NPMA ePestWorld - October 21, 2020

News From National

Our first-ever virtual PestWorld has come to a close, marking yet another successful conference! While the format was different than years past, over 1,600 participants gained knowledge and skills, networked with their peers, and stopped by our interactive exhibit hall to visit with industry suppliers nearly 50,000 times!

Let’s take a look back at the outstanding experience we had last week.

PestWorld 2020 Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony started PestWorld 2020 off with a message from NPMA Chief Executive Officer Dominique Stumpf. Stumpf talked about industry's experiences in 2020, and how NPMA has worked hard to help the pest management industry move forward through the pandemic. Pest management was deemed essential, and has persevered through the busy season, with some companies even launching disinfection services to clients. Stumpf also discussed the need for skilled labor in the industry, which prompted the creation of the NPMA Workforce Initiative, launched at last year’s PestWorld. A video was shown on this effort, which includes a separate website, job board and social media accounts. Stumpf thanked the NPMA staff, sponsors and attendees for making the shift to a virtual PestWorld, which was a huge undertaking.

Kick-off Entertainment Featuring Songwriters Barry Dean and Luke Laird

This duo has an impressive background - Dean had a Grammy nomination and has topped the charts with number one singles, and Laird co-wrote many songs with Dean and has also written over 20 number one Billboard singles. They performed “Heartache Medication,” “Take a Back Road” and “Diamond Rings”—it was great to get a taste of Nashville from these amazing artists. Thank you to Bayer for sponsoring.

Virtual Networking Opportunities

Each morning, PestWorld attendees had the opportunity to join the PestWorld Roundtables sponsored by AMVAC, breakfast with PWIPM sponsored by ServicePro, and various Coffee Chats to mingle with fellow attendees and ease into the day with casual conversations.

During the annual In the Mix reception, attendees not only got to mix and mingle with NPMA’s Interest Groups, but they also got to learn how to barbeque the best West-Tennessee style baby back ribs first-hand from Pit Master Carey Bringle, live from the world famous Peg Leg Porker in Nashville, Tennessee. Thank you to Corteva, FMC, ServicePro and Target Specialty Products for sponsoring this fun event.

Opening General Session & Keynote Presentation featuring Leon Logothetis

The Opening General Session began with the presentation of the 2020-2021 Board of Directors, a passing of the gavel from Past President Chris Gorecki to President Scott Steckel, and an opening address from President Scott Steckel.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/npma-ePestWorld/articles/index.asp?aid=641894&issueID=74576 to view the full article online.

Virtually a Huge Success - Experience PestWorld for 10 More Days!

The feedback we’ve received from PestWorld attendees is tremendously positive, with a highlight being the educational sessions that can be watched at their own pace for credit and accessed on-demand until the end of the year.

The NPMA staff and leadership thank all who made the commitment to join us, and if you didn’t get a chance to participate last week, we are excited to offer “10 Days of PestWorld” for a deeply discounted rate of $299 per attendee. This is an outstanding opportunity to access the PestWorld virtual platform including entry to the exhibit hall beginning today through October 31, 2020 and the ability to watch over 60 on-demand educational sessions for credit through December 31, 2020! Click here to sign up.

Hear from your industry peers about the value they received from attending:

“You all did a great job of adjusting the schedule and format to keep our attention while utilizing new technologies to effectively bring it all together.” - Jerry Gahlhoff, President & Chief Operating Officer, Rollins Inc.

“It was an amazing 3 days and just wanted to share with you that there would have been no chance for me to connect with as many vendors and peers in the industry had this been in person!” – Tim Bird, Mayday Pest Solutions & NPMA ELP Class of 2020

“The educational sessions I participated in were well attended and there seemed to be a healthy amount of interaction on the trade show floor. I particularly enjoyed the morning roundtable discussions." – Dan Moreland, PCT Magazine

“First I have to tell you that I was a bit apprehensive about the online forum and if being an exhibitor was going to be worthwhile. While there is nothing better than face to face, we definitely closed enough business to make it worthwhile. In addition, I loved the software you used, not sure how it could have been any better!" – Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers

Thank you to all who joined us for this memorable experience! Next year, we hope to return to an in-person format. Make plans to join us at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on November 2-5, 2021.

There, you'll find the same level of top-notch education, networking, social events and tours, set in the dazzling Vegas setting.

We hope to see you there!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/npma-ePestWorld/articles/index.asp?aid=641897&issueID=74576 to view the full article online.

Introducing PestControlJobs.com, NPMA's Highly Anticipated Workforce Development Website

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has announced the launch of a new workforce website, PestControlJobs.com, as part of its national initiative to help highlight pest control as a viable and desirable industry with many job opportunities and career paths. It will build a pipeline of qualified candidates to meet business demand and increase overall pride and professionalism in the industry by showcasing the value of what pest management professionals do to protect people, food and property pests and improve overall quality of life.

Visit https://pestworldmag.npmapestworld.org/2020/10/15/introducing-pestcontroljobs-com-npmas-highly-anticipated-workforce-development-website/ to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/npma-ePestWorld/articles/index.asp?aid=641616&issueID=74576 to view the full article online.

Weekly Headlines

Atlanta, Boston, Seattle Among Cities with the Most Rats, Orkin Pest Control Reports

KIRO

A new report from pest control company Orkin ranked the 50 “rattiest” cities using data from Sept. 1, 2019 to Aug. 31 of this year. Cities were ranked by the number of new rodent treatments reported during that time period.

Visit https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/atlanta-boston-seattle-among-cities-with-most-rats-orkin-pest-control-reports/4UUEXQZSZRBBNGI37DTAP4SUI4/ to view the full article online.

Fall Brings More Spiders into Your Home, and That's Not Always a Bad Thing

Bay News 9

You may have noticed a few more spiders crawling around the corners of your home or in your cabinets. They may also look a little bigger than usual.

Visit https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/weather/2020/10/14/autumn-can-bring-more-spiders-into-your-home to view the full article online.

New "Rodents Revealed" Project Exposes Just How Talented Mice and Rats Truly Are

Valdosta Daily Times

This Rodent Awareness Week, October 18-24, 2020, the National Pest Management Association is educating the public on how to protect against the dangers rodents pose through their newest project, Rodents Revealed.

Visit https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/business/new-rodents-revealed-project-exposes-just-how-talented-mice-and-rats-truly-are/article_cc5ddde4-838d-57ef-90af-9289f5f27a22.html to view the full article online.

What's That Bug? Recent Emergence of Crane Flies in Ohio

WKYC

It's that time of year where the creepy crawlies try to invite themselves into our homes. One bug in particular, looks like a giant mosquito and has recently come in abundance this fall.

Visit https://www.wkyc.com/article/tech/science/environment/cranefliesohio/530-c7d219fd-203c-44cc-98c1-b764f6ad9696 to view the full article online.

Foiled Again: Murder Hornet Eludes Washington State Scientists

NPR

Researchers have lost track of an Asian giant hornet they were following — a stinging setback in the pursuit to eradicate an invasive species that threatens to decimate North American bee populations.

Visit https://www.npr.org/2020/10/17/924868572/scientists-pursuit-of-the-asian-murder-hornet-suffers-blow to view the full article online.