “Termite Control: More than Applying a Termiticide.”
Dr. Oi is a member of Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) Editorial Advisory Board and was featured in PMP’s December 2018 Women in Pest Management issue. She is also director of Pest Management University, a hands-on hybrid training program that runs year-round.
“I am ecstatic to support another hands-on training program in North Carolina,” she says. “It is always an honor to speak to and learn from PMPs who view training as an investment in their companies.”
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