Educational Sessions

Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

Wednesday, October 25

1:30 p.m.– 2:45 p.m.

The Tropical Bed Bug: How Will This New Species Impact Management Efforts in the United States 
Phil Koehler, Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 
The tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus) had been reported in Florida prior to 1945, but hasn’t been seen in the U.S. again until 2016. This presentation details how to differentiate tropical bed bugs from common bed bugs, and presents information on how this new species might complicate existing treatment and detection efforts in the U.S. 

Small Flies and a Milkshake? The Recipe for Small Fly Management  
Gene White, BCE, Rentokil North America, Reading, Pennsylvania 
Whether it is fast food or fine dining, small flies such as fruit flies and drain flies can impact a client’s brand image and create costly callback service visits for technicians.  In this practical, yet insightful session, learn about small fly pests frequently encountered in food service facilities, how to control infestations, and strategies to keep them from coming back. 

Bad Bugs in the Food Safety System 
Faith Oi, Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 
Pest Control is a critical element of food safety. According to the FDA, globalization has resulted in ~15% of the U.S. food supply being imported, and there are new hazards in foods not previously seen. About 48 million people a year become ill because of foodborne diseases (i.e. “bad bugs”). Of this number, about 128,000 are hospitalized and ~3,000 die. In this eye-opening session, learn how the main themes of the Food Safety Modernization Act and IPM can work together to better protect our food supply.

Rat Race: A Unique View into the Behaviors and Habits of Rats  
Michael Parsons, Ph.D., Fordham University; Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., BCE, National Pest Management Association/Pest Management Foundation; Cindy Mannes, Professional Pest Management Alliance 
Groundbreaking research and rats wearing GoPro on the loose in New York City. Sounds pretty cool, right? You don’t want to miss this informative and entertaining session giving a preview of the new research from the Pest Management Foundation and the Professional Pest Management Alliance done in partnership with Fordham University. 

Pest Control Hacks (Things I Didn’t Learn in Training Class) 
Scot Hodges, ACE, Arrow Exterminators, Roswell, Georgia 
Sometimes the tools available are not up to the job at hand. Have you ever wished there was a better, easier, more efficient way to meet the challenges encountered on the job?  In this session, learn tips, tricks, and hacks – gleaned from a career spanning a quarter century, which can be used every day in the field to provide improved service, better results and added value for customers. 

Technicians as Safety Decision Makers: Operating Safely While Performing Pest Management Services  
Bob Davis, Ph.D., BASF Professional & Specialty Solutions, Pflugerville TX 
Pest management service technicians make hundreds of decisions a day – many of them involve safety.  Driving, using ladders, lifting equipment, not to mention the use of pesticides.  Pesticide labels, personal protective equipment, storage and disposal, spills – the list goes on and on.  This session will cover many of the common issues technicians are faced with, and will provide recommendations on how to make good decisions every time. 

Best Practices for Using Customer Feedback in Your Pest Control Business  
Richard Thomas, Listen360, Alpharetta, Georgia; Kevin Burns, Arrow Exterminators, Atlantia, Georgia
Customer feedback—positive and negative—is a treasure for business owners.  Without it, you’re never certain what keeps customers coming back or what makes them leave.  During this session, explore real-world case study examples, actionable insights, and best practices for success that can easily be implement in your business. 

3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

The Value of Urban Pest Control in Protecting Public Health  
Harold Harlan, PHD, BCE, Crownsville, Maryland 
Public health experts have attributed the dramatic increase in life expectancy that Americans have enjoyed over the last century to three things: improved sanitation, medical practices and pest management. Find out how the work performed by pest management firms is impacting health and well-being of people across the country and around the world in this engaging session that will leave you with a better sense of our industry’s value to humankind.  

Cockroaches and Their Health Implications on Humans 
Chris Keefer, Ph.D., Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, North Carolina 
Cockroaches are treated with disgust and disdain worldwide – and for good reason. They are known to harbor dozens of pathogenic organisms that can cause illness in humans, and have been implicated as an important source of allergens that can exacerbate symptoms of asthma.  In this session, get the latest information about cockroaches and their role as a public health pest.  

Protecting the Professional Pest Management Toolbox: How PMPs Can Join the Fight Against Pesticide Resistance  
Amanda Eiden, Ph.D., Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 
What is the current status of pesticide resistance in important urban pests? How do arthropods develop resistance? Why is it important to set up a product rotation protocol based on insecticide mode of action? Can my company make a difference?  These questions and more will be answered in this common sense, common language approach to insecticide resistance management designed for the pest management professional.  

The Thermodynamics of Heat – Harnessing the Power of Heat for Bed Bug Control  
Tom Jarzynka, ACE, Massey Services, Orlando, Florida 
You don’t need a degree in physics to understand the principles of thermodynamics. Better understanding how heat behaves can help both novice and industry veterans alike harness the power of heat to ensure higher efficacy rates and greater client satisfaction when performing bed bug heat treatments.  In this session, designed to break down the underlying principles of how heat moves and reacts inside structures, learn how to design heat treatment plans and overcome obstacles in even the most challenging environments.

The Great Debate: Realizing Your Revenues 
Jason Bailey, Terminix International, Memphis, Tennessee; Phil Cooper, Cooper Pest Solutions, Lawrenceville, New Jersey; Dennis Jenkins, ABC Pest & Lawn, Dallas, Texas  
In this high octane, debate-style session, listen in as seasoned professionals square off to argue the pros and cons of the best ways to recognize revenue. Pest management companies from coast to coast have a goal of making money, but how do you track where your revenues come from? Do you bundle services? Do you consider rodent control as part of your wildlife revenue center? What about bed bug services? This interactive panel discussion will address the varying way revenues are accounted for on their respective companies P&L statements in addition to taking questions and comments from the audience.

Communicating a Compelling Public Health Message to Consumers in a Skeptical World  
Kevin Smith, Rollins, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
Although perceptions of the professional pest management industry have improved over the past few decades, some consumers fail to recognize the full public health value of pest management services.  Valuable insights will be shared in this session about how best to communicate the importance of pest control with regard to public health, without unnecessary “scare tactics” that may ultimately backfire. 

Lawsuits, Liability and Lawyers – What PMPs Need to Know to Stay Out of Trouble  
Joseph Ortego, Nixon Peabody, LLP, New York, New York 
As your company grows, so does the potential to find yourself in legal hot water. To safeguard against the possibility of litigation, there are specific things that pest management companies can do protect the business and its employees from liability. In this entertaining session, learn from an attorney with extensive experience helping pest management protect themselves. This is a session you can’t afford to miss. 

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Research Insights into the Ongoing Battle with Bed Bugs: News from Ohio State University 
Susan Jones, Ph.D., Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 
In this information-packed session, results from surveys of licensed PMPs will shed light on the on-going nature of bed bug infestations in Ohio – a state that consistently is ranked as having the most bed bug-infested cities in the U.S. In addition, the results of novel research using protein markers to assess bed bug feeding behavior and dispersal, product efficacy data, and an update on the nationwide field project to develop a financially sustainable bed bug management program for low-income housing using various tools, products and techniques will be reviewed. 

Brain Over Brawn: How the Aardvark Could Have Defeated the Ant 
Michael Bentley, Ph.D., BCE, National Pest Management Association, Fairfax, Virginia 
In the classic cartoon The Ant and the Aardvarkthe aardvark spent his days trying to catch a red ant named Charlie. Despite having size and technology on his side, the aardvark could never defeat his little nemesis. Like Aardvark, pest management professionals often find themselves struggling to manage pest ants. In this fun and engaging session, learn what tricks every PMP should know that would have helped the Aardvark to defeat the ant.? 

Delusory Parasitosis and Mystery Bugs, Bites and Itches – Strategies For Communicating With Clients When No Pests Are Present 
Nancy Hinkle, Ph.D., BCE, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 
Finding the right thing to say to a client who complains of a pest infestation when none is present can be a delicate conversation.  Learning to recognize the warning signs of imaginary infestations and having procedures in place to deal with concerned clients are just two of the important skills you will take away from this fascinating session.

How the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Successfully Invaded North America and What PMPs Can Do to Control Infestation in Structures 
Tracy Leskey, PhD, UDSA/ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station. Kearneysville, West Viriginia
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys (Stål)) first appeared in the United States in the late 1990s and has managed to rapidly move across the country, establishing itself as an important agricultural and structural pest.  In this session, learn why this pest has been so successful and how it impacts structural pest management. 

Show Some Frass – WDI Dropping Identification 
Brian Forschler, Ph.D., University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 
The identification of pest frass is an integral part of the control process for wood destroying insect pest management, and seeing and interpreting the signs of wood boring pests is the cornerstone upon which a successful control plan rests.  In this session, learn the tips, tricks and science behind WDI droppings and how you can use this vital information to design a management plan.

The Forensics of Wood Destroying Beetles  
Roger Gold, Ph.D., Texas A&M University (Retired), College Station, Texas 
Getting to the bottom of challenging beetle problems takes equal parts ingenuity, technical know-how and experience.  In this session learn why wood destroying beetles are more common than ever, where they are coming from and what your company can do to help stem the tide. 

Career Paths in Pest Management 
Karen Bradford, Rollins, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Judy Dold, Rose Pest Solutions, Northfield, Illinois; Faye Golden, Cook’s Pest Control, Decatur, Alabama; Patricia Hottel, McCloud Services, South Elgin, Illinois; Marillian Missiti, Buono Pest Control Co., Inc., Belmont, Massachusetts; Mary Vongas, ChemTec Pest Control, Saddle Brook, New Jersey
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? A lifelong career in pest management holds opportunities to experience many aspects of running a business. This panel brings together experts in human resources, regulatory affairs, marketing, operations, and ownership who have found their home in pest control. Come learn about the diverse career paths of these industry leaders and ask questions about how you can chart your course for a lifelong career in pest management.
Sponsored by PWIPM

Brothers Bike: 3 Brothers. 2 Causes. 3500 Miles.
Raleigh Jenkins, ABC Home and Commercial Services, Houston, Texas; Bobby Jenkins, ABC Home and Commercial Services, Austin, Texas; Dennis Jenkins, ABC Home and Commercial Services, Lewisville, Texas
This summer, pest management professionals across the country and around the globe followed the Jenkins brothers via social media as they journeyed across the country to support two causes that are near to their hearts. In this session, join the Jenkins brothers as they describe their epic bicycle road trip across the United States and the important organizations that benefitted from their trek.   

Using the One-to-One Marketing Approach in Your Pest Control Business 
Ray Daniels, Bayer Environmental Science, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 
The concept of one-to-one marketing isn’t new, but the lack of personal touch in today’s marketing efforts can make the approach seem like a groundbreaking new idea.  In this session, learn how to capitalize on your knowledge about customer’s specific preferences so that you can deliver the highest levels of customer service possible. 

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Thursday, October 26

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Electronic Pro-Active Rodent Monitoring: A New Era in Urban Rodent Control Begins  
Bobby Corrigan, Ph.D., RMC Pest Management Consulting, New York, New York 
Since time immemorial, humans and rodents have been engaged in an epic battle for food and resources.  When matching up with humans, what rodents lack in intelligence, they make up for in tenacity and adaptability.  As the human civilization enters in to a technological renaissance new technologies are being commandeered to improve rodent control techniques.  Could this be the final chapter in this age old battle?  Attend this innovative session to find out… 

Federal Regulatory Update from the Environmental Protection Agency 
Rick Keigwin, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia  
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.  2016 was an active year at the agency, and 2017 is shaping up to be no different.  In this session, get the latest updates on hot issues like registration review of structural fumigants, pyrethroids and rodenticides, and learn what the future holds for pesticide regulation at the Federal level.

Regulation of Insecticides and Impacts on Structural Pest Control 
Jill Holihan, FMC Specialty Solutions, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
Did you ever wonder what it takes to bring an insecticide to market and protect the PMPs ability to use it in the future?  In this session find out how EPA evaluates insecticides, how these decisions impact how new products are brought to market and what the future holds for structural pest control tools in the future. 

Moisture Control and Pest Infestations: It’s Not Just About Termites Anymore 
Doug Webb, Terminix International, Memphis, Tennessee 
Moisture is one of the most commonly reported conducive conditions for wood destroying organisms, but how do moisture levels impact other pests within structures? In this session, find out how moisture issues impact the entire building envelope, other insect populations, building materials stability, and the control efforts undertaken by pest management professionals.

The Value of NPMA Membership and How to Maximize the Return on Your Membership Investment   
Janay Rickwalder, CAE, National Pest Management Association, Fairfax, Virginia 
With free human resources consultation, unlimited professional pest photos, the latest information on OSHA regulations and much, much more, NPMA members receive access to nearly 50 programs and services.  Are you taking advantage of everything your membership has to offer? Learn how you can save your company thousands of dollars through NPMA. 

Spray Foam Insulation and Other Obstructions to Termite Inspections and Treatment – How to Protect You Clients and Your Business from Unnecessary Damage 
Cliff Slaten, Slaten Law, LLC, Birmingham, Alabama; Billy Tesh, Pest Management Systems, Greensboro, North Carolina  
Spray foam insulation is gaining in popularity in many areas of the country where it is being applied to provide thermal insulation and eliminate drafts in crawlspaces and attics.  Although the energy savings can be significant, sometimes the insulation can cover areas of the structure where access is needed for inspections, resulting in voided warranties and obscured damage.  In this session, hear from an attorney experienced in WDO related cases and a longtime industry veteran on their experiences dealing with inspection obstructions. 

Bring on the Change… How to Successfully Implement New Processes, Procedures and Innovations in Your Organization  
Raymond Kidwell, ACE, McCall Service, Jacksonville, Florida 
In this new era of evolving technologies and changing business practices, companies can sometimes feel like they are caught on a hamster wheel of continuous change. For team members working in the field who are faced with deadlines, upset customers and challenging pest scenarios, changing processes can feel like an unwanted distraction from their tasks at hand. In this session, learn how one organization has successfully implemented change and gotten the buy-in from the entire team. 

3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. 

Big City Rodent Control: A Historical Perspective and the Role of IPM
Bill Kolbe, BCE, Viking Pest Control, Warren, New Jersey
This session will consider rodent control through a historical lens, looking at rat control in major cities on the East Coast – with a special emphasis on Baltimore’s long battle with urban rodents.  Learn about the common features that make big cities prone to rodent infestations and how, through a practical integrated approach, pest management professionals can control populations and make a positive impact on communities.

Proving Professionalism: Credentials for Companies, Service and Staff
Allie Allen, BCE, QualityPro, Fairfax, Virginia
According to the 2016 Pest Control Attitudes & Usage Survey, 61% of customers would be more likely to hire a company that has earned certification from an industry organization. Attend this session to learn about the credentialing options available in the pest management industry for your company, your services, and your staff. You’ll leave knowing what it takes to earn and maintain these credentials and how to use them to grow your business.
Sponsored by QualityPro   

Where Science and Service Meet: Developing Solutions for Stored Product Pest Complaints
Bennett Jordan, PhD, BCE, Copesan Pest Services, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Data collection is a necessity in both scientific and pest management investigations. To get to the bottom of stored product pest complaints in commercial facilities, the investigator needs to ask the right questions to get the best chance of determining what happened.   This session will use real-world examples to determine when and why the product was infested, how to work with a client to resolve the problem, and how to prevent it from happening again.
Sponsored by Pi Chi Omega

Investigating Rodenticide Pathways in Non-Target Urban Wildlife
Niamh Quinn, PhD, University of California Cooperative Extension, Riverside, California
Limiting non-target wildlife exposure to rodenticides is an important stewardship goal for the professional pest management industry.  In recent years, high profile media reports have implicated rodenticides in the poisoning of high profile wildlife in California and other locations. In this session, find out about current research investigating how coyotes, pumas and other wildlife species are becoming exposed.  By understanding how it occurs, pest management professionals can guard against non-target exposure, protecting rodenticides for use in the future.  

Is The Pest Industry Going to the Dogs? Novel Services and Methods for Canine-Assisted Pest Control 
Scott Mullaney, Unique Pest Management, Woodbridge, Virginia; Brian Taggart, A&C Pest Management, East Meadow, New York; Carla Wagner, Wild Goose Chase, Chicago Ridge, Illinois 
It has often been said that the dog is man’s best friend – but what happens when canines are recruited to partner with pest control professionals to perform pest control related services like rodent detection, goose deterrence and rat control. This informative session which highlighting the talented efforts of expert handlers and their four-legged friends will have your tail wagging and leave you begging for you more. 

Connecting Consumer Behaviors with Your Business: New 2017 Consumer Research from PPMA 
Cindy Mannes, Professional Pest Management Alliance, Fairfax, Virginia 
We are in uncharted territory, marketing to the masses and across four generational groups for the first time. Knowing who the customer is, is indeed important — but understanding how they consume information and interact with brands and services is vital to running a successful marketing program and booming business. Join us as we share brand new consumer research with a special focus on Millennial and Baby Boomer audiences, and explore how public health concerns can impact perceptions and purchasing decisions in regard to pest control services. 

Federal and State Public Policy Update 
NPMA Public Policy Team, Fairfax, Virginia 
This session will review the federal legislative and regulatory activity in 2017 that impacts the pest management industry. Learn how NPMA is engaging key stakeholders in the federal government and how your business can assist in the process.  

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: The Importance of Initial Assessments in the Development of a Pest Management Strategy
Dini Miller, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
The foundation of any integrated pest management program is inspection and monitoring.  Pest management professionals can impact the effectiveness of their program and reduce the need for unnecessary work by taking the time to determine what interventions are necessary during the initial steps of the process.  In this session, learn how to incorporate this method into your pest management programs to save time and money.  

Understanding Pollinator Decline and Honey Bee Health: Looking Beyond the Headlines and Separating Fact from Fiction
Dennis VanEngelsdorp, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
In the era of social media and competition for media impressions, it can be hard to separate scientific data from activist-driven agendas. Put aside your pre-conceived notions and attend this fact-based, non-biased, science-focused session to get the truth about the current scientific consensus regarding honey bee health and pollinator decline from a leading expert in the field.  

Around the World in Eighty Pests – A Global Take on Pest Control and Challenges to Success 
Viren Merchant, Pest Control Associates (AMB) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India; Jay Nixon, American Pest, Fulton, Maryland 
In North America, controlling pests can be a challenge despite our access to tools, resources and cultural practices that limit pest pressures.  But, pest management in countries where fewer resources and attention are devoted to sanitation and building design can complicate matters even more.  In this session, hear about the challenges encountered by a pest management veteran providing IPM consulting services overseas, and by a progressive PMP operating in one of the south Asia’s largest cities.  

Take a Deep Breath: Regulating an Unregulated Substance and What the Future May Hold for Dry Ice as a Rodenticide 
Bobby Corrigan, PhD, RMC Consulting, New York, New York; Liza Fleeson-Trossbach, Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials, Richmond, Virginia; Meredith Laws, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia (invited) 
Frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) has been shown to be an effective addition to the rodent control toolbox in subterranean Norway rat burrows situated away from buildings. However, due to the fact that dry ice is not currently registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is not legal under FIFRA for pest management professionals to use to control rats.  In this timely session, find out the history of dry ice as a rodenticide, its current status, and what the future may hold for this rodenticide tool, and by a progressive PMP operating in one of the south Asia’s largest cities. 

Fitting the Pieces Together: Perspectives on Mosquito Control and Public Health  
Mark Beavers, PhD, Rollins, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Col. Jamie Blow, PhD, Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Silver Spring, Maryland; Wayne Gale, American Mosquito Control Association, Lehigh Acres, Florida  
Zika. Dengue. Chikungunya. West Nile.  Mosquito-borne illnesses dominate the headlines and impact the way that the public perceives mosquito management efforts.  This session will shed light on the roles that the military, mosquito control districts, and the professional pest management industry play in keeping citizens protected from vector-borne pathogens, both in the United States and overseas.

Protecting Fire Sprinkler Systems During Bed Bug Heat Treatments
Bob Upson, National Fire Sprinkler Association, Linthicum, Maryland
Bed bug heat treatments can raise ambient air temperature in structures to 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Temperatures above 100 degrees can be injurious to fire sprinklers, and can cause malfunctions to occur.  In this session, learn how fire sprinklers work and best practices for protecting fire sprinklers from injury during bed bug heat treatments.

Living on Purpose = Working on Purpose 
Allen Ritter, Wayne’s Environmental Services, Birmingham, Alabama 
Our respective teams are getting younger and younger. Our business challenges are getting more and more challenging. The biggest success differentiator for companies in the future will not be strategies or technology – but creating an engaged and inspired workforce. Those who can do so – will win. We must consider adjusting our teaching methods and consider new “benefits” now available. In this session, learn how to address the practical connection between building personal momentum and realizing powerful professional progress. 

Social Media: Make an Impact. Drive Success. Telling your Story 
Jess Phelan, Vault Communications, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 
You’re putting in the time and effort on your social media properties, but are you truly making an impact? Maximizing your presence on social media is a critical component that helps drive consumer engagement with your brand, drives traffic back to your website and ultimately, helps drive sales. Learn the art of storytelling, how influencers can amplify your reach, how you can expand your customer service capabilities and boost advertising efforts with the latest tools available. 

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Friday, October 27

Please note, all tracks run concurrently.

21st CENTURY IPM TRACK: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

The History and Mystery of IPM in Urban Pest Management 
Brian Forschler, Ph.D., University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 
Integrated Pest Management is a term that is often used in our industry, but if you were to ask a room full of practitioners exactly what it meant, you would likely get a dozen different definitions.  This session will take a deep dive into the mysterious history of IPM, and why it remains difficult to define despite being widely accepted industry wide.  The truth is out there… 

21st CENTURY IPM TRACK: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

PART ONE: Exclusion: The Future of Pest Management 
Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, Ph.D. and Matt Frye, Ph.D., BCE, New York State IPM Program, Cornell University, Geneva, New York 
Keeping pests out of structures through exclusion is an ancient concept, and one that is gaining traction in the pest management industry thanks to the Scientific Coalition on Pest Exclusion (SCOPE). The demand for exclusion services continues to increase as client expectations shift to a zero tolerance policy for pests. This session will describe the current pest exclusion movement, and how companies can adopt exclusion practices to enhance business opportunities and address the expanding market. 

21st CENTURY IPM TRACK: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

PART TWO: Developing a Pest Exclusion Program for Cockroaches and Rodents 
Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, Ph.D. and Matt Frye, Ph.D., BCE, New York State IPM Program, Cornell University, Geneva, New York 
To date, there are no training guides on how to implement exclusion for pest management, which may prevent company owners from creating an exclusion division. However, pest management professionals are uniquely qualified to identify entry points and harborage for cockroaches and rodents. This session will emphasize the steps in developing an exclusion program from the basics of identifying entry points to recommendations for sealing openings of different sizes and for different pests.

STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL’S INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC HEALTH TRACK: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Focus on the Future of Mosquito Borne Illness – What is the Next Zika?  
Stan Cope, Ph.D., AP&G Co., Brooklyn, New York 
Zika virus is a household word across the United States and most parts of the world, yet two short years ago, very few people had even heard of the disease.  In this session, find out what other mosquito borne illnesses are lurking, waiting for the right conditions to emerge as the world’s next epidemic. 

STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL’S INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC HEALTH TRACK: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Public Health Enemy Number One: Understanding the Changing Landscape of Tick-Borne Disease Vector Populations  
Rebecca Trout-Fryxell, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee  
Mosquitoes get all the headlines, but ticks transmit disease pathogens to humans more frequently than any other arthropod in North America.  The CDC estimates that Lyme disease cases transmitted by the black legged tick top more than 300,000 cases each year.  In this session learn about current research into how population distributions of pathogen transmitting ticks are changing and how that will impact the pest control landscape in the future.  

STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL’S INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC HEALTH TRACK: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Smile! You’re on Rodent Camera! – The Value of Rat Camming for PMPs: A How-To Approach 
Claudia RiegelPh.D., New Orleans Termite, Mosquito and Rodent Control Board, New Orleans, Louisiana  
Rat management on a city wide level can be a daunting task.  Monitoring rat activity in a bustling city like New Orleans takes even more effort.  Find out how New Orleans is using high-tech video cameras to pinpoint areas of rat activity, then targeting them for eradication.   
Sponsored by MGK

WILDLIFE CONTROL TRACK: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Sponsored by Univar

Large Animal Trapping – “Beavers, Bobcats, and Coyotes, Oh My!”  
Ian Williams, TruTech Wildlife Control, Atlanta, Georgia 
There are numerous challenges when performing nuisance wildlife control, but trapping large animals has its own unique set of challenges.  In this session, learn about the special obstacles and solutions for managing nuisance wildlife species like beavers, bobcats and coyotes – all while maintaining positive public relations and ensuring humane practices. 

WILDLIFE CONTROL TRACK: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Common Sense Bird Control – Determining the Best Solution for Tough Pest Bird Scenarios 
John Livingston, Varment Guard Environmental Services, Columbus, Ohio  
Managing pest bird populations is difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.  In this session, learn steps in the decision making process for tackling challenging bird control accounts, and how to determine the best solution for individual situations.   

INTERN SHOWCASE: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Intern Showcase: The Next Generation of Urban Entomologists 
Graduate Research Presentations
 
2017 NPMA PestWorld Interns 
Many of tomorrow’s advancements in pest management are currently being discovered and developed by graduate students in universities around the country.  Join the NPMA interns as they discuss their research and what it may mean for the future of pest management.   

FOOD SAFETY TRACK: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

PART ONE: Building Confidence in Food Manufacturing and Sales 
Chris Del Rossi, ACE, IPM Coaching LLC, Portland, Maine 
Have you ever hesitated when considering whether or not to bid on pest control service for a food plant?  Have you felt intimidated by the complicated third-party audit schemes and their rigorous documentation requirements?  If so, then this session will put you on the right track toward building confidence in your company’s ability to perform pest management in food facilities.  In this session, learn how to sell new accounts and provide high quality services that comply with third party audit schemes.

FOOD SAFETY TRACK: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

PART TWO: Building Confidence in Food Manufacturing and Sales 
Chris Del Rossi, ACE, IPM Coaching LLC, Portland, Maine 

FOOD SAFETY TRACK: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Trending for Success: A Food Plant’s Perspective on Pest Control Under FSMA 
Shannon Sked, BCE, Western Pest Control, Princeton, New Jersey 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is shifting from a focus on reactive to proactive food safety strategies under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Fortunately, pest management aligns well with FSMA, we just need to know how to speak the language of food safety. In this session, find out about current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), conditions inside and outside of food plants that can contribute to pest management problems and how pest management fits into the FSMA Preventative Controls rule.   

ONLINE MARKETING TRACK: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

How to Use Video to Develop Compelling Online Content 
KiKi L’Italien, Amplified Growth, Washington, DC 
Whether its social media or webpage content, video is one of the most compelling ways to communicate a message about your company.  In this fast-paced session, learn the dos and don’ts associated with video production and how to tailor your content for the audience you are trying to influence.   

ONLINE MARKETING TRACK: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Optimizing Your Web Marketing for Maximum Growth 
KiKi L’Italien, Amplified Growth, Washington, DC 
You can have the most creative social media campaign in the world, you can even pay for the social advertising, but unless you understand how people look for your services online when they need you most (and what they are typing into Google when that happens), you are missing the opportunity to connect with a larger target audience and your reach may fall flat. In this session, find out how to get the most “bang for your buck” using SEO tips to guide your content development and social media use so that you reach the people who need you most.

ONLINE MARKETING TRACK: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

SEO and Social Media –Why You Need Both to Move the Needle 
KiKi L’Italien, Amplified Growth, Washington, DC 
Think SEO isn’t sexy? Think again. Arguably, there is nothing more seductive than successfully reaching your intended audience and advancing your mission. Good SEO can do that for you. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) doesn’t often get as much attention as social media does when it comes to talking about your communication strategy. After all, it’s more fun to talk about filters for Snapchat than thinking about keyword research. But SEO should inform your content development. Why? Because search engines are responsible for 85% of all website traffic. Understanding what your target audience’s needs are and what they are looking for when they need you most is a critical piece of the puzzle. This webinar will tell you what you need to know to better understand SEO and how to use it to move the needle for your organization. What could be sexier than that? 

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