Bird Barrier: BirdSlide

IMAGE: BIRD BARRIER

Ledges are tricky when it comes to birds who are nesting. Bird Barrier’s BirdSlide can be the solution. BirdSlide protects ledges (including “L” shaped), eaves, angle irons and I-beams against all bird species — even sparrows. Pest birds cannot get a grip and slide right off the surface. This product is an architect and customer’s dream because it can blend into a building structure. It comes in grey or beige, which complement most structures. It also can be painted to match any building color. For 6-inch ledges , the flat base simply glues to any surface. For a narrower ledge, the product can be trimmed down; for wider ledges, an extension can be added. Customized lengths up to 10 feet are available. BirdSlide can also be screwed into wood surfaces. It is easy to install and is a long-lasting deterrent made from ultraviolet light (UV)-stabilized polycarbonate.

BirdBarrier.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/30/bird-barrier-birdslide/
Sacramento CA

Restoration Journeys announces Date and Location Change for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico program.

Important Changes for The Next Restoration Journey Program to Puerto Vallarta.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Hurricane-second responders

Days after Hurricane Ian, our Port Charlotte service office provided free water to any local residents who were able to stop by. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

In the legendary words of Rocky Balboa, “It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” In reflection and celebration of 85 years in business, Truly Nolen has endured its share of hits — but we always find a way to keep going!

Eighty-five years ago, my grandfather, Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Truly Wheatfield Nolen (Class of 2006), hung his shingle in Miami, Fla. With that decision, navigating hurricanes became a part of business. Hurricane season typically consists of six tropical storms and one to two hurricanes. These storms, in turn, naturally create conducive conditions for all pests which then yield growth opportunities.

Just after a storm hits, mosquitoes are typically first on the scene. Next up is an influx of cockroaches to the affected area. Then, the once-displaced rodents settle into their new homes in our customers’ attics. Finally, all that moist wood gives termites plenty of options to feast! As many of us in the Florida market know, with hurricane destruction also comes business opportunity.

This all changed in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew, a Category 4 storm, leveled South Miami and affected the greater Fort Lauderdale area. Hurricane Andrew was responsible for 40 deaths and $25 billion in damages at the time. While our Homestead office building in the affected South Miami area survived, we lost 90 percent of our customers. In short, we got hit hard.

Our Naples and Bonita Springs, Fla., managers delivered pizza to first responders a few days after Hurricane Ian. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

Our first priority was to ensure our employees and their families were accounted for and safe. We quickly put together a rapid relief effort to provide food, supplies, power generators, tents, and cash to all employees. In anticipation of the banks shutting down, my father, Truly David Nolen, pulled cash out to personally deliver to employees in need. In the weeks to follow, we mobilized a daily convoy of trucks to send continuous food, ice, diapers, power generators, battery-operated radios, batteries, tents, tarps, flashlights, and other supplies to employees.

Despite the destruction and devastation, our company came together, donated its time and whatever it took to take care of each other. It was vital that we got back to business — and fast. We retained every employee that wanted to stay, which was everyone, and serviced every customer that would let us. We endured something together and we were stronger for it in the end. The response efforts after Hurricane Andrew became the blueprint of how we would respond to the hurricanes to come and how to keep moving forward.

The mobile gasoline delivery in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ian was well-received by our employees. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

It has been just over a year since Southwest Florida was hit by Hurricane Ian, which was an historic Category 5 hurricane reportedly claiming 150 lives and $112 billion in damage. In the same spirit that my father navigated Andrew, and the many hurricanes since, we found a way to keep moving forward. We were able to help fuel cars for our employees when gas was scarce due to a mobile truck company that provided the service. We offered housing or relocation to anyone displaced by the storm. We fed first responders when given the opportunity to do so. We even outfitted some employees with an entire new wardrobe and toiletries after some unfortunately lost everything.

In short, we took care of our employees, ensured families were safe, delivered resources, serviced any community member in need, and grew stronger together. While it is not necessarily the kind of anniversary to celebrate, I am proud personally to have been able to follow my father’s previous blueprint for storm relief, and I am proud of all of our employees who were part of so many relief efforts to help team members in need as well as people in our communities, customers or otherwise.

Our Fort Myers, Fla., service office came together to form an assembly line to prepare care packages for area residents as well as employees in need. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

 

Our team traveled to the coastal community of Matlacha and gave away coffee and donuts for those looking for food and beverage in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

 

Our team also gave away water in Matlacha. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

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Sacramento CA

How to work on, not in, your business

Much has been written about the importance of working “on” your business vs. working “in” your business. What does this really mean to pest management professionals (PMPs)?

In the beginning, out of necessity, many PMPs start their businesses with one truck. You serve as the technician, sales rep, office administrator and, if you have time to think, marketer. This becomes a constant cycle that’s hard to break without a conscious effort to change. Otherwise, you’ve basically just built a job for yourself.

If you’re checking customer messages, returning phone calls, hopping in the truck to complete a route, fixing broken equipment and more, you’re working “in” your business. By contrast, when you develop strategic plans around how to grow to a second truck and beyond, you’ve transitioned to working “on” your business. It does require focus and diligence, however.

Regardless of company size, every pest control business owner should spend time working on their business and then implementing their plan day after day.

1. Build your business plan

Mike Sisti

First, understand you have a primary service to offer. For most, this is the quarterly service plan, which is the main reason a prospect becomes a customer. Once that is defined, how many of those customers do you have? What is the mix of residential and commercial? (You may want to keep the commercial customers separate). What is your retention rate?

Use a formula to determine the number of customers you have. Your basis for the number of customers you’ll begin next year with should be your current number of customers x your retention rate = your number of primary renewal customers.

This is a good opportunity to understand why you’ve lost customers. What themes can you identify with the cancels? Is it a certain technician, a significant number of callbacks, poorly communicated expectations, or something else? Diving into why you lost customers can help you identify a strategy to potentially save these customers and rework your strategy for the next year.

Second, how do you want to grow in the next 12 months? Do you have a “full” truck of revenue — that is, is there enough work for one technician to do in a day, every day, to complete a round of services before it’s time for the next? Work on filling one truck strategically, then the second, and so forth.
How many quarterly service customers can you reasonably bring on in one selling season? In addition, which renewal add-on services do you offer, or should consider offering?

With all these questions answered, you now have the basis for a plan and vision for what next year can bring.

2. Build your marketing plan

Many aspects of marketing are often overlooked as companies begin their operations. The most common is understanding how to develop a branding strategy for your business and truly stand out from your competition.

Your differentiation is the reason a customer buys from you in the first place. This needs to be understood and implemented every day, all the time, by every member of your team. That’s how your build brand equity. While there’s much more to think through than this column will allow, at a basic level, what’s the one thing your company does better than anyone else?

Next, identify your three main competitors. How do they market themselves? Who are their ideal customers? What do their websites, social media posts, brochures and vehicles say? What are their reputations like?

Compare their messages to your company’s messages. Do they all look the same? Do they all use the same superlatives? What can you do to differentiate your company, so you stand out from these three competitors?

While branding strategy is long-term, other aspects of marketing are more short-term. For example, based upon your business plan, how will you add new customers? What tactics will you use? Based upon marketing tactics, what is the typical close rate for generated leads? Now you’re building a plan to grow your business and understand what’s needed to reach your goals.

3. Build your operational and sales plans

How much revenue can one technician make in a day? Figure in route density, technician efficiency and fatigue, and plan for unanticipated reasons why a route will not get done — such as a sick technician, weather, or equipment breakdown. The more realistic your plans are, the less you’ll have to rework them throughout the year. Based on your numbers, when do you need to begin planning to hire another technician, either full-time or part-time?

Your sales plan will determine how many sales you’ll generate from your leads. Are you tracking your lead sources and closed sales? This can help you determine the best return on investment (ROI) for your marketing dollars. Your sales plan also should track your renewable add-on services, to give you a complete picture of your revenue.

4. Put it all together

While these are a lot of questions to answer, the fact that you’ve spent time thinking through these key areas of your business means you’re already on your way to standing out from the crowd. Keep in mind, once you write your plans, do not store them away and pull them out a year later. The purpose of planning is to provide a roadmap to guide your day-to-day operations. Should something unplanned happen — and it will — update your plan and adjust your resources accordingly.

Planning takes a considerable amount of time. But as you’ll see, it’s worthwhile. If you consider the alternative of constantly running to put out the next fire, you now understand the value of working on your business instead of in your business.

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Sacramento CA

Liphatech: 15 Years of FirstStrike

IMAGE: LIPHATECH

Currently celebrating 15 years in the rodent marketplace, Liphatech’s FirstStrike soft bait continues to help pest management professionals (PMPs) tackle an array of rodent challenges. PMPs can be assured that they are using bait that demonstrates palatability and performance. Liphatech invented FirstStrike’s exclusive active ingredient difethialone, an anticoagulant rodenticide. This bait is ideal for rodent cleanouts, lingering rodents, tough infestations or for everyday use. Even in very hot environments, FirstStrike will maintain its palatability and integrity. Now known as “The Soft Bait Innovators,” Liphatech also invented bromadiolone, the active ingredient in Resolv soft bait, and chlorophacinone, the active ingredient in Flatline soft bait — both anticoagulant rodenticides. All Liphatech soft baits are labeled for the control of Norway rats, roof rats and house mice. FirstStrike is available in 10-gram pouches (16-pound cases of four 4-pound bags,  two 8-pound pails or one 16-pound pail) and 40-gram pouches (one 16-pound pail).

Liphatech.com

 

 

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Sacramento CA

SLF now reported in Illinois

Photo: arlutz73/iStock / Getty Images Plus

The Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed the first detection of the spotted lanternfly (SLF), or Lycorma deliculata, in Illinois.

Following a report of a live adult on Sept. 16, state, federal and local officials coordinated a site visit near the area of the report and identified a moderately populated area of SLF on Sept. 18. Specimens were collected and submitted for identification, and confirmatory results were received on Sept. 26. The SLF does not present any human or animal health concerns.

“If there is a silver lining associated with spotted lantern fly in Illinois, it is that we have no reason to believe that widespread plant or tree death will result from its presence,” Scott Schirmer, Illinois Department of Agriculture’s nursery and Northern field office section manager, said in the news release. “This is likely going to be a nuisance pest that interferes with our ability to enjoy outdoor spaces and may have some impact on the agritourism industry, including orchards, pumpkin patches, and vineyards.”

“Spotted lanternfly has been inching closer to the Midwest and Illinois for close to a decade,” said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Department of Agriculture director. “We have had a multi-agency team working to prepare for this scenario – including efforts on readiness, informing and educating the industry and the public, as well as monitoring early detection,”

SLF is an invasive plant hopper native to eastern Asia. First found in the U.S. in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2014, SLF has continued to spread throughout the eastern U.S. and recently into the Midwest. Confirmed identifications of SLF have been recorded in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, in addition to some eastern and southeastern states.

SLF feeds on a wide variety of plants, including a strong affinity to the invasive tree of heaven (TOH), grapes (both wild and cultivated), and maple trees. These plants should be targeted for any monitoring activities. When feeding, SLF produces honeydew, which is a sticky liquid that often coats or accumulates on the foliage and other parts of plants.

SLF is believed to move easily on wood surfaces and products, vehicles such as trains, outdoor articles, and more, which makes it a challenging pest to contain and anticipate. Prevention and early detection are vital to limiting its ability to move and intrude upon new areas. Persons are highly encouraged to report any believed sightings of SLF to lanternfly@illinois.edu. Photos are necessary to verify a report and to aid in identification.

“IDOA is working with federal and local partners in an effort to determine the full extent of the infestation,” said Dr. Michael Woods, division manager of natural resources. “Although we cannot determine with any degree of certainty how SLF has arrived here, efforts are being undertaken to better understand its movement and behavior.”

The research and regulatory communities are continuing to learn about SLF, its behaviors, potential impacts, and effective management strategies – despite ongoing endeavors to minimize its spread and the associated impact on industry and natural resources.

What can you do to help?

• Report sightings: If you see SLF or suspect it, report it to lanternfly@illinois.edu. A fact sheet, including photos, is available through the University of Illinois Extension.
• Remove and destroy pests: crush nymphs and adults, scrape egg masses into a container with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol to kill them. Remember to take photos first, and report this!
• Check your vehicles, boat, camper, outdoor articles, etc.: Before leaving an area, do a quick inspection for any life stages. Destroy any eggs or insects found.
• Keep your eyes open and spread the word (not the pest): The state needs the public’s help to look for and report this pest, and to also strengthen the outreach about it. It will likely impact everyone in Illinois one way or another, so the more awareness there is, the better.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/28/slf-now-reported-in-illinois/
Sacramento CA

Allergy Technologies: ActiveGuard

IMAGE: ALLERGY TECHNOLOGIES

Bed bug prevention is proven and profitable everywhere there’s a bed. Each year, 65 million people are impacted by bed bugs. With only 1 million treatments performed annually, there are 64 million new opportunities to build your bed bug preventive business. ActiveGuard Mattress Liners reports that it is the only U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered product labeled to deliver two-year prevention, outlasting the bed bug life cycle. With ActiveGuard, you can reduce callbacks; enhance customer confidence and retention; and increase growth and overall revenue. This is true even in the affordable housing environment, where pest management professionals can create a foothold in an untapped $15 billion market. Life will never be the same for residents and staff in affordable housing communities when you implement the ATAHC Program featuring ActiveGuard, offering a turnkey solution for bed bug control and prevention; cutting reintroductions by more than 95 percent; and streamlining your labor deployment to maximize revenues.

AllergyTechnologies.com

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Sacramento CA

Fly control: Knowing is half the battle

Photo: Gewoldi/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

One of my favorite cartoons growing up was G.I. Joe. Not only was the show itself great, but each episode featured a public safety message that always closed with the catchphrase, “And knowing is half the battle!”

I learned a lot from those safety lessons as a kid, but it was G.I. Joe’s signature catchphrase that turned out to have the greatest impact on me as an adult. I hear those six words echo through my mind every time I troubleshoot an infestation. This is especially true when it comes to managing flies.

Flies can be incredibly frustrating to control. For starters, many species are small, which allows them to easily enter structures through tiny holes or gaps that may go unnoticed. Most species reproduce at lightning speed, allowing populations to skyrocket if they have access to the proper resources. Plus, immature flies can feed on a wide range of food sources commonly found in and around homes such as produce, food scraps and other refuse, and even pet excrement. The combination of these factors can quickly turn a minor issue into a major infestation.

Dr. Michael Bentley, BCE

Despite these seemingly impossible odds, there is hope. The key in most cases is simply taking the time to identify your fly. Most ongoing fly problems can’t be resolved without breaking the life cycle. This means finding and eliminating the larval breeding site in or around the structure, which can differ greatly by species.

Knowing the species of fly you’re controlling will quickly narrow the endless catalog of possible food sources and larval development sites to a more manageable number. Once you’ve eliminated the breeding sites, you can address any remaining adult flies and move on to long-term prevention measures. This likely will include working with your client to resolve any exclusion, sanitation and waste management concerns.

The next time you’re up against a stubborn fly issue, remember the sage wisdom of G.I. Joe. You’re always going to be in the best position for success after you identify your target pest, because knowing really is half the battle!

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Sacramento CA

Sprague Pest Solutions named Top Workplace 2023

Tacoma, Wash.-based Sprague Pest Solutions was recognized as a Top Workplace 2023 by The Oregonian.

This recognition emphasizes Sprague’s commitment to creating an exceptional workplace environment based on the feedback and satisfaction of its team members.

Per a news release, the Top Workplaces award is a highly esteemed accolade in the business community, highlighting organizations that excel in fostering a positive work culture and maintaining strong employee engagement. This award recognizes companies throughout Southwest Washington and Oregon and is driven by confidential employee feedback. The survey measured 15 key cultural drivers that play a pivotal role in shaping a work environment, such as alignment, execution and connection.

Neary 3,000 organizations applied and less than 5 percent were selected. Sprague is the only pest control company to make the list. The award encompasses Sprague’s Portland, Eugene and Medford branches.

“It’s always been our goal to create an environment where voices are heard, team members feel valued, and where everyone feels like they have a spot at the table,” Leila Starwich, director of people operations at Sprague, said in the news release. “Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for everyone at Sprague.”

About Sprague Pest Solutions

Sprague Pest Solutions provides preventive and remedial pest management and food safety consulting services to leading food processing, agriculture, healthcare, and hospitality and distribution facilities across the Western U.S. The company services commercial clients in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona and California.

According to Sprague’s history page on its website, the company was founded in Spokane, Wash., in 1926 by W.B. Sprague to serve Eastern Washington, and soon after opened a second location in Tacoma, Wash., to serve customers in the western half of the Evergreen State. It was purchased in 1931 by A.H. Treleven Sr. Now in its fourth generation, the Treleven family still leads the company today — including Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Larry Treleven (Class of 2016).

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Sacramento CA

Pest Control Insulation: Krendl GV240XT Vacuum

IMAGE: PEST CONTROL INSULATION

The new GV240XT gas-powered, direct-drive vacuum is the ideal insulation removal partner. The vacuum is designed to move all existing attic loose fill insulation, batt insulation, and new insulation materials from the job site and deliver them directly into a designated area such as a vacuum bag or dumpster. The vacuum features a 23-horsepower Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine with an electric starter. Designed with a steel fan and chamber utilizing abrasion-resistant steel, its 20-inch impeller can remove material quickly. Its low center of gravity offers stability and lowers the risk of tipping.

TAPInsulation.com

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Sacramento CA

BluSky Adds New Leadership to Their North Carolina Team!

BluSky  announces the hiring of Scottie Kimble as vice president of its Charlotte, NC office.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

FMC: Scion Mosquito Assurance

IMAGE: FMC

Be confident in your mosquito management regimen with FMC’s Scion Mosquito Assurance. Through this program, FMC True Champions members who use Scion insecticide with UVX technology are guaranteed mosquito protection for 75 days. Scion’s decisive control offers continuous residual, even when faced with high temperatures and intense sunlight. If a retreatment is required within that time period, FMC will provide the product needed to take back control.

GSS.FMC.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/26/fmc-scion-mosquito-assurance/
Sacramento CA

Liphatech promotes 2 employees in structural pest control division

Howard Franklin

Liphatech recently promoted two employees within its structural pest control division.

The company promoted Howard Franklin to Western regional sales manager and Nick Fugate to Eastern regional and Canada sales manager. Franklin and Fugate will lead strategic sales of Liphatech product lines in their assigned territories.

An associate certified entomologist (ACE) and successful member of the Liphatech team since 2016, Franklin previously served as the central district sales manager. In his new role, Franklin will lean heavily on his extensive pest management knowledge to train and mentor his team regarding Liphatech’s structural pest control product lines. Additionally, he will continue to provide support to pest management professionals and distributor partners within his region as well as provide advisement on all existing and new product lines to continue to grow the business.

Nick Fugate

Previously in the role of district sales manager for the Midwest and Canada since 2020, Fugate has an especially strong understanding of the pest management industry. Additionally, his previous sales and marketing experiences position him well to understand the challenges facing pest management businesses today. With this promotion, Fugate will also fully support all existing and new product lines Liphatech brings to the pest management marketplace, and he will continue to work with pest management professionals and distributor partners in his region.

“Both Howard and Nick have extensive pest management knowledge, along with a strong understanding of the overall marketplace,” Matt Titshaw, ACE, business manager of Liphatech structural pest control business, said in the news release. “They are ideal fits to these new positions and our customers will benefit from their oversight, along with extensive technical expertise related to our product lines.”

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/25/liphatech-promotes-2-employees-in-structural-pest-control-division/
Sacramento CA

Wood Floor Restoration with Courtney Lee

As Restoration & Remediation looks to grow its cleaning audience…. we get a live interview at this year’s fall Experience Convention & Tradeshow in Las Vegas with none other than the wood floor restoration king Courtney Lee.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Opportunities for company growth, part II

More attendees of the 2023 PMP Growth Summit share the growth opportunities they see for their companies.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/25/opportunities-for-company-growth-part-ii/
Sacramento CA

PestWorld 2023: Must-see exhibits

Check out all the must-see at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) PestWorld 2023 from Oct. 17-20 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Read the PDF version or the section in the September issue:

PHOTO: DELAMOFOTO/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/GETTY IMAGES

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Sacramento CA

What to expect if Your Restoration Company is Visited or Fined by a Compliance Company

How to be prepared should your company receive a visit or receive a fine from a compliance company.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Evans’ new training program leads to growth

Photo: ffikretow/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

It took me three tries to finally hire my first full-time technician. My first attempt was a friend who worked within the industry. I hired him in my 10th month in business and it was a disaster for both of us. I wasn’t ready to hire anyone, and it showed.

A few months later, my second hire was a home inspector friend of mine. After I got him trained, he realized that he didn’t want to do pest control full-time. He finished the summer, went part-time that winter, and quit in the spring.

My third attempt was two years later; it took me a while to feel the urge to hire. I formulated a hiring and training process, and Schopen Pest Solutions started to grow.

My first two failures at hiring and training techs weren’t my last two. For example:

• I had a trainee who flipped off and swore at another driver who cut me off.
• A trainee begged me to take him back to the office after we witnessed a car accident.
• We had a new tech fall off a dock we were de-webbing — right into the Fox River.
• Another trainee quit in the middle of his last day of training because I asked him to check a floor vent. He thought I was too bossy. He called an Uber and drove out of my life.

A similar spot

Smack dab in the hiring process is where Locust Grove, Ga.-based Evans Pest & Termite Control resides these days. This summer, co-owners and married couple Nicole Gorman and Tim Ivey hired one full-time technician and two part-timers, one of which is Nicole’s nephew.

I should point out that Nicole is a second-generation pest management professional: Her dad, Thomas Gorman, bought Evans in 1991 and is still part owner. Nicole joined in 2005 and Tim joined in 2008.

As Evans is growing, they are trying to figure out the best ways to train, formulate the length of the training, keep their employees interested and engaged, build training manuals, put together learning materials, and come up with different ways to teach that will resonate with their people. These are not easy tasks, by any measure.

At Schopen Pest Solutions, we tried to make training memorable and fun. It would take up too much space to go through all of it here, but Nicole and I have spoken about the training tactics I used. Nicole is doing a great job creating a more structured training program for Evans’ current and new employees.

Although Georgia requires 10 classroom hours, Nicole is pushing for 30 for Evans employees. The state also demands 70 hours of in-the-field training; her group will get double that. In addition, she’s building a custom training manual that outlines standard operating procedures (SOPs) for consistency throughout the company.

“Putting together the SOPs and a training manual has been eye-opening,” Nicole admits. “I used to fly by the seat of my pants, but I feel we are more structured now.”

Nicole Gorman

No more babysitting

Nicole knows that for Evans to move forward, she and Tim must have faith in their new employees. There are projects they want to tackle, and they can’t do that if they are babysitting their workers. For example, Nicole wants Evans to add more commercial accounts, and have a greater presence via networking and marketing. They can’t do any of that that if she is in the field running routes.

Nicole and I talked at great length about shortening the training period at Evans. The Peach State already has strict training parameters, but she was stretching the training process out to six months — or longer. While I applaud her thoroughness, as owners, we need our people generating dollars.

Tim Ivey

According to the Evans Pest & Termite Control Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat (SWOT) analysis (see p. 78 of the April issue), Nicole and Tim want to investigate new services and treatments such as termite monitoring. Using their new techs has paid off in a big way for them, as they have doubled their termite baiting revenue this year.

Using industry training

I’ve advised Nicole and Tim to reach out to their suppliers and gather training materials. Most technical representatives are incredible resources for our industry and have fantastic study guides that are fun to read. These materials are usually free and will show technicians how to properly apply pesticides as well as learn the biology of ants, cockroaches, rodents, spiders and more.

This year, the Evans team also plans to charge more for rodent work; flip wood-destroying insect (WDI) home inspection clients into quarterly clients (once they’ve bought the home); and cross-sell products and services to existing clients. At their current rate of growth, hiring people will become a more regular occurrence at Evans in the future.

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Core Values

Compassionate
Attention to Detail
Reliable
Excellence in Service

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Sacramento CA

Getting Client Promises but Never Getting a Referral

Dick Wagner talks how to make sure you secure client commitment to give referrals. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

LabelSDS.com: New QR Coded Technology for Labels and SDSs

IMAGE: LABELSDS.COM

LabelSDS.com has developed a new QR Coded Technology that allows subscribers to easily access their company labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) by scanning their own unique QR code. Additionally, in the event of an accident, emergency personnel will be able to access company label and SDS information by scanning this code. This new technology is also designed to help pest management companies comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communication (OSHA HazCom) rules. You can be sure that your labels and SDSs are the most up-to-date with the LabelSDS Auto Revision Feature. You can also access your important company documents, such as business license and insurance information, all from the LabelSDS.com digital app.

LabelSDS.com

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Sacramento CA

Use a site survey before treating for birds

Anna Berry, BCE

Successful bird jobs tend to require several complementary management methods used together to form a comprehensive control plan. Sometimes those methods require extensive equipment, such as a lift, or installation training and supplies, as for netting or spikes. They almost always require a substantial time commitment because of control tool installation, watching flight patterns, or visiting traps and nets.

The vital first step to putting together an effective plan is a thorough site survey. While this is an important tool for any pest, it tends to be overlooked for bird work. Birds may be perceived as less “important” to customers, but because of the risks they bring to food and structures, their risks must be addressed in the site survey.

Use a form or checklist to ensure all the relevant information is compiled:

• What species are there?
• Are they roosting, nesting or flying?
• What and where is there food availability for them?

Even if we don’t see birds at the site survey, we may see evidence of their activity, such as droppings or nesting. This must be documented to ensure corrective actions are relayed to the customer.

Finally, because not everyone is comfortable with bird work, ensure the site survey is conducted by someone who understands the nuances of the control options. This may mean subcontracting with a bird expert. Many birds are protected by federal and/or state regulations, and the options for management will vary based on that.

Ensuring all the bases are covered based on the site survey will lead to a smooth and effective implementation of the control plan.

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Sacramento CA

B&G Equipment: Bulk Sprayer Repair Kit

IMAGE: B&G EQUIPMENT

B&G Equipment’s Bulk Sprayer Repair Kit is a go-to solution for seamless maintenance of Primeline Sprayers, Accuspray Elites and Extenda-Ban Valves. Designed to keep your operations running smoothly, this comprehensive kit is your partner in efficiency. With the capability to service up to 10 B&G Primeline Sprayers and five AccuSpray Elites, it’s a valuable asset for operations with multiple service technicians. The Bulk Sprayer Repair Kit comes in a convenient case, housing all major components needed to keep your equipment in prime condition. Not only is it ideal for the Primeline and Accuspray Elite, but it’s also the ideal repair kit for keeping your B&G Pink Sprayer in tip-top shape for Breast Cancer Awareness this October!

BGEquip.com/bulk-sprayer-repair-kit

 

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Sacramento CA

Run Your Business: Passion

Photo: PavelVinnik/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

If you know me, then you know that I am a runner. I love everything about it, especially the challenge to push myself past my limits. It has become my stress reliever, meditation and weight management tool all in one.

But there was a time when I did not feel this way. One day, crossing the street in New York City, I twisted my knee in a pothole. I felt nothing at the time, but on my next run, I felt pain in my knee within minutes. I took a few days off, but the pain kept returning on every run I tried. I became afraid of running on roads too far from my home and unable to get back. This was years before Uber was available on every corner.

This led me to the gym, doing slow, easy runs on the treadmill for 20 minutes. I hated it. I recently read that the treadmill was invented to torture prisoners by having them run on a device to turn a wheel to ground grain. I believe it. Every step I took on that treadmill felt like torture.

But I loved the spin classes I took in a dark room with music blasting and an instructor screaming like a drill sergeant, pushing me harder than I ever could have imagined. I left each class drained and exhilarated.

One day, as I stepped on the treadmill, I decided to push myself with the same intensity I did in the spin class. I increased my speed every minute, going beyond my limits and falling in love with running again.

Turns out that’s the secret to getting results: using 100 percent of your passion and ability.

As I run my service company, one of my biggest challenges is to get each member of my team to give their full passion to everything they do. Some employees naturally have this ability and throw themselves completely into every task they do.

Michael Broder

But how do you push your entire team to show that same intensity?

I’ve found two critical ways to help them. No, it’s not being the drill sergeant and screaming at them.

First, give them knowledge. The more training they have on any given topic, the more confident they will be. As a pest control company, it’s not enough to show them how to treat a pest at a specific account. Go beyond and teach them everything they need to know about that pest including their habits and biology. I get excited when I hear a service tech explaining to the customer the unique habits of a particular insect and how they are tailoring the treatment to account for it. They gain the confidence to sound like a professional.

Second, they need to understand how the entire process works. I learned this years ago when I first started training technicians. It wasn’t just how to treat this crack or find that hole. All of that is useless if they can’t find that crack or that hole on their own. I walked them step by step exactly what my entire thought process was. When there was a cockroach infestation by the dish area of a restaurant, I didn’t say where there was a major nest hidden. I showed them how two cockroaches scurried away when we moved a bucket, which led to a crack in the corner with a small pocket of cockroaches. Then finally to the main infestation inside the motor. This gives them the tools to do the detective work to find difficult problems on their own.

A little knowledge and understanding gives everyone the tools and the confidence to attack every task with the passion it takes to solve any problem. And that’s what leads to results.

Have a great run!

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/20/run-your-business-passion/
Sacramento CA

Rockwell Labs: Power Foamer

IMAGE: ROCKWELL LABS

Rockwell’s new “Effort Less” Power Foamer features a long-life lithium ion battery, where one charge can last for up to seven tank fills. With a working capacity of 1.5 gallons, the durable foamer has a translucent tank with level indicator, a stable base, a steel handle, a 51-inch hose, an 18.5-inch fiberglass wand, and three tips for variable foam thickness. The Power Foamer also can be connected to an external air compressor or pumped manually.

Rockwelllabs.com

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Sacramento CA

10 Steps to Organize your Warehouse

Tips and guidelines on how to minimize the frustration of organizing warehouse facilities. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Opportunities for company growth

Attendees of the 2023 PMP Growth Summit share what they see as their companies’ greatest opportunities for growth.

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Sacramento CA

Restoration Technical Institute proudly announces the launch of Learning Paths.

Restoration Technical Institute proudly announces the launch of Learning Paths, a transformative component within their acclaimed Digital Training Solution. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Technicide: Exacticide

IMAGE: TECHNICIDE

The Exacticide is a handheld, battery-powered, pest eradication tool equipped with a multi-speed dial for flow control, providing exact product application. The battery powers a full day of uninterrupted applications. The Exacticide kit includes everything users need to get started, including the base unit, battery, charger, two canisters, two applicator wands and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Technicide offers multiple accessories, allowing professionals to treat a variety of pests and target areas, even up to 36 ft. Exacticide users report that they complete jobs 75 percent faster and save 90 percent in chemical costs compared to other tools.

Technicide.com

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Sacramento CA

Spot On Solutions and Floodlight Consulting Join Forces

Spot On Solutions, the leader announces an exciting partnership with Floodlight Consulting to introduce the most comprehensive masterclass on Commercial Sales in the restoration industry.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Target Specialty Products to host October webinar

Tommy Powell

Target Specialty Products will host a webinar titled “The Importance of German Roach Control as a Public Health Pest Using Assessment Based Strategies” on Oct. 5 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

Thomas Powell, technical field specialist at MGK, will host the free webinar. He will discuss:

• German cockroaches
• Importance of cockroaches in the urban environment
• What is resistance to a gel bait
• What is APM?
• Heavy infestation strategies
• Medium infestation strategies
• Low infestation strategies
• What does a rotation program look like?

Powell joined the MGK team as a technical field specialist in 2016, where he is responsible for training, field testing, customer support and other internal projects. He received his bachelor and master of science degrees in urban entomology from the University of Florida. Prior to MGK, Powell spent 16 years in the pest management industry, including as a technical director for three pest control companies. He also held the position of branch manager for one of those companies. That experience in operations, Powell says, changed his perspective on the pest management industry, as he realized the value of strong training programs for operators. His current role at MGK gives Powell the opportunity to pursue this passion for teaching and training in pest control.

Attendees will be able to ask questions at the end of the webinar. Registration is now available.

About Target Speciality Products

With over 80 years of industry experience, Target Specialty Products is a leading value-added solutions and service provider of pest control, vector and turf and ornamental solutions, application and aquatic equipment, supplies and education and training programs. Target Specialty Products serves the Vector, pest and turf and ornamental management markets from 44 locations across the United States and Canada.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/18/target-specialty-products-to-host-october-webinar/
Sacramento CA

BluSky Partners with Housing Industry Foundation to Revitalize Youth Transitional Housing

BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC partnered with the Housing Industry Foundation completes a transitional housing revitalization project at the Covenant House California Santa Clara campus.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Unified Purchasing Group: Exclusive Discounts

IMAGE: UNIFIED PURCHASING GROUP

UPG members enjoy exclusive discounts on leading brands, including Verizon, Staples, Best Buy, ADP, Yellow and more. Simply join the 55,000-plus other smart businesses already saving money with the power of group purchasing. Becoming a UPG member is free and easy, and there are no purchasing minimums or obligations. Enroll online today.

UPG.org

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Sacramento CA

EPA resolves litigation over 1,000 pesticide products

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), resolved longstanding litigation covering over 1,000 pesticide products, allowing EPA to fulfill its obligations to protect endangered species while conducting reviews and approvals of pesticides in a safe and protective manner.

In 2011, the Center for Biological Diversity and Pesticide Action Network filed a complaint in Federal Court in California against EPA alleging that it was violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it registered or reevaluated the registration of 382 pesticide active ingredients, which was ultimately reduced to 35 active ingredients covering over 1,000 pesticide products containing one or more of these active ingredients. This became known as the “megasuit” because of the number of pesticides it covered. The settlement entered by the Court this week resolves all outstanding claims.

“This agreement is a win-win-win to protect endangered species, ensure the availability of pesticides needed to grow food across America, and save considerable time and taxpayer expenses required to further litigate this case,” Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff, said in the news release. “This settlement allows EPA adequate time to fulfill its obligations under the Endangered Species Act and adopt key elements from the Agency’s 2022 ESA Workplan, which a wide range of stakeholders support.”

In 2022, EPA issued its ESA Workplan, Balancing Wildlife Protection and Responsible Pesticide Use: How EPA’s Pesticide Program Will Meet its Endangered Species Act Obligations, which describes how EPA will address the challenge of protecting ESA-listed species from pesticides. The ESA Workplan was developed with public listening sessions and public comment. This settlement is consistent with EPA’s ongoing efforts to develop a multichemical, multispecies approach to meeting its ESA obligations under the workplan. EPA’s traditional chemical-by-chemical, species-by-species approach to meeting these obligations has been slow and costly, with ESA work on each pesticide typically taking many years to complete. As a result, EPA has completed its ESA obligations for less than 5 percent of its actions, creating legal vulnerabilities, the potential for adverse impacts to listed species, and uncertainty for farmers and other pesticide users. Resolving the remaining claims in this lawsuit and establishing a path forward under the settlement is a significant step to overcoming these challenges.

This agreement and the prior partial settlement include obligations for EPA, many of which are also described in the ESA Workplan. Those actions include:

• Development of mitigation measures for listed species that are particularly vulnerable to exposures from pesticides and determine how to apply these mitigations to future pesticide actions, as well as whether this Vulnerable Species Pilot should be expanded to more species. EPA met its first deadline on June 30, 2023, for this action by conducting public outreach on the mitigation measures identified for the first set of species;
• Development and implementation of an Herbicide Strategy, a Rodenticide Strategy, Insecticide Strategy and Fungicide strategy (the latter three are still under development) which will identify mitigation measures for entire classes of pesticides to address their potential impacts to hundreds of ESA-listed species;
• Completion of the ESA work for eight organophosphates and four rodenticides;
• Hosting of a workshop for stakeholders to explore how to offset pesticide impacts on ESA-listed species in situations where eliminating or modifying pesticide use may not be feasible, and how EPA could incorporate those offsets into its process for registering or reregistering pesticides. Offsets could include restoring wetland habitat or funding breeding programs for affected species.

Pest Management Professional will be following this developing story.

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Sacramento CA

HydraMaster Has a New Owner!

HydraMaster announces that Universal Cleaning Concepts purchased the assets and operational infrastructure of HydraMaster, LLC including all the HydraMaster brand of products.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Ready to Move On

From left: Arrow Exterminators’ Tim Pollard and Emily Thomas Kendrick, Hutto Pest Services’ Leonard and Karen Myers, and Arrow Exterminators’ Kevin Burns. Photo: Arrow Exterminators

Leonard Myers worked for a number of pest control companies over the course of 35 years as a pest management professional (PMP). But in 2011, he and his wife, Karen, decided that since their children were grown, it was time to start their own company.

They launched Hutto Pest Services in Pflugerville, Texas, a family-owned and -operated business that offers residential and commercial general pest and termite control services. Twelve years later, they decided to retire and sell their business to Atlanta, Ga.-based Arrow Exterminators.

“We were a family company,” Myers says. “Our employees were like family, and Arrow planned to keep all of them and take care of them.”

The couple’s son Len worked at the company and remained after the sale as service center manager. He assures his parents that, more than six months after the deal closed, it is going well.

At the time of the sale, the company had 16 full-time employees. When the Myerses informed the team of their retirement and subsequent sale, “there were a lot of tears and mixed emotions,” Myers recalls. “Change is hard for anybody.” Now employees enjoy better benefits and additional career opportunities.

As for Hutto Pest Services’ customers, many have been with the company since it started. Nothing much has changed, however. “Most customers, when they find out everybody’s still there, they’re good,” Myers says.

Making a change

The decision to sell the company was not made lightly. Eight grandchildren played a role, but that was only part of the reason.

“I had a hard time separating myself from the company,” Myers admits. “I worked almost every day of the week — we were closed on Sundays — for the better part of 10 years. Even when I was on vacation, I was working.”

As time went on, Myers realized selling the company would be the only way he could fully let go of his responsibilities.

“It has been an amazing ride,” he adds. “The company got a lot bigger than I thought; it just kept growing and growing.” Selling, he says, was the right thing to do.

Understanding the process

The Myerses started the acquisition process when they reached out to their certified public accountant, Dan Gordon, CPA, owner of PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists — and Pest Management Professional’s financial columnist. The date was June 1, 2022.

“We closed on the transaction March 1, 2023,” Myers recalls. “But we pretty much decided in November/December whom we were going with.”

Myers recommends hiring experts, such as lawyers and accountants, who are familiar with the merger and acquisition process. They will fill you in on what to expect and give you good advice, he explains.

“I know pest control. I can kill bugs and manage people,” Myers quips. “But getting somebody to work with us was a good value and well worth the cost.”

Myers had been through the acquisition process a few times before, when working for other companies. He recalls some experiences were good, while others where just okay. As a result, he pictured how it would be when he sold his company, and says he is happy to report the transition was smooth.

“Everyone’s different on when to sell,” Myers says. “It just depends on whatever becomes more important. We only have so much time.”

Read the full 2023 Merger Guide in the September issue of the magazine. 

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Sacramento CA

Tax considerations in the mergers and acquisitions game

Illustration: panchanok premsrirut/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Thinking about selling your business? Make sure you consider the tax issues.

Two important aspects in terms of tax planning as it relates to the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) process are compliance and tax minimization. A few strategies that are common are discussed below, but there are many others you should discuss with your tax professional.

Compliance issues

With respect to compliance, most states have exemptions to sales tax on assets purchased pursuant to a bulk sale — meaning an asset sale (see below for more on an asset sale). However, many states require sales tax to be paid on motor vehicles purchased pursuant to a bulk sale. You need to check with your state to make sure you are in compliance and determine who will pay the sales tax: the buyer or the seller.

When structuring a deal as an asset purchase (see below), the IRS Form 8594 must be completed and attached to the tax returns of both the buyer and seller. This form provides the IRS with details of how assets were divided among different classes for purposes of depreciation, amortization, and ordinary vs. capital gain treatment. For the IRS to verify the purchase price allocation was made consistently for both the buyer and the seller, the form is to be filed by both and should reflect the same allocations.

Tax minimization

The overarching theme when it comes to minimizing taxes relates to capital gains vs. ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are taxed at a lower rate (minimum 0 percent, maximum 20 percent). Capital gains apply to sales of capital assets that are held longer than one year.

Ordinary income can be taxed as high as 37 percent federally, plus state taxes. While it’s easy to see why a seller would want a capital gain, a buyer would want deductions related to the sale at ordinary rates to reduce as much ordinary income for monies expended as part and parcel of the purchase.
This is where proper planning and negotiation between the buyer and the seller become important in reducing the tax burden of the seller while giving the buyer the maximum amount of tax benefit.

Dan Gordon, CPA

Asset sale vs. stock sale

In purchases and sales of companies, there are two main methods of structuring a deal. Depending on the objectives of the buyer and the seller, and after considering tax and legal alternatives, the parties will agree to either an asset deal or a stock deal. In our industry, most deals are asset deals, as they reduce legal liability to the purchaser and allow tax benefits to be shared by both the buyer and the seller.

In an asset sale, the assets of the company are sold to the buyer as opposed to the sale of ownership (stock) of the company. Included in the typical assets purchased category are trucks, cars, equipment, inventory, supplies, computers, furniture and fixtures, customer list, internet domain names as well as phone and fax numbers. While all these items get sold to the buyer, the seller is left with the corporation or limited liability company (LLC) that can either be used for another business or can be dissolved once the deal is completed.

By contrast, in a stock deal, the seller sells the stock or ownership in the corporation or LLC and passes the entire entity to the buyer.

Tax benefits in an asset deal

The tax benefits in an asset deal can be split between the buyer and the seller as agreed because the seller is interested in all gains being long-term capital gains, and the buyer is interested in deducting as much of the purchase price as quickly as possible at ordinary rates. This can be accomplished by allocating a large portion of the purchase price to assets that can be depreciated quickly, as well as creating employment or consulting agreements with the seller that result in ordinary deductions to the buyer.

Asset deals afford this capital gain pass-through only with S Corporations and other pass-through entities. If you are a C Corporation making an asset deal, the entire gain will be ordinary, which is highly inefficient. But there are other strategies that can soften the blow if you are a C Corporation; check with your tax advisor.

Tax benefits in a stock deal

The tax benefits in a stock deal are mainly for the seller because the seller receives capital gains treatment as if he or she sold the stock in the stock market. The buyer must capitalize the purchase price as part of a cost basis for the shares acquired and can be used to reduce the gain when the shares are resold. Because there is very little tax benefit the buyer can derive from this type of sale, it usually takes more cash outlay for the buyer to pursue this type of transaction.

Seek advice early

When looking to buy or sell a business, it’s not the price you receive as the seller or the price you pay as the purchaser that is as important as the amount you keep or the amount you pay after tax benefits.

If you are in the M&A game and you have identified a potential deal, it is always advisable to consult with your tax advisors early in the sale process.

Read the full 2023 Merger Guide in the September issue of the magazine. 

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Sacramento CA

Reputable representation

Illustration: sesame/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images

Mergers and acquisitions in the pest control arena are complex transactions that require an experienced attorney with at least some knowledge of our industry. Long gone are the days when an attorney would hang his or her shingle out and take on any case that came through the door.

The practice of law has evolved such that an attorney can only competently represent a client in a few select areas. In short, the attorney you grew up with or the one who prepared your will may not be the best choice when you are buying or selling a pest control business.

Desirable attributes

Here are a few points to consider when selecting an attorney to take you through the merger and acquisition (M&A) process:

➜ Legal experience. It is fair to ask about an attorney’s experience. How many M&A transactions has he or she completed? You certainly do not want to pay an attorney to learn this area of the law. Is the attorney actively handling similar transactions? Is he or she familiar with the current market trends
for our industry? Does the attorney have experience working with your broker, certified public accountant (CPA) or financial consultant? Can he or she handle all aspects of the transaction, or will multiple attorneys be necessary?

➜ Industry knowledge. It is vital that your attorney have at least a working knowledge of how a pest control company operates to effectively communicate with you and assess your risk in the transaction. Our industry often uses acronyms and slang such as GHP (general household pests), IPM (integrated pest management), IGR (insect growth regulator), prepays, retreat only, etc., and there is no Babbel app to help others learn the lingo. Sometimes I feel like a tour guide in a foreign country explaining to co-counsel or a CPA what was just said.

Mark Ruff

In addition, a buyer will require a seller to execute an indemnity provision for pre-closing liabilities, such as termite damage claims.

In such cases, your attorney needs to assess your risk by discussing your claims history, whether annual inspections occurred, and any conducive conditions addressed. More important, you must have insurance available to cover a claim after the closing occurs.

Finally, an understanding of regulatory matters affecting the transaction is critical, especially when it comes to licensing and the buyer’s ability to operate the business after the closing of the deal.

➜ Sterling reputation. Attorneys are famous for arguing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. The wrong attorney can collapse a deal by being overly aggressive and not understanding market boundaries.

For example, I was involved in a transaction where the lead counsel, contrary to my advice, had convinced the client (with whom he played golf) that the buyer would waive taking a $63,000 deduction for deferred revenue (prepays) from the purchase price. The attorney was caustic and demeaning in his negotiations, and the buyer walked away from a $4 million deal. The client ultimately sold his business at a significant discount.

So, when interviewing an attorney, ask whether he or she would mind if you could obtain a few references from recent clients (respecting the confidentiality of their respective transactions, of course). The opinion of a satisfied client speaks volumes about an attorney.

Another suggestion would be to ask the buyer, seller or your broker for their opinions of the attorney and whether they would have any reservations on working with the attorney. It is a fair inquiry, as I am often asked for the same.

➜ Fees and costs. The attorney should be able to provide an estimate for his or her services, noting there is always the possibility of unanticipated issues or costs. However, cost should not be the sole determining factor in your decision, as an experienced and knowledgeable attorney works faster, is more efficient, and ultimately is more economical than an inexperienced attorney. Plus, a higher-priced attorney may pay for himself/herself by netting a higher divestiture price.

The attorney you choose will have an impact on the success of your transaction. Generally, you have only one chance to get it right.

---

How to Find a Lawyer

When it’s time to sell your company, you will need expert advice to ensure the process runs smoothly. How do you find a trusted attorney?

➜ Ask colleagues. Seek out fellow pest control company owners who recently sold their companies, and get their honest opinion about the experts who worked with them on their mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Many successful pest management professionals (PMPs) have remained in the pest control industry after selling their companies, either as consultants or owners of new businesses, and would welcome the opportunity to share references.

➜ Check pest control industry resources. Trade publications (like this one) and pest control industry websites often include advertisements from companies that specialize in M&A. State and national pest management associations also would be able refer you to PMPs who have been through the M&A process.

➜ Ask experts. If you use a firm to handle your company’s taxes or accounting, ask whether they can recommend a lawyer with M&A experience. Experts tend to have a vast network of professionals who work in related fields.

When you do find an attorney, be sure to ask for references and then check them. The sale of your company is too important to leave to someone who lacks the experience your deal requires.

Read the full 2023 Merger Guide in the September issue of the magazine. 

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Sacramento CA

Mycotoxin Control as a Critical Part of Mold Remediation

Mike Pinto gives a lesson on mycotoxins and the best way to remediate these poisonous chemicals.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Aprehend: Free training for PMPs

IMAGE: APREHEND

Aprehend offers free Zoom training for you and your team. This benefit for Aprehend professionals allows easy scheduling regardless of your location or team size. Training is personalized for you. Popular topics include the elusive “one-and-done” bed bug job; bed bug biology; bed bug protocols, inspection and customer prep; Aprehend barrier placement; use and care of Aprehend and the sprayer; setting customer expectations; quarterly servicing with Aprehend; or a combination thereof. Call 800-891-8610, x0 or email orders@conidiotec.com to discuss your training topics and to schedule.

Aprehend.com

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Sacramento CA

NYC tourists can now visit city’s rats

SCREENSHOT: BOLLWERK’S TIK TOK

Taking a trip to New York City soon? Well now you can add a rat tour as one of your sight-seeing activities.

Tourists that go to New York City to check out its growing rat population now have tour guides that are tailored excursions to introduce them to the city’s rats.

Luke Miller, owner of Real New York Tours, adds a stop to Columbus Park near Chinatown for tourists that want to check out the rat population.

“They are like the new celebs in New York City with all the press they are getting,” Miller told the New York Post.

Kenny Bollwerk maps out late-night rat routes near Rockefeller Center and in Flushing and Sunnyside, Queens.

“Rats are like a New York City mascot,” Bollwerk said. “People want to see it for themselves.”

Bollwerk’s free walking tours of rat hotspots include busted-up sidewalks and construction sites where the rodents squeeze themselves under fences and through sidewalk cracks, and restaurants in Sunnyside and Forest Hills where garbage is piled high, and abandoned outdoor dining shacks provide rodent refuge.

Up to 10,000 people at a time tune in to Bollwerk’s TikTok live streams as he explores rodent-infested areas.

Check out his Tik Tok page, including this video where he was featured on CNN about tourists taking rat tours:

@nyc_kb Thank you Jeanne Moos @CNN for covering @rattoknation! #jeannemoos #rattour #nycrats #weirdnews #nycrattours ♬ original sound – nyc_kb

In some videos, he sprays a peppermint repellent around the sites and encourages viewers to call 311 to report them.

Rat populations grew exponentially during the pandemic due to ample shelter and food from outdoor dining.

“The temporary outdoor dining program was a crucial lifeline for our city during the pandemic, but it was designed without a plan to keep the rats from becoming its biggest patrons,” said New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

There were over 60,000 reports of rat activity citywide in 2022 — a 102 percent increase from 2021, according to Health Department data. So far this year, there have been over 39,000 reports of rat activity.

The city launched a crackdown in 2022 that included new rules for securing garbage and what times it could be put out.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kathleen Corradi as the rat czar to lead handle the city’s rat population.

In July, New York City released its next steps in the ongoing effort to control its rodent population, which involves getting bags of trash off city sidewalks and into covered containers instead.

First, the Adams administration is publishing a final rule requiring restaurants and other food-related businesses put their trash in secure containers. Second, the city will push to expand the containerization requirements to all chain businesses with five or more locations in New York City.

Together, the regulations are expected to impact 25 percent of businesses across the five boroughs, the city said. These businesses that produce about 4 million pounds of waste every day.

Would you take this rat tour on your next trip to New York City? Let us know in the comments.

The post NYC tourists can now visit city’s rats first appeared on Pest Management Professional.

from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/09/14/nyc-tourists-can-now-visit-citys-rats/
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