[Crown Awards] Great Eight

In October, Pest Control Technology and Syngenta Professional Products announced the winners of the 2006 Crown Leadership Awards. This year marks the 18th year of the Leadership Awards Program, co-sponsored by PCT magazine and Syngenta. The program spotlights individuals who have contributed positively to the growth of the structural pest management industry and have established strong ties with fellow business leaders and customers in their communities.

The eight recipients were profiled in a special 13th issue of PCT magazine and honored at an Oct. 26 reception during NPMA’s PestWorld convention in Dallas, Texas.

"Tonight we honor the 2006 Crown Leadership award winners. Their contributions to the industry are an example to us all. They represent industry ethics and integrity and have elevated the profile of professional pest management not only in their communities but throughout the nation," said Ashish Malik, business head, professional pest management, Syngenta, during the awards presentation. "Much like previous winners, they should be commended long after this awards ceremony for their commitment to the betterment of an industry of which we should all be proud to be part of."

Winners of the 2006 Crown Leadership Awards are:

• Greg Baumann, National Pest Management Association, Raleigh, N.C.

• Dr. Laurel Hansen, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, Wash.

• Bob Klein, Assured Environments, New York, N.Y.

• Joe Lupini, Loyal Termite, & Pest Control, Richmond, Va.

• Gary Muldoon, Orkin Pest Control/PCO Services, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Richard Stevenson Sr., Modern Pest Services, Brunswick, Maine

• Joe Thomas, Arrow Exterminators, Atlanta, Ga.

• Jeffrey A. Weier, Sprague Pest Solutions, Tacoma, Wash.

As part of this year’s awards program, PCT Publisher Dan Moreland honored Redd Pest Control’s Gordon Redd Jr., PCT’s 2005 Professional of the Year. Redd’s Gulfport, Miss.-based pest management firm was one of hundreds of businesses devastated by last year’s Hurricane Katrina.

"Eighteen years ago, Syngenta Professional Products and PCT magazine co-hosted the first annual Crown Leadership Awards ceremony at the 56th annual NPMA convention in Seattle. Since that time, we’ve had the good fortune to honor more than 180 pest management professionals, including many of you in this room tonight," Moreland said the night of the awards ceremony. "Each of you has made a positive difference in the lives of your employees, your local communities and the pest control industry as a whole. And for that we are indebted."