CPCO Spells Growth

From zero to 1,600 members — the largest state pest control association in the United States — in six years. How is this possible? The answer: a dedicated dynamo, Mel Edelstein, a veteran PCO from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a group of highly motivated member-volunteers. The Certified Pest Control Operators Association of Florida (CPCO) was started at a long lunch at Denny’s restaurant in June 1994. There, 10 PCOs sat discussing industry problems and decided to form a professional association dedicated to education. Too many servicepeople had insufficient training, especially with small firms, they thought. Training sessions were not easily accessible or too infrequent, they said.

So they decided to do something about it.

THE BEGINNING. Several years ago, occasional accidents or misuse of pesticides were widely reported in the press, which were contributing to a negative image of the Florida pest control industry. When the fledgling association held its first meeting, 178 PCOs joined the association on the spot. Soon after, CPCO’s membership grew to 350 and the time came to stop relying on volunteer time from its original 10 founders. A full-time administrator was needed.

The 10 founders selected Mel Edelstein as executive vice president to spearhead the organization’s activities. Edelstein became the first full time employee of CPCO to be housed in a small one-room office in Tamarac, Fla.

CPCO’s first convention, in April 1994, featured 89 exhibitors and attracted 700 attendees and has grown ever since. The following year, the association moved to larger offices that included classroom space for up to 50 people. Today, this classroom is open to any member or supplier free of charge to supply training and enhance the professionalism of technicians.

Each succeeding year the convention grew. This year, there were 105 exhibitors and more than 1,000 attendees. The convention focused heavily on education and industry awareness. Among the 14 speakers were Austin Frishman, Norman Cooper, Lloyd Smigel and Jeff Tucker. In addition, there was a panel discussion consisting of industry leaders, regulators and an attorney. The program was designed to reach all segments of the industry, from top management in big firms as well as small one-person firms.

"We’ve had phenomenal growth beyond anyone’s comprehension," Edelstein said. "I think the reason for the growth is that everyone gives a little and a lot gets done. In 31 years in the industry I’ve never seen so many people giving."

THE ASSOCIATION. With its membership hovering at 1,600 and growing daily, CPCO is the largest state pest control association in the United States, it reports. Edelstein points out that there are almost 4,000 pest control firms in Florida employing about 30,000 people. He says this represents about 40 percent of all the pest control services done in the United States. The volume of work in Florida alone approaches $2 billion a year, although most firms gross less than $200,000.

CPCO helps its members through a number of association benefits. The association’s monthly magazine, CPCO Ad-vantage, is distributed to members and non- members alike as a marketing tool. Other benefits are available to members that are unique for a pest control association. These include availability of a credit union, employee assistance program, free initial consultation with a pest control attorney, discounts on lawn and ornamental signs and discounts on PCVN video training tapes. There are no charges for attending conventions, for acquiring CEUs, for technician training, for workshops or symposiums.

Members pay $100 year, which includes all of the association’s training and education needs. "We’re not in the business to make money," Edelstein said.

THE FUTURE. Edelstein has some ambitious goals for the near future. Earlier this year an alliance was formed that consolidated four groups of Florida pest professionals, including CPCO, the Certified Operators of Southwest Florida, the Florida Pest Control Association and the Florida Turfgrass Association. The association is called the Florida Professional Applicators Alliance.

"In the past we were splintered, divided," Edelstein said. "Now that we have this alliance, we have one voice." It is hoped that the new association will speak with one voice to consumers, lawmakers and regulators.

"The Alliance has helped a lot," he said. There are 4,000 companies in the alliance, he added.

"There are more people in association life than ever before."

In addition to growing the association, another of Edelstein’s goals is the formation of a technician school that would be accessible to the state’s 30,000 technicians. This could be arranged, according to Edelstein, in multiplex theaters around the state. These ideas may sound like pipe dreams, but not to anyone who knows Edelstein.

Not content with successful training sessions in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, CPCO now reaches to all parts of Florida. Meetings are held in such Florida cities as Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Crystal River, West Palm and Ft. Lauderdale. Plans are now afoot for further meetings in the Florida panhandle. Because of the success of recent conventions, two conventions are planned for next year, one in South Florida in April and another in Central Florida during September.

It’s amazing to watch Edelstein find the time and energy to grow CPCO. His wife Carole takes care of their successful pest control business, Aim Pest Control, which Edelstein started 30 years ago. When asked why he doesn’t devote his energy and entrepreneurial talent to his own business, Edelstein replied, "I feel that it is very important to pay back to an industry that has afforded a handsome living for me and my family. Where else," he asks, "but in the pest control industry can anyone without a college degree earn a good salary while benefiting the public with protection of health and property and get to work with such wonderful colleagues?"

Every year, CPCO has performed notable community services. When termite and wood decay problems were slowly demolishing a Girl Scout camp in Parkland, Fla., CPCO organized a two-day overnight wood destroying organism workshop. The association had suppliers donate treatment materials and local firms performed the treatments to train other technicians.

In another instance, Gilda’s Club (founded by the family of the late comedienne Gilda Radner) of Fort Lauderdale, an outreach center for families of cancer patients, had a problem with drywood termites and needed fumigation. CPCO had Dow AgroSciences donate Vikane fumigant and Truly Nolen of America furnished the labor and equipment.

Last year, the Children’s Home Society, which provides assistance to families with disabled children, had a client with cerebral palsy whose home needed fumigation for termites. The fumigant was purchased by CPCO and the work was performed by Accurate Pest Control, a Fort Lauderdale company (see photo above).

"We at CPCO are always looking to extend a helping hand to individuals less fortunate than ourselves," CPCO Executive Vice President Mel Edelstein said.

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