Thinking Outside the "Box" of Traditional Rodent Control

Over the past decade, rats and mice have been increasingly more troublesome on a global scale. Reports from pest professionals of rodents avoiding and or disregarding traps and bait stations, suspected bait resistance, behavioral shifts in rodents, and overall chronic persistence of rodents at accounts of all sorts are common. The bottom line is current-day rodent control is not anything close to business as usual. Pest pros must be increasingly more resourceful, more innovative, more tech-savvy, and pursue rodent work with a strong drive towards higher-level assessments prior to beginning the work. In other words, there is no cookie-cutter rodent job for neither a residential stop nor --and especially-- for commercial ones. This session will emphasize how “thinking outside the box” of traditional rodent control has become the essential mandatory element needed for success.  

The PMP's Playbook for Terminating Termites

Termites cause billions in property damage every year in the U.S. alone, making them one of the most important pests we deal with as Pest Management Professionals. Termites are also one of the most challenging pests to manage due to their cryptic, secretive nature. Do you want to gain confidence in your termite control services? Then tune into this session and discover unique tricks, field hacks, and more for terminating termites!  

Tick Encounter- How Citizen Science is Advancing Pest Management Science

Ticks are quickly becoming the #1 arthropod disease vector in the United States. But, many regions of the country still struggle with sufficient educational tools and resources to raise awareness of these dangerous pests and the risks they pose. In this session, learn how the TickEncounter Resource Center is leveraging citizen science to solve the tick crisis locally, nationally, and around the globe.

Management

The Digital Customer Experience: How to Make and Keep Customers Happy through Digital and Social Media Channels 

Learn how to drive new business, generate customer engagement, and respond to online negativity in today’s digital world. The discussion will include the latest trends and social media best practices to elevate your business and highlight your services, as well as how to navigate if your business finds itself in the crosshairs of an online crisis.

Jess Phelan

How to Approach Training in 2022

If there's anything we've learned over the past couple of years, it's that business owners need to be ready and open to changing the way they do things long term. In this presentation, you'll learn how to approach training at your company heading into the new year.

Make a Plan and Work your Plan: Developing a Strategy for Your Business, Part 1

What does it take to build a successful business plan? And, once you’ve developed your business blueprint for success how should you execute your plan? In part one of this two-part series, learn one industry professionals’ strategy for building a strategic plan that captures market share, produces profitable growth, and satisfies customers and associates. Discover how to effectively design the right strategy, the best structure to execute the strategy, and getting the right people in the right places to optimize the strategy by reviewing case studies of great, average, and failed strategies relevant to the category in which we all love and compete.

Steve Good
Good Strategies, LLC., Seacrest, FL

Concurrent Educational Sessions

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Treatments and Pest Exclusion to Reduce Pest Allergens

Allergens associated with the feces and cast skins of common household pests can have serious impacts on public health. Repeated exposure to these allergens has been linked to a higher risk for allergic sensitization that leads to asthma and other respiratory illness. In this presentation, learn how services can be tailored to target specific pests with the intended outcome of significantly reducing or eliminating pest allergens. This session will use actual client examples to detail the delivery side of services, including prep and common pitfalls.

Termite Inspection Technology Old and New: Tools Every PMP Should Have on Their Radar

Termites have a few million years of evolutionary advantage over the pest control industry. Their cryptic behavior and small size allow them to feed undetected, presenting inspection challenges for even the most seasoned pest management professionals. In this session, discover how advances in termite technology are helping to level the playing field with these tiny but mighty pests!  

Pesticide Toxicology 101 - Advanced Training for Non-Scientists

How do you determine if one product has a different mode of action than another? Why is it okay to mix some products, but not others? It’s time to take your pesticide IQ to the next level in this informative session! Perfect for novice and advanced PMPS, this session will break down the mechanics of different pesticide classes in an easy-to-follow format that will help to demystify the complicated world of pesticide chemistry once and for all!

Public Health

Technical

Public Health Pests: Clear Thinking in Crisis Mode

As children in one Washington State district transitioned from online schooling to in-person learning, schools began reporting an increase in bed bug, cockroach, and head/body louse introductions into classrooms. Hear how one PMP tackled this potential public health crisis at the district level by teaming up with administrators, nurses, councilors, and janitorial staff to develop a collaborative IPM plan for an entire district. Don’t miss this outside-the-box session to learn how the successful implementation of IPM principles, the assignment of specific roles within the school staff, and coordinated pest control efforts led to a win for an entire community!

How to Exterminate the Pest Ant Call-Back Cycle for Good

Tired of spinning your wheels with those never-ending call backs for the same ant problems over and over again? Then don’t miss this revealing session led by urban entomologist and ant expert Dr. Robert Puckett as he dives into the cryptic biology of the industry’s #1 call-back pest. Learn the science behind how we approach ant management today and how research is improving our ability to control these relentless insects. Elevate your ant control program with this must-see class! 

How to Get Your Business out of Your Brain

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to successfully document what you do, so that you can train your team and scale your business to run without you. You’ll come away with actionable steps to create the perfect onboarding and training experience to grow your team and maximize any new hires’ longevity at your company. Learn Chris Ronzio’s proven system for breaking down your policies and procedures and leave this presentation with your playbook already started.

Sponsored by

Make a Plan and Work Your Plan: Developing a Strategy for Your Business, Part 2

The visibility of peak operational performance for leaders and managers is essential to ensuring that the success generated by a business strategy is crystal clear. And, equally as important, is the ability to make fast and effective adjustments to the strategy based on performance and market conditions. Part two of this series focuses on the successful execution of a strategy using relevant financial design elements, key performance indicators and regularly validating performance through important data and dashboards. Additionally, this session shares insights into the tools that have helped the presenter create, manage, and optimize an effective strategy.

Sponsored by

Concurrent Educational Sessions

4:30 pm- 5:30 pm

Caverns of Concrete: How Urban Ecosystems Shape Pest Pressure

Beneath our cities hides an underground labyrinth of manmade tunnels and chambers that house sewage, electrical, plumbing, and other systems necessary for a city to function. Much like naturally formed cave systems, these urban caverns of concrete can also become the breeding ground for mosquitoes, rodents, and other dangerous pests. Hear how cave scientists, urban entomologists, and urban planners have teamed up to better understand how these pests are utilizing our underground cityscapes to thrive in this groundbreaking session. 

How to Overcome the Rising Pest Control Challenges Presented with Outdoor Dining

Outdoor dining has always been popular in certain geographic areas and with certain types of restaurants. During the pandemic when indoor dining options were restricted, outdoor dining exploded in popularity. In this session hear about some of the common pest issues encountered in outdoor dining as well as go through some possible solutions. As is the case for most pest situations, partnering with your client to be involved in the initial design of their new outdoor space can be helpful in preventing issues in the first place.

Judy Black
Rollins, Atlanta, GA
Glen Ramsey
Rollins, Atlanta, GA

State Regulatory Panel Discussion

Pest control companies need to navigate a myriad of different rules and regulations in different states across the country. Both compliance and enforcement can be challenging, especially when it comes to hot topics like pollinator protection and rodenticides.  In this session, hear from regulatory leaders from across the country and learn about how states are adapting to change and what to expect with regard to the pest control regulations in the future.  

Ryan Okey

Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials, Clemson, SC

Liza Fleeson

American Association of Pesticide Control Officials, Richmond, VA

Taryn LaScola

Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources, Boston, MA 

How Great Customer Service Can Revolutionize Your Organization

Creating an organizational culture that reinforces smart customer service decisions and actions, will revolutionize your organization, and allow you to achieve a service advantage that defies customer expectations.  This session will discuss the pitfalls that companies create internally that prevent them from providing Great Customer Service every time, all the time.

Pest Control by the Numbers - Unlocking KPIs for Technical Support Teams

Technical experts are more than just entomologists; they’re trainers, compliance specialists, material gurus and more. But if teammates are not directly selling services, how are they adding to a pest control company’s bottom line? Whether you’re looking to hire your first technical expert or have a few on hand, this session will help streamline how a technical specialist can help an organization achieve strategic goals and avoid reactive solutions.

Wood Boring Beetles: Expert Identification and Beyond!

You have enough evidence to confirm that your target pest is a wood-boring beetle, but what kind beetle are you dealing with? We’ll delve into all the major groups, plus a few minor ones, and the conditions required for them to become problematic indoors. Proper identification will ensure that you make the right decisions for treatment—if treatment is even necessary.

General Pest

Public Health
Technical

Mastering Integrated Rodent Management Thorough Rodenticide Stewardship

Commensal rodents are important public health pests that spread disease, contaminate our food, and damage infrastructure. Implementing an integrated rodent management program that combines tried-and-true methods with the latest in rodent control technology is critical to controlling rats and mice in any setting. This informative session reviews the latest in rodent management strategies and technologies that promote effective rodent pest management while mitigating the risk of pesticide exposure to people and to non-target wildlife.

Coaching, Mentoring, and Sponsorship - Understanding the Difference and Mapping Connections for Career Development

Career Development can be complex and isn’t simply an exercise where you can ‘check the box’ and get the next desired move. How can you effectively use coaches, mentors, and sponsors to develop your career? If you are in the position to be a coach, mentor, or sponsor - what are your responsibilities and how can you leverage to support your team? How can coaches, mentors, and sponsors help achieve the DE&I objectives of your organization? Learn about these topics from multiple viewpoints to maximize career development at every level and position.

Thursday, October 13

Concurrent Educational Sessions

1:30pm- 2:45pm

Don’t Call It a “Callback” – Game-Changing Results with Dry Flowable Baits

In this advanced session, hear from Dr. Tim Husen, Technical Services Manager at Syngenta, about the benefits of incorporating a dry flowable bait into your protocols. You will learn about how dry flowable baits can provide thorough control of unwanted pests in cracks/crevices or deep within voids and pro-application tips to maximize control and minimize callbacks in even the toughest accounts.

The Paper Nesters: Yellow Jackets and Paper Wasps – Separating Pulp Fiction from Pulp Fact

Despite frequent references to “bee stings” and “bee nests,” professionals know that wasps (not bees) make up the bulk of our stinging insect work.  The two dominant groups this session is based on are the paper wasps and the yellow jackets.  This session will cover the characteristics of the Vespidae and what special adaptations account for the sheer dominance of these two paper-nesting groups.  Attendees will brush up on inspection tips, treatment techniques, wasp behavior, and just have some fun geeking out on these interesting insects!  The session will include some timelapse photography of nest building like nothing you have seen before--don’t miss it!  If you miss it, presumably because one of the other stellar concurrent sessions caught your eye, be prepared for some serious post-session hallway-discussion regrets!

New Advances in Cockroach Baits: Advancing Our Protection of Public Health Through Science

Learn about the latest discoveries in cockroach research that are sure to impact the future of our industry! Hear from Dr. Coby Schal as he outlines recent research on cockroach control and other ongoing projects spearheaded by his team at NC State. Gain insight into what the latest research is telling us about cockroach feeding behavior and more in this exciting session!   

Video-First Campaigns as a Consumer Education Tool

Join Vault Communications as they share how video campaigns are educating today’s residential and commercial customers about the threats pests pose to our health and home and get a behind-the-scenes look at their latest campaign Disturbed!

Can You Hear Them Smile? Essential Soft Skills Every Employee in Your Organization Should Know

When is the last time your team engaged in customer service classes or other “soft skills” trainings? We interact with our clients every day, but basic training on effective communication and client service are often overlooked in favor of more technical training topics. This session will be an interactive presentation on the soft skills that can make or break an organization. It will bring a research-based perspective to skills that can be hard to pin down. It will highlight what soft skills are important, why they are important, and how to foster them. This presentation is intended to benefit organizations of all sizes.

The Most Important Part of Success is Connection: Ways to Build Impactful Business (and Personal) Relationships, Part 1

Human connection is a critical component of personal satisfaction and professional success. Authentic relationships are forged on trust, honesty, respect, and openness. With her high energy and enthusiasm and as a successful pest management industry veteran, presenter Deni Naumann will share a variety of experiences with business leaders that influenced the development six proven behaviors to connect with people to boost business health, emotional well-being and build impactful, long-term professional and personal relationships. Part one of this two-part series will cover the first three keys to building connection using real-life stories and identify a variety of practical actions that you can use to create impact in your business and personal relationships.

Concurrent Educational Sessions

3:00pm - 4:15pm

Your Blueprint for Growth in 2023 and Beyond

Providing exceptional service is the core of your pest control business, but your future success really relies on your ability to grow. In this session, WorkWave CEO, David F. Giannetto, will deliver tangible advice on how to grow your service business, and position it for greater long-term success.

This session will highlight how you can not only provide great service,but also grow revenue for your company and build its value in bigger ways - including, how to realize more revenue from existing customers, how to close more new customers, how to expand your service offerings and how to gain more consistent recurring revenue. With an actionable growth strategy in place, you will also be better prepared to pivot due to economic, industry, or unforeseen challenges. With the right plan, you can not only grow your revenue, but also build a company that is considered more valuable by potential acquirers.

Pollinator Protection, Pollinator Decline, and Everything In Between

Pollinators, and specifically bees, play a critical role in the nation’s food supply chain. Unfortunately, there are several significant threats facing honey bees today including parasites, disease, and habitat loss. Don’t miss this informative session led by honey bee expert Dr. Jamie Ellis as he shares the latest research on these important pollinators and how these and other factors influence pollinator health.  

Joro Spiders and Other Exotic Invaders

There are more than 6,500 nonindigenous species of plants and animals established across North America. And, that number continues to climb as new invasive species like the Joro spider make their way into the US every year. These unwelcomed invaders pose a serious threat to the health and safety of our ecosystems, structures, food supply, and public health. Discover the current invasive threats impacting the structural pest control industry, what new species may be on the horizon, and the important role the pest control industry plays as defenders against these important invasive species.

There Is No “Alternative” to Professional Termite Control — Why DIY Remedies Can Spell Disaster

Termites are structurally destructive pests that can infest a consumer’s most important investment, their home. The evolution of termite control is complex, involving people’s understanding of termite biology and behavior, building construction, the use of soil termiticides, baits, wood treatments, and physical barriers, as well as regulations from different industries (pest control and building construction). Soil termiticides have been the standard method of treatment for decades, but the concern for human and environmental health has driven the development of alternatives. This session discusses the evolution of termite control methods that were alternatives to the standard of the time and the regulatory structure that provides a level of consumer protection for some products.

Spend a Little, Save a Lot - How NPMA Membership Pays for Itself

Are you still trying to decide if NPMA membership is right for your business? Or are you a current NPMA member and want to learn more about the latest member benefits and state-of-the-art training resources NPMA has to offer? Then you won’t want to miss this exciting session to learn how you can elevate your business and save your company thousands with access to exclusive discount programs, free human resources consulting, free pest images, free and discounted online courses to earn CEUs, OSHA regulation information and much more.

Exploring NPMA’s Workforce Development and Recruitment Program

NPMA and our members are working together to solve today’s workforce challenges, as well as prepare for tomorrow. Hear the latest data and real-life examples of how www.PestControlJobs.com is helping our members meet their recruitment goals. Explore field-tested solutions to help build your organizational culture and drive employee retention. Extend the power of your workforce initiatives by building community partnerships, including with your local Workforce Development Centers, to increase the skill of your average applicant as well as elevating your inclusiveness and diversity.

The Most Important Part of Success is Connection: Ways to Build Impactful Business (and Personal) Relationships, Part 2

Human connection is a critical component of personal satisfaction and professional success. Authentic relationships are forged on trust, honesty, respect, and openness. In part two of this two-part series, Deni will share the remaining three keys to building connection using real-life stories and identify a variety of practical actions that you can use to create impact in your business and personal relationships. Be prepared to gain relationship insight while having fun and take away your own personal action plan to build successful connections!

Concurrent Educational Sessions

4:30pm- 5:30pm

HR Trends a Growing Business Should Know

In 2022, QualityPro released Version 6 of our industry’s standards for professionalism. Topics like safety, employee handbooks, I-9s, and drug free workplace policies were considered. In this session we will dive into the trends that changed our HR-standards and what your business needs to consider for hiring and retaining employees in the years ahead.

Urban Pest Management Research Update — NPMA Intern Showcase

Tomorrow’s advancements in pest management are currently being discovered and developed by graduate students in universities around the country. Join this year’s class of NPMA interns as they showcase their research and what it may mean for the future of pest management.

Is It Time to Revisit the Use of IGRs Against Pest Ants?

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are an insecticide class used to manage a wide range of urban pests. They work by mimicking juvenile hormones or acting as chitin synthesis inhibitors to break the insect’s lifecycle. IGRs, such as pyriproxyfen and methoprene, are juvenile hormone analogs used in fire ant baits, often the preferred method of fire ant management. Historically, IGR baits were effective against ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae (fire ants, pharaoh ants), but not in other subfamilies. This innovative session will review the use of IGRs against insects and explore the possibility of using this insecticide class against ants in subfamilies beyond the Myrmicinae.

Rodent Roundtable — Rodent Control in Cityscapes

The challenges faced when implementing a rodent control program can change significantly as you transition from a residential environment to inner-city or commercial structures. In this open-forum style session, hear from a panel of rodent control experts as they use case studies and real-world experience to discuss the challenges they’ve encountered across a range of urban environments and how they overcame them. Panelists will also discuss the current state of the rodent control industry across various markets. Bring your questions ready for this engaging and informative session!

Leadership Lessons: How to Achieve Success in Today’s Rapidly Changing Workplace

Everyone has biases! The key is to become aware that biases exist and understand how they influence everyday business decisions. In this session, learn about the five distinct biases that can influence a business decision and discover the unknown impact to your growth potential both personally and professionally.

Federal Regulatory Update from The Environmental Protection Agency

Under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with regulating pesticides in the United States and U.S. Territories. In this session, get the latest updates on important issues surrounding registration review of structural pest control products including fumigants and rodenticides, and learn what the future holds for pesticide regulation at the Federal level.

Ed Messina

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

Friday October, 14

Concurrent Educational Sessions

11:00am- 12:15pm

Phone Etiquette for the Text-to-Talk Generation

In this interactive session, panelists Julie Tesh-Clark and Billy Tesh talk through how they handle the individual needs for current customers and team members in which both groups bridge age gaps and preferred means of contact. Learn how to tackle the challenging process of providing distinct messaging for those that elect different portals and how to streamline operations that are performed on a daily basis. The procedural guidance from two generational viewpoints will serve as a roadmap to approaching the sending and receiving of specific information. Don’t miss this engaging discussion about the changing dynamics in communication within our industry, surrounding the text or talk conundrum across generational lines!

Why Did You Lose the Sale?

Are you tired of missing sales? Are you fed up with prospects telling you that they have to think about it? It's time to put that frustration behind you and level up your sales game! Join us for this fun and interactive workshop where you will learn why you're missing the sale and exactly how to correct it. We will be covering sales fundamentals including how to communicate more effectively, overcome objections, and ultimately close more sales.

Mites: Macroscopic Solutions for These Microscopic Pests

This presentation dives into the most common mite problems a PMP may come across in an account. Dust mites, bird mites, rodent mites, clover mites, and itch mites have two things in common – They are tiny and involve challenging situations. Learn how to distinguish one mite from another, identify environments conducive to introductions and infestations, and how to work with clients to produce effective long-term solutions.  

Pesticide Safety 101: Basics and Beyond

Pesticide safety starts long before you begin applying a product. And it doesn’t end when you complete your last service call. This session, perfect for novice and veteran PMPs, will address everything you need to know to develop a pesticide safety program within your company using the G.R.O.W method. Attendees will leave with handouts and homework that will guide their company toward implementing adaptable pesticide safety measures. 

Being Prepared for the Post-COVID Resurgence of Bed Bugs

For almost two years, most pest control companies observed a significant decline in bed bug work due to the social distancing associated with COVID. With COVID beginning to release its grasp on society and humans beginning to function like they did before COVID, bed bugs are sure to surge across the country. Make sure your company is prepared with the most up-to-date protocol, proper staffing and a solid QA program. This session with discuss the latest trends in bed bug control and provide tips and suggestions on QA programs and what issues to watch for when managing teams of technicians.

Concurrent Educational Sessions

1:00pm- 2:15pm

Making Lemons into Lemonade: How to Provide Sweet Customer Service to Bitter Clients

It’s a fact of life that you can’t make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. Unfortunately, the same applies in business when it comes to pleasing customers. This is especially true when handling sensitive client interactions like service complaints or collections calls. But even disgruntled customers can provide an opportunity to achieve positive customer service outcome. Find out how exceptional customer experience combined with a few “tricks of the trade” can help you turn a sour client into a sweet customer experience in no time!  providing winning customer service! 

Phosphine Requirements for In-Transit Fumigants

Federal product labeling for phosphine fumigants allows for in-transit fumigations of railcars, barges, and ships.  Learn more about what it takes for proper fumigation and receipt of fumigated railcars and other in-transit vehicles. Attendees can also expect an in-depth review of State requirements and other regulatory items to consider when performing fumigation work.  

Wildlife Exclusion Solutions That Work on Any Job

Wildlife exclusion is a critical part to the long-term success to any urban wildlife management program. A high-level comprehension of urban wildlife biology and behavior is required to achieve the immediate desired outcome, but a detailed understanding of construction material, construction techniques, and landscape management is at the core of long-term prevention of future issues. This session will discuss principles that can be applied to many different challenges associated with both large- and small-scale wildlife exclusion.

OSHA - Developing a Safety Plan for Your Company

A safe work environment reduces accidents on the job, produces happy employees, and even helps to reduce operational costs. But developing a company-wide safety plan that is OSHA compliant can be challenging. Compliance guidelines can differ depending on the size of the organization or the services provided. And regulations can be updated year to year meaning that safety plans need to be updated regulatory. Hear from an industry expert on the secrets to success that every business should know on building a safety plan for your business that lasts! 

Public Health
Technical
WDO

Zoonotic Diseases - How to Protect Yourself and Your Clients

Zoonotic diseases are dangerous and fascinating. They have shaped the planet and Humankind. People that interact with animals who serve as vectors of infectious pathogens are at heightened risk for zoonotic infections. This program provides an overview of zoonoses and the many risks they pose to pest control professionals.  The discussion includes coverage of PPE and ways to minimize the risk of exposure.

Concurrent Educational Sessions

2:30-3:30pm

Anyone Can Be a Salesperson: Savvy Sales Tips for Techs

Do you still have outside salespeople? In an era of instant gratification, your customers do not want to wait for a salesperson and then schedule a service visit from a technician. Learn how to leverage your technicians to sell just as well as a seasoned sales staff in this outside-the-box session that will show you how to maximize the sales potential of every employee. The sales process is shifting now in real-time, are you keeping pace with today’s new customer base?

Pardon Me, Doctor, There’s a Fly in My Wound: Identifying and Controlling Small Flies in Health Care Facilities

Controlling small flies in a healthcare facility, with their near zero tolerance for pests plus limitations and sensitivity to pesticide applications, can be very challenging. Understanding that potential breeding points in healthcare facilities are found both inside & outside food prep areas is important. We will review the common small flies found in healthcare environments as well as how we can implement an IPM program consisting of inspection, identification, habitat modification, and material options with the goal of partnering with our healthcare customer to protect the health and safety of their patients.

Safe Driving Practices for Pest Management Professionals

Keeping your staff safe on the road is equally as important as keeping them safe in the office or on the job site. Making driver safety training a priority can not only lower the risk of work-related injury, but it also can improve work efficiency. Do not miss this informative industry-specific session that outlines the important considerations every PMP should be aware of when operating a pest management fleet vehicle.

New Research on Tick Control, Tick Bite Prevention, and Occupational Risk

It is estimated that 75% of all vector-borne disease in the United States is tick-borne and cases continue to rise every year. Tick control around residential areas is becoming increasingly important, as is protecting yourself while in at-risk areas. In this session, existing and new tick control methods as well as new and upcoming products and methods will be presented.  In addition, occupational risk and personal protection measures for those working in pest control will be discussed.