So, you’re considering investing in GPS vehicle tracking for your fleet. Smart move: the right vehicle tracking software can help improve your customer service, increase the lifespans of your company’s trucks, and boost your bottom line in all sorts of other ways.
I admit that when starting Next Gear Solutions, I thought the same thing. A family is much better than a cold business environment that cares only about the company’s needs and not about the needs of the employee, right? If faced with only those two options, I would continue to choose the “family business model,” but I believe there is another more optimal choice, which is the “sports team” business model.
IMAGE: POLTI USA
The Polti Cimex Eradicator is a bed bug steamer designed for pest management professionals. The boiler and patented nozzle generate a powerful flow of superheated dry steam that reaches up to 356°F, killing adult bed bugs and eggs in seconds. This flexible bed bug “killing machine” is chemical-free and able to be used on any surface.
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Nibbles in full holiday mode in December 2018. IMAGE: BIG BLUE BUG SOLUTIONS
As our team gears up for Thanksgiving break and more than a little bit of pumpkin pie, I realize that I’m also looking forward to holiday decorating this season. For the past 25 years, it has been my family’s tradition to put up the Christmas tree (and the contents of more boxes than I care to admit) on the day after Thanksgiving. We then take it down on New Year’s Day, as the TV blares football games. This summer, we moved into a new house, so the process will be even more fun as we find new and different ways to display the decorations we’ve acquired over the years.
It seems like I’m in good company when it comes to the enjoyment of decking the halls: The Boston Globe recently profiled Big Blue Bug Solutions, and how its team gets its giant rooftop termite mascot, Nibbles Woodaway, ready for the holidays. The Providence, R.I.-based firm, which was known as New England Pest Control until leaning into branding with its local landmark in 2012, has been decorating Nibbles with lights (and a red nose and antlers) for nearly three decades. It was founded in 1935 by Leonard Goldman, and remains a family-owned and -operated company today.
According to the Globe, Nibble’s 27th annual lighting ceremony was “Rhode Island’s answer to the ball drop in Times Square.”
So, now it’s your turn: Does your firm get festive this time of year? Are you hiding elves on your shelves? Or perhaps you’re just getting ready to air your grievances around the Festivus pole? Sound off below, or drop us a line at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.
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Photo: kajakiki/E+/GettyImages
Chatter from pest control companies during the holiday season usually revolves around winter exclusion or protection from bed bugs during holiday travel. At Terminix, we’re always thinking of new ways to get people interested in pest control, and we wanted to take the opportunity to connect with consumers on a different level. After all, people are usually more concerned with hosting their in-laws for the holidays than they are about opening their home to unwanted pests. Beyond advising our customers to look out for rats and mice this winter, we want to help with a different kind of holiday pest: pesty dinner conversation.
Drew Blake, Communications Consultant, Terminix
While there’s plenty to love about Thanksgiving, the holiday can also bring awkward conversations from well-meaning relatives who want to get caught up on careers and social lives. That’s why Terminix created The Pest Way Out, a handy guide of pest-themed responses to common questions that help consumers pivot any awkward conversation away from them to bug facts. The Pest Way Out includes responses for questions related to dating, work, politics and more, to help match any awkward subject that might come up. For example, when someone asks if you’re seeing anyone, you can remind them that while you’re still single, most termite colonies have a king and queen that mate for life.
The Pest Way Out is a way for us to connect with our customers at a level beyond termites and mice, and hopefully decrease some of the stress around the holidays. Beyond fun pest facts, we wanted to acknowledge that we know removal can be the best solution for pest control sometimes.
That’s why, as part of The Pest Way Out, we’re offering consumers a chance to win a $2,500 gift card that can be used for a post-Thanksgiving vacation in case The Pest Way Out responses aren’t enough to recover from awkward conversations. (Click here to enter the contest, and for rules and restrictions.)
We know that the holidays can be stressful as much as joyful, and a post-Thanksgiving vacation is the perfect way to relax after the holiday. The giveaway closes on Thanksgiving, as we figured that vacationing during one of the busiest travel days of the year might actually be more stressful than hosting the big meal.
Between the pest facts and vacation giveaway, our biggest hope is to make our customers’ Thanksgivings lighter and brighter. Even if The Pest Way Out doesn’t perfectly shift the conversation away from an awkward topic, it can at least be a way to bring something fun and new to the dinner table. As we in the pest control industry know, there’s no shortage of interesting tidbits in this industry, and who knows what kind of conversation will start by sharing that certain species of ticks can swell to several times their original size while feeding?
Drew Blake is a communications consultant with Terminix.
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LOGOS: QUALITYPRO
QualityPro is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
The program began in 2004, when the National Pest Management Association’s leadership determined that the industry needed to define its own professional standards. In addition to standards, QualityPro promotes accredited companies with cobranding opportunities, marketing guidance and lead generation.
QualityPro accredited companies meet qualifications built around four key principles: business operations, consumer relations, environmental stewardship and technician training. Examples of standards include criminal background checks of employees, maintaining insurance policies, and having a uniform and professional appearance policy.
The QualityPro exam, which issues a certificate of completion, verifies that those performing or selling services across the country have the basic knowledge to perform the job. For 15 years, professionals across the country have used this certificate to prove their knowledge in the industry.
The spirit of the 16 QualityPro standards has not changed, but the details have. As best practices and regulations evolved, QualityPro has kept accredited companies up to speed.
In recent years, QualityPro has added resources and expanded the toolkit available to accredited companies. The program also underwent a total rebranding.
During the past 15 years, QualityPro added four service certifications for those accredited companies who perform services according to the industry’s highest standards of excellence:
“From the national exam being a stepping stone in an individual’s career to our HR updates helping owners ensure they are hiring right as laws change, we are here to support every aspect of a company that wants to stand out on a national scale,” says Allison Allen, executive director of QualityPro. “I look forward to getting to know more companies each year and sharing in their successes as they grow with QualityPro.”
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Flagstaff, Ariz.-based SenesTech Inc., a developer of technologies for managing animal pest populations through fertility control, reports progress on current deployment and site updates for fertility control in Washington, D.C.
LOGO: SENESTECH
“SenesTech agreed to provide a camera to DC Health in August 2019 to obtain information on how the rat populations in an alley in Adams Morgan was responding to ContraPest,” says Brandy Pyzyna, VP of scientific operations. “The camera is programmed to take photographs to determine if the number of juveniles decreased over time. This is a rapid way to determine if fertility control is working.”
After collaboratively reviewing all data points, DC Health saw 61 percent average consumption at the Adams Morgan alley, reports SenesTech. Preliminary camera data indicates a 77 percent reduction in the proportion of juveniles to adults after the addition of ContraPest to DC Health’s current rodent control program. According to SenesTech, this indicates that the rat population is decreasing with the consumption of ContraPest.
“We are pleased with the progress and collaboration in our partnership with DC Health, and we will continue to work with their team as they continue and expand the use of ContraPest,” says Kenneth Siegel, SenesTech’s CEO.
ContraPest targets the reproductive capabilities of both sexes in rat populations, inducing egg loss in female rats and impairing sperm development in males. Using a bait delivery method, ContraPest is dispensed in a palatable liquid formulation that promotes sustained consumption by rat communities. According to SenesTech, ContraPest is designed, formulated and dispensed to be low hazard for handlers and non-target species such as wildlife, livestock and pets, where the active ingredients break down rapidly.
The post SenesTech, DC Health study ContraPest deployment appeared first on Pest Management Professional.
Jeff Hansen
When your customer mix is nearly 80 percent dairy farms, you deal with a lot of cows. They lick off your rodent station labels. They back up and step on your monitors. They are not exactly genius-level creatures.
If you’re Jeff Hansen, who has owned Premier Pest Management, Turlock, Calif., for nearly 25 years and seen his fair share of bovines, you also deal with a lot of rats. Sometimes, they can be geniuses — so he knows to always stay a step ahead.
Q: What’s the largest rodent infestation you’ve battled, and how did you win?
HANSEN: A nut processing plant in central California had a landmark 10-story grain tower that was built sometime in the 1880s. It wasn’t using the tower for anything but housing its heating and cooling systems, but the state wouldn’t let the plant take it down for historical reasons.
This was really good news for Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Pigeons were roosting on the top of the tower, so rats would nest in the three-story building and at night cross a grain pipe five stories in the air to the tower, climb up to the top and feast on pigeon eggs and leftover grain. There was another pipe that drained water from the tower, so there was their perfect water source.
Inside the tower, rats would run above you, about 12 feet on the walls, to the cement ceiling, then disappear into a crack just right of the grain ladder. You’d shine a flashlight on the 10-foot ladder and see 40 or more sets of eyes staring back. And those were just the ones who turned around! It was like looking at cockroaches.
Control was easy; what took two years to get there was convincing the owner he needed to cut the piping off and seal the tower. When we finally were able to show him video of exactly what was going on, the lightbulb went off and he sealed up the building. No more pigeons, no more Norway rats.
Q: Can you recall the single smartest rodent you’ve run into, and how, in the end, you ensured you got the best of it — not the other way around?
HANSEN: We had a roof rat (R. rattus) that kept eating the engine wires in a forklift at a recycling plant. The forklift was used daily, so the engine was always nice and warm.
As soon as the wires got fixed, the rat would gnaw on them again. We took hardware cloth and wrapped the wires near the engine terminals. The rat just worked its way down to where there was no cloth and ate there.
So then we coated the wires with a product containing metal shavings. Nope; it found a spot where it could bend the wire with an incisor tooth and was able to pull the wire away from the coating.
We were out for blood at this point. The engine compartment didn’t have enough room for us to install a conduit to protect the wiring, so we got creative: We put a bunch of the metal shavings product on top of the engine, added some peanut butter and said “There, eat that, sucker!”
We never caught him, but there were no more chewed wires.
DO:
DON’T:
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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.
Wil-Kil Pest Control, a pest management services provider in the upper Midwest, earned its QualityPro Schools designation. The certification demonstrates the company’s commitment to quality pest management in schools and other education facilities.
LOGO: QUALITYPRO SCHOOLS
“We are proud to be an accredited QualityPro Schools pest management company,” says J. Kevin Jeffrey, general manager of Wil-Kil Pest Control. “This certification showcases Wil-Kil’s commitment to providing the highest quality pest management service to our clients as we understand how sensitive school environments can be. Our technicians receive specialized training so they have the knowledge and skills to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for students.”
QualityPro, which is administered by the Foundation for Professional Pest Management and endorsed by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is an independent organization that develops business practices and standards for the pest management industry. The organization created the QualityPro Schools certification to ensure pest management technicians have the knowledge and expertise of proper pest prevention and control methods needed to service schools and other education facilities to minimize pest risk.
“To gain the Quality Pro Schools certification we are required to commit to the highest standards of child safety and dedication to IPM principles,” says Alex Blahnik, field training manager at Wil-Kil Pest Control. “By having each person involved in QualityPro Schools-certified locations take the QualityPro Schools course and pass the stringent certification exam, we are able to commit to uphold that standard, which is set by the NPMA.To date, over 100 Wil-Kil employees qualify to design and perform QualityPro Schools certified programs.”
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Twenty-eight women attended the PWIPM of New England’s first Leadership Summit. PHOTO: PWIPM OF NEW ENGLAND
The Professional Women in Pest Management (PWIPM) of New England held its inaugural Leadership Summit.
The focus of this year’s event was “Women Who Lead: How to Influence, Empower & Inspire,” and the session was run by Marinn Bengel, director of HR at Forshaw. The discussion centered on influencing from within, empowering teams and inspiring others.
Twenty-eight women attended from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“Marinn brought new insights to our professional women’s group on leadership skills, how to influence, empower and inspire others pertaining to your business and your personal life,” says Marillian Buono-Missiti, president of Buono Pest Control in Belmont, Mass., and chair of the PWIPM of New England. “She also role played with a brief coaching session and engaged the group in partnering up with one another to share experiences and ideas about becoming a successful leader. It was a pleasure for her to share her wisdom and coaching with the PWIPM of New England.”
The meeting was sponsored by Forshaw, the New England Pest Management Association (NEPMA), and PWIPM of New England.
The mission of PWIPM of New England is to empower women in the pest management industry through recruitment, education, mentoring and professional development. The Leadership Summit is a program for NEPMA members who are motivated to improve their leadership and teamwork skills.
The next development workshop will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Woburn, Mass. The topic is “Being a Pest Management PROFESSIONAL” and will be led by George Williams, ACE, from Univar Solutions.
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IMAGE: CSI
CSI’s Precision Delivery System (PDS) Featuring Doxem Precise Dry Flowable Cockroach Bait is an all-new piece of equipment exclusively for pest management professionals. The PDS is designed to apply Doxem Precise bait consistently, accurately and quickly. Capable of reaching up to 24 inches into voids, the PDS makes it possible for deep pockets of pests to be easily eliminated. The PDS featuring Doxem Precise delivers unparalleled efficacy, simplicity, and value per bait placement, the company says.
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Truly Nolen Pest Control promoted Valerie Mitchell to manager of the company’s San Antonio, Texas, service office at 12043 Starcrest Drive.
Valerie Mitchell. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
Mitchell joined Truly Nolen in March 2018 and was most recently a sales coordinator with the company’s Albuquerque, N.M., service office. Prior to joining Truly Nolen, Mitchell was an office manager for Champion Windows for four years and a branch manager for CitiFinancial for eight years. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in communications.
“Valerie showed extreme drive and determination in the 18 months she worked in Albuquerque,” says Tom Larrabee, district manager of Team Thunder – a mix of several newer service offices across the country. “I am happy she was willing to relocate for this opportunity, and I am excited to watch her lead our San Antonio team to new heights.”
“I was fortunate enough to meet her this summer in Albuquerque while I was touring offices in New Mexico, and it was clear even in her previous sales role how much of a superstar she was,” adds Toby Srebnik, manager of public relations and communications.
Some of Mitchell’s new responsibilities will include helping the service office gain visibility within the local San Antonio community as well as instilling the company’s core values throughout her team.
“I am excited about helping to make our company a household name in this area by showcasing why we are the best in the business,” says Mitchell. “I really love our company culture and look forward to this great opportunity.”
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LOGO: PEST CONTROL INSULATION
Univar Solutions Inc., a global chemical and ingredient distributor and service provider, has teamed up with Pest Control Insulation to expand delivery options for pest management professionals (PMPs) in Southern California wishing to sell and install TAP Pest Control Insulation.
“We are excited to work with Univar Solutions in Southern California,” says Chris White, VP of sales at Pest Control Insulation. “Univar Solutions has the capacity to provide our existing and potential customers quicker access to our products, such as EPA-registered TAP Pest Control Insulation and insulation machines. The partnership is a great addition to our existing distribution program.”
The benefit to PMPs in the Golden State is that they can now order much of their pest control needs through Univar Solutions, including TAP Pest Control Insulation.
Since 2001, Lula, Ga.-based Pest Control Insulation has provided equipment packages, as well as training and support, for PMPs and wildlife professionals. Pest Control Insulation’s flagship product, TAP Pest Control Insulation, is an EPA-registered, cellulose insulation bearing the Energy Star and UL-Classified marks, manufactured specifically for the pest management industry. The company also offers insulation machines, including blowers and vacuums, attic stairway covers, and safety and personal protection equipment, among other products.
LOGO: UNIVAR SOLUTIONS
Univar Solutions is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, and is a major distributor to the pest control industry in North America. When Univar acquired Nexeo Solutions in early 2019, the combined company rebranded and began conducting business as Univar Solutions. Nexeo Solutions divested its plastics distribution business.
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The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) will host Darren McBurnett as the headline speaker for the 2020 Pest Control Technician’s (PCT) School. McBurnett will present “Never Underestimate Yourself.”
Darren McBurnett. PHOTO: NCPMA
McBurnett is a former Navy SEAL and veteran who spent 24 years serving his country. In addition, he is an accomplished athlete, award-winning photographer, author and motivational speaker.
“We are looking forward to hearing Darren McBurnett at the 2020 PCT School,” says John Adkins, chair of the PCT School Committee. “His story and past experience will help bring a new energy to our conference and will help motivate and inspire our attendees. His presentation will provide the perfect start for a week of excellent training and networking for our members and attendees.”
The NCPMA’s PCT School features 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.
The event is in its 70th year and is organized in partnership with the North Carolina State University Department of Entomology.
“We have an exciting lineup of nationally recognized speakers scheduled for the 2020 PCT School,” says Adkins.
The 2020 event will be held Jan. 26-30, 2020, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, N.C. Registration is now open on the association’s website and a full schedule of events can be found here.
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The office insurance binder: Learn it, live it, love it, even if you don’t really want to. PHOTO: PETE SCHOPEN
I hate needles. I know I need shots for certain situations. It doesn’t change the fact that when a doctor walks toward me with needle in hand, it reminds me of Orin Scrivello, DDS, in “Little Shop of Horrors.” I tried to give blood a few years ago, but when I saw the needle in my arm, transporting my blood into the vial … I fainted. Judge me if you must. While I’m putting it all out there, I also hate snakes, extreme heights and fleas.
Despite my dislike of the aforementioned items, though, nothing compares to my hatred of getting insurance for my company. Just like a whooping cough shot, I know I need insurance, but writing those monthly checks hurts worse than a root canal.
This year proved to be especially painful, considering what happened with my workers’ compensation insurance plan. Every June, I get audited for the previous 12 months. The insurance underwriters want to make sure companies don’t lie about the number of employees being insured. For example, if I’m paying for 10 people to be insured, but in reality there are 15 people, the insurance company’s liability is higher without reaping the benefits.
Because of this, they check all my records, pay stubs, W-4s, W-2s, W-9s, XYZs, PDQs, etc. If the auditor notices that the actual payroll doesn’t match the projected, she will bill you for the difference. Very rarely does this fall in your favor. In fact, with a growing company like Schopen Pest Solutions, it never falls my way.
In the spring of 2018, I hired seven new people. I went from a staff of 12 up to nearly 20 within a two-month period. When I met with my insurance agent, I projected our numbers for July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. I thought our payroll would be around $600,000; it ended up being more than $800,000. That kind of discrepancy doesn’t sit well with your insurance agent — or your certified public accountant.
A few years ago, I was audited and my projected payroll didn’t match my end-of-year payroll. Like I said, it rarely does. But I was off by an entire employee: I had hired someone and failed to include him in my calculations. I ended up being audited for several thousand dollars in back payments. I appealed and checked all of the paystubs for my employees. I only had 10 employees at the time, but it still took me a full day.
At the end of the day, I actually proved that the auditor was wrong. He had charged me for overtime and regular pay. Insurance companies can bill you for base rate for all hours worked, but they can’t charge you for the additional overtime. For example, if a tech is being paid $20 per hour, his overtime is $30 per hour. The insurance companies cannot charge you for that additional $10 per hour. It saved me a few hundred dollars.
Fast forward to 2019, when my accountant, my banker and my insurance auditor all came up with the same figures. Oops! The insurance company wanted a check — on top of my current premiums — for $21,071, or they were going to cancel my policy. In Illinois, you must have workers’ compensation insurance to operate a business. With the addition of seven new employees, a $600,000 building, a new parking lot, new trucks and equipment for my hirees, I didn’t have 21 grand just sitting around. But I negotiated with the insurance provider, and we were able to spread the payments over six months.
I called my insurance agent, Steve Quist, who is with Mangold Insurance out of Burlington, Wis. I asked him a few questions for this month’s column, although in hindsight, I probably should have been asking a lot of questions before this column.
He told me that when hiring an insurance company, you should be comfortable with your agent. He also said, “You need to understand what you are buying.” Steve always gives me an annual breakdown of costs in my office. His coverage book for my company is longer than John Galt’s speech in “Atlas Shrugged.” But Steve is always very good about taking his time with me and explaining Schopen Pest Solutions’ coverage.
For me, insurance is just like a tetanus shot; you might not like it and it might give you a rash, but it will make you healthier in the long run.
Schopen is owner and founder of Schopen Pest Solutions, McHenry, Ill. You can email him at pete@schopenpest.com or reach him via Twitter: @schopenpest; Instagram: @peteschopen; or Facebook: Schopen Pest Solutions, Inc.
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I called my insurance agent, Steve Quist, who is with Mangold Insurance out of Burlington, Wis. for some advice about insurance audits. Steve said, “You should like your agent.” Your agent should be an expert at what he or she is selling.
He told me that when hiring an insurance company, you should be comfortable with your agent. He also said, “You need to understand what you are buying.” Steve always gives me an annual breakdown of costs in my office. His coverage book for my company is longer than John Galt’s speech in “Atlas Shrugged.” But Steve is always very good about taking his time with me and explaining Schopen Pest Solutions’ coverage.
Steve continued by telling me the following advice:
Schopen is owner and founder of Schopen Pest Solutions, McHenry, Ill. You can email him at pete@schopenpest.com or reach him via Twitter: @schopenpest; Instagram: @peteschopen; or Facebook: Schopen Pest Solutions, Inc.
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IMAGE: FORWARD THINKING SYSTEMS
FleetCam is an all-in-one fleet vehicle camera system that can help save lives with artificial intelligence (AI) cameras, in-cab notifications and an integrated driver behavior coaching system. The latest version, FleetCam 3.0, supports up to five cameras per vehicle, including AI cameras that can detect when drivers are falling asleep, using a cell phone, smoking, driving while distracted, or tailgating. In addition to capturing footage and uploading it to the cloud for later review — an industry standard — FleetCam also corrects bad driving habits in real-time with in-cab audio feedback for the driver. Demos are available upon request.
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To celebrate their fourth annual CO2 Conference for pest control and lawn care business leaders, Coalmarch is sending one lucky contest winner and a guest to the 2020 Super Bowl. Now Coalmarch needs your help to choose the winner.
IMAGE: COALMARCH
To enter, CO2 attendees were asked to submit original videos promoting their business, in the style of a Super Bowl commercial.
The video that gets the most votes will take home a prize package that includes:
“Each year, we raise the bar on CO2 in terms of challenging the status quo in the industry,” says CEO Donnie Shelton. “We have leading pest control and lawn care experts who come to share actionable strategies for growing a business in this industry, and to share what has or hasn’t worked in terms of building their teams. We cover some big topics, so this was a fun way to kick off the conference by encouraging our attendees to get creative and competitive.”
The top 10 commercials competing to win were submitted by: Herbi-Systems, Pest-X Exterminating Inc., PCI Pest Control, Natural State Pest Control, American Turf & Tree Care, Epcon Lane, the bugman Termite & Pest Control, Go Green Lawn Services, Got Bugs? Termite and Pest Solutions, and Western Pest Control.
Voting opened Nov. 18, and will close on Dec. 4. A winner will be announced that evening at a reception for attendees, speakers and sponsors. The CO2 Conference takes place in Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 3-6.
See the Top 10 video entries and cast your vote here.
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PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
Truly Nolen Pest Control hosted its Third Annual Community Car Show in Tucson, Ariz., where the company is headquartered. The car show, which debuted in 2017, went through some changes over the past two years — making it an even better entity for future years.
To adequately tell this story, let’s go back to the beginning. In March 2017, one month before our founder, Truly David Nolen, passed away, our Director of Operational Administrative Support and Special Projects, Michelle Nolen Senner, spoke to her father about doing something the company had never done before: an event in Tucson that showcased a large portion of Truly’s extensive antique car collection in one location. Prior to the company’s February 2016 relocation to a larger corporate campus in Tucson, the previous headquarters would not have had the space necessary in its parking lot to stage such a show.
Truly told Michelle he liked the idea because people always wanted to sit in his cars and have their picture taken. Although Truly passed away one month later, this conversation between father and daughter led to the decision to try and stage the company’s first-ever car show.
Without any experience in putting together a car show, Michelle, worked with her team and others throughout the company to determine the best way to make things happen. After some initial discussions, she and her team believed hosting 50 of Truly’s antique cars from seven decades in one spot would be a great starting point. In addition, because the company enjoys adding value to the lives they touch, it was important to Michelle to have several non-profits on hand with displays about their organizations next to an antique they “paired” with for the day. Food trucks and children’s activities were the final two components that were added to round out the family-friendly activities.
PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
The first-ever Truly Nolen Community Car Show took place on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. The University of Arizona football team played a road game that day, which was one of the factors that went into picking that initial date. Some of the vehicles featured included Truly’s personal favorite, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air, which was the car he drove to and from work and was shipped in from Naples, Fla. for this special day. Other antiques on display included a 1918 Ford Model T Roadster, a 1922 Ford Model T Speedster, a 1930 Ford Model A, a 1940 Oldsmobile 4 Door Sedan, a 1960 Nash Metro, and a 1974 Volkswagen Bug.
While the first event was successful, most who attended would agree that even with a mid-day event time, the temperature became a little hot during the second half of the show. But after overwhelming positive feedback was received from attendees, including, “How can we enter our own classic car into a future show?” a second event was planned for 2018.
After choosing Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, Michelle turned over a large portion of the planning to Ray Rico, the company’s Southwest United States Mouse Limo Driver. Ray is an avid car enthusiast and belongs to one of the local Tucson car clubs. The team knew they could not simply replicate the 2017 event and expect a similar turnout. Thanks to Ray’s input and planning, the show took a huge step forward when it elected to co-host some of Truly’s antiques side-by-side with Tucson Car Club vehicles. In fact, the company’s Tucson garage chose its 30 favorite Truly antiques, while 50 slots were held for local car clubs. The total of 80 cars was meant to represent the company’s 80th anniversary, which was celebrated in 2018. The second car show featured trophies selected by Truly Nolen team members, car club members and general attendees.
PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
Ray and Event Coordinator Hannah Stakley planned the 2019 car show, which was held on Nov.9.
Three big decisions that Ray and Hannah made turned out to be hugely successful:
Thanks to these decisions, the set-up of the event had never been easier, and more than 110 classic cars were able to be displayed. In addition, the Community Courtyard had enough shade from trees and roofs to be active all day for children looking to have their face painted or build their own matchbox cars, as well as for adult guests who wanted to learn about the non-profits in attendance.
T-shirts were sold at the event, with 25 percent of the proceeds of each shirt sold going to the non-profit Ramon’s Miracle on 31st Street. Established in 1970 by Tucson resident and car enthusiast Ramon Gonzales, Miracle on 31st Street is a Christmas Celebration for children who live in Tucson’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL
The 2019 event drew a crowd of more than 1,000 attendees. Ray and Hannah did an amazing job of planning everything down to the smallest detail.
For her part, Michelle was tickled that an event that started as a way for the company to showcase her father’s extensive antique collection has evolved into a fun event for the local Tucson car club community. I was thrilled our Southeast United States Mouse Limo driver Marty Phipps could be in attendance with me, to observe and assist with this car show for the first time.
In the meantime, we will have a post-event meeting to discuss dates for 2020.
Srebnik is manager of public relations and communications for Truly Nolen Pest Control. He can be reached at 954-247-3212 or toby.srebnik@trulymail.net.
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IMAGE: J.F. OAKES
J.F. Oakes’ Xlure-RTU Inspector has a fresh new look that incorporates the Xlure blue color that pest management professionals have come to associate with the company’s most popular Xlure monitoring traps. The ready-to-use pheromone trap features a printed QR code, allowing technicians to scan and easily access instructions and information. Account auditors are also able to scan the QR code to quickly verify insects being monitored.
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Woodstream Corp., a manufacturer and marketer of branded pest and animal control products as well as lawn and garden products, acquired Dynamic Solutions Worldwide, maker of DynaTrap insect traps.
LOGO: WOODSTREAM
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Woodstream is a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., DynaTrap is a provider of insect traps with both indoor and outdoor applications. The traps protect against mosquitoes and other flying insects.
“The addition of DynaTrap not only adds a highly regarded and successful product line to Woodstream’s existing offerings, but it also introduces us to additional blue-chip clients which complement our current roster of world-class customers,” says Miguel Nistal, CEO of Woodstream. “Demand for DynaTrap insect traps has never been higher as new and more potent strains of mosquito viruses develop each year. We are excited to welcome the DynaTrap team, and we remain on the lookout for additional strategic acquisitions that will supplement Woodstream’s strong organic growth.”
Introduced in 2006 by Juan Rocha, DynaTrap is sold at home and hardware retailers including Home Depot, Costco, Sam’s Club, Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon and Ace Hardware, as well as on QVC, HSN and online retailers.
Rocha, DynaTrap president, plans to stay on and will aid with the transition.
“Woodstream is the perfect home for DynaTrap,” says Rocha. “There is a natural synergy between our companies, and through this combination, DynaTrap’s products will be introduced to a significant group of new customers. I look forward to helping Miguel and his team integrate the two companies.”
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ServiceMaster acquired Binghamton, N.Y.-based Burke Pest Control.
Burke Pest Control headquarters in Binghamton, N.Y. PHOTO: THE POTOMAC CO.
Burke Pest Control was founded by John Burke in 1982. Burke is a technical expert and has completed a variety of advanced entomology courses at Purdue University, focusing on urban and industrial integrated pest management.
The company provides general pest control services and termite services in the greater Binghamton metro area, encompassing 10 counties in New York and three in Pennsylvania. While Burke Pest Control provides residential services, its focus is on the commercial market, servicing accounts such as Cornell University.
Post closing, Burke Pest Control will continue to run as a standalone brand, and Burke will remain on staff for the indefinite future.
Paul Giannamore of The Potomac Co. acted as adviser to Burke Pest Control.
“If you look at all of the major platform and tuck-in acquisitions up and down the East Coast, the majority of them have been done by Potomac, and Potomac is constantly hitting the next record for the highest price deal,” says Burke, regarding the transaction. “After having just gone through this process, I unequivocally agree with that statement. In fact, the final purchase price was over 60 percent higher than I even thought possible.”
The acquisition of Burke Pest Control is one of several completed by ServiceMaster in recent months. The company also purchased Greenville, S.C.-based Gregory Pest Solutions; South Elgin, Ill.-based McCloud Services; Tamaqua, Pa.-based Seitz Brothers Exterminating; and Conyers, Ga.-based Inspect-All Services.
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PHOTO: BAYER
A contest that began Nov. 18 and runs through Dec. 18, 2019, from the Bayer Pest Management & Public Health business focuses on the customer service of pest management professionals (PMPs). Inspired by the recent launch of Barricor SP and its ability to enhance maintenance visits, the contest invites PMPs to “share their best customer review to celebrate the many ways they elevate customer experiences through regular maintenance services.” Prizes include the chance to win one of two all-expense-paid trips to tour the Bayer research facility in North Carolina, or one of three RTIC soft-pack 30 coolers.
es.Bayer.us/ShareToWinWithBarricor
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