September News

Stephen Johnson appointed EPA deputy administrator

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stephen L. Johnson was sworn in as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Administrator Michael Leavitt on Aug. 3. Johnson was formally appointed Deputy Administrator by President George W. Bush on July 30. Johnson has served in the position of acting deputy administrator for the past year.

"I count on Steve to manage the day-to-day operations of the agency," said Administrator Leavitt. "He does this with tremendous talent and grace, applying his leadership skills, knowledge of the issues, and appreciation for EPA employees to make our work better."

Prior to serving as Acting Deputy Administrator, Johnson was the assistant administrator of the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. He has more than 20 years of service at EPA, principally in the area of pesticide programs.

Convention Extra: Termite fumigation case study

Treating drywood termites on a remote Hawaiian island settlement requires extraordinary planning. The Kalaupapa Settlement on the island of Molokai was found to have a drywood termite infestation and residents chose to have the whole structure fumigated with Vikane from Dow AgroSciences. Be sure to check out PCT’s Convention Extra issue next month to get the whole story!

Bayer TopChoice promotion to end next month

MONTVALE, N.J. — The Bayer TopChoice promotion, "Free Fire Ant Bait with purchase of TopChoice," will be discontinued effective Oct. 1, when TopChoice purchases will no longer qualify for free fire ant bait (a 2-pound container of Ceasefire or Maxforce Fire Ant Bait). Bayer is planning a fall promotion for TopChoice and details will follow.

Univar, Orkin announce agreement

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Univar USA and Orkin Pest Control have entered into an agreement by which Univar will provide warehouse, logistic and delivery services for Orkin’s branch locations throughout the U.S.

As a part of the agreement, Univar will acquire certain assets of Dettlebach Pesticide Corporation, formerly known as Dettlebach, a wholly owned subsidiary of Orkin.

Dettlebach, which was acquired by Orkin in 1965, primarily serves outside pest management companies in the Southeast, while Rollins Supplies serves Orkin branch offices. Several months ago Orkin began a project to consider out-sourcing distribution and reassessing the ongoing strategy of owning Dettlebach. "Although we had an efficient distribution and supply chain we recognized that it was not a core business and recognized we could further improve that supply chain and improve our branch locations by outsourcing to Univar," Orkin Vice President Tom Luczynski told PCT.

In June 2003, Orkin began outsourcing distribution of its Pacific Division and Western Commercial Region (about 60 offices) to Austin, Texas-based Univar. "The decision out West was easy to make based on the economics and the savings related to freight cost — from moving products from Atlanta to out West," Luczynski said. "During the last year, after reviewing the favorable results from the outsourcing, we made the decision to enter into the national agreement with Univar to supply all of the branches."

As part of this pilot program, Univar provided Atlanta-based Orkin with a customized Web site that featured Orkin-approved products, Univar Vice President John Bolanos said in an interview with PCT. Orkin offices are only permitted to purchase products that have been given the go-ahead by Orkin’s technical department.

"The pilot program went phenomenally well," Bolanos said, adding that the national agreement between the two companies made sense because of Univar’s national coverage and technology offerings.

Representatives from both Orkin and Univar said they view this agreement as a positive development that will provide enhanced focus on the core competencies of each organization.

"This is a classic example of a win-win agreement, matching Univar’s distribution system with Orkin’s national network of branch locations," says Bolanos.

PCT Media Group announces 2005 Education Seminar Tours

CLEVELAND, OHIO — The PCT Media Group announces two new education seminar tours for those looking to sharpen their technical and operational efficiency.

The PCT Rodent Management Seminar Tour and the PCT Termite Inspection Seminar Tour series will feature Dr. Bobby Corrigan and Dr. George Rambo, respectively.

The PCT Rodent Management Seminars will cover all aspects of rodent management, including proper trap and bait usage, rodent IPM strategies, rodent biology and behavior and how to prevent callbacks for both commercial and residential accounts. The seminar will be customized to reflect regional interests and rodent issues.

The PCT Termite Inspection Seminars will feature an informative, daylong session on the proper steps to performing an accurate termite inspection. The seminars will cover the "hows and whys" of termite inspections, liability concerns, inspection protocols, how to assess risk and review the inspection techniques of the future. Regional issues regarding termite inspections will be covered.

The rodent tour will run from February to March 2005 and visit the following cities: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles/Orange County, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

The termite tour will take place August- September 2005 and visit Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles/Orange County, Memphis, northern and southern New Jersey, Phoenix and Raleigh/Durham.

Exact dates and meeting facilities will be announced later this fall.

PCOs interested in receiving additional information can call 800/456-0707. For sponsorship information, contact PCT’s Jeff Fenner or Dan Moreland at 800/456-0707 or Michael Kelly at 757/427-5040.

Update: Tax assessment ultimately could benefit PCOs in California

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. — A grass-roots campaign by PCOs in Orange County, Calif., has turned a potentially troublesome tax increase ballot measure into one that ultimately could result in new business.

Orange County property owners have agreed to pay an annual assessment ranging from $2.71 on vacant parcels to $5.42 on single-family homes that will allow the Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) to expand its vector control services. Specifically, the assessment will allow OCVCD to help battle West Nile virus and resurrect its program to eradicate red imported fire ants. The program was halted in February after the state stopped giving OCVCD $2 million a year to battle fire ants. According to district officials, of the 655,849 ballots mailed to property owners, 66 percent of the 186,783 that were returned supported the tax hike. Of that, 55 percent will go to the fire ant program and 45 percent to fighting West Nile virus. On Aug. 5, the district’s board unanimously approved a resolution to formally levy the assessment, which will generate $2.5 million annually.

The campaign for this tax assessment, which began in March, initially caused concern among many PCOs in Orange County. As part of its efforts to get this ballot measure approved, OCVCD campaigned that the extra funds would allow the district to expand its services to include rodents, all stinging insects and other potential "vectors." This action was unsettling to many PCOs in Orange County, who believed that the tax had the potential to take away business and leave the public with a false sense of security — that a $6-per-year tax will safeguard them from pests. In response, beginning in March, Orange County PCOs in large numbers (more than 30) began attending OCVCD Board meetings and voicing their concerns. In addition, these PCOs let it be known that they were preparing a media campaign of their own against the ballot measure.

At OCVCD’s Board meeting in April, Gerard Goedhart was named the new district manager. Having listened to the concerns voiced by Orange County PCOs at that meeting, as well as the March meeting, Goedhart initiated discussions between the two groups.

"I think that (OCVCD) had sent out some signals that it was considering expanding its services and possibly competing with pest control operators in certain areas," Goedhart said. "One of first things I wanted to do was to clarify that as far as I was concerned that was not the role of this organization."

In essence, OCVCD made a gentleman’s agreement not to expand its services— a decision that pleased many Orange County PCOs because of the financial implications, although others had reservations, including Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) Orange County Chairman Bryan Houtchens (vice president of Team Too Termite & Pest Control, Corona, Calif.). "We’ve seen this before, where local county and state agencies say one thing, but do another once they received the funds and the red imported fire program is the perfect example," Houtchens said. "They were very willing to work with us up until the time they got the funding."

Still, that industry’s input re-shaped this issue is a testament to a grass-roots campaign by Orange County PCOs — which included one-man operations to thousand-man operations — who attended OCVDC meetings and voiced their opinions, said Brian Olson, president of The Bugman, Fullerton, Calif. "I am really proud of our industry and the support that went along with helping get this campaign to where it’s at now," he said.

It’s because of that same ongoing red imported fire ant (RIFA) campaign that Goedhart says it is important for industry and government to work together. Now that the ballot measure has passed and the district will be restarting its RIFA program, Goedhart wants "industry used to complement (OCVCD) and provide a more cost-effective program."

During the past two months, the two groups have developed a RIFA program in which OCVCD will work through PCOC in a private industry-public agency partnership. Here’s how it works: PCOC asked its members in a letter if they wanted to be included in this partnership. Companies that responded and are qualified will be placed on a roster. When OCVCD faxes or e-mails in a work order, PCOC will send that work order to the participating companies on a rotating basis. All of these jobs have a set rate based on square footage. OCVCD performs the first inspection and site evaluation of the property and initial treatment. Private industry will then do the additional two follow-up services. Once the work is completed, PCOs will submit their invoices to OCVCD.

The Bugman’s Olson, who also is a PCOC member, worked closely with Goedhart, PCOC and others, and is hopeful that this partnership will yield positive results.

"I’d like to see a program in place that will curtail the spread of the red imported fire ant and if private industry and county government can help Southern California not get to the point of Texas and some other states I am for it," Olson said. "Overall, I would say that most (PCOs) are happy that a portion of it will stay within the industry as it should."

Goedhart too, is hopeful that this program will work well in Orange County and become a model nationally. "We’ve been the most effective organization in dealing with the fire ants and now we feel like we have a real private-public partnership that will be successful."

— Brad Harbison

FPMA announces new board

ORLANDO, FLA. — The 2004-05 slate of officers and directors for the Florida Pest Management Association was announced during the association’s June convention, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Bryan Pest Control vice president/CFO Rick Grimes, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., who assumed the role as association president during a swearing-in ceremony at the annual banquet on June 18, leads the new FPMA Board. Bryan Grimes, past president of FPMA, installed the new president by reading the oath of office.

Rounding out Grimes’ team of officers are: President-Elect David Pomfret, Fahey Pest Management Inc., Sarasota; Vice President Jennifer Leggett, Lindsey Pest Control Inc., Jacksonville; Treasurer Mickey Nolen, Nozzle Nolen Inc., W. Palm Beach; Secretary Tim Hulett, Hulett Environmental Services Inc., W. Palm Beach; and Immediate Past President Doug Vander Poest, Slug-a-Bug Inc., Melbourne.

NPMA to offer two new conferences

DUNN LORING, VA. — The National Pest Management Association is offering two new conferences in the next five months: the Public Health Conference and the Good to Great: A Pest Management Leadership Forum.

Good to Great will be held Dec. 1-3 at the Westin Diplomat Country Club in Hallan-dale, Fla. NPMA has assembled some of the industry’s leading innovators and asked them to share their personal and professional insights. Speakers include Glen Rollins, Orkin Pest Control; Harvey Massey, Massey Services; Victor Hammel, J.C. Ehrlich; Albert Cantu, Terminix International; Bob Wanzer, HomeTeam Pest Defense; Harden Blackwell, Terminix Services; Tommy Fortson, Terminix Services; Jimmy Allgood, Allgood Services; Mike Katz, Western Exterminator; D.R. Sapp, Florida Pest Control & Chemical; Jim Aycock, Cook’s Pest Control; Bobby Jenkins, ABC Pest & Lawn Services; and Mike Rottler, Rottler Pest Control & Lawn Care.

NPMA says that to ensure an intimate setting, program attendance will be limited.

The Public Health Conference will be held Jan. 5-7, 2005, at the Wyndham New Orleans in New Orleans, La. Zoecon is the primary sponsor of this conference, and consumer attitudes toward public health will be discussed. Mosquitoes, bedbugs, rodents, ticks and fire ants will also be discussed in great detail. Additionally, research on new public health opportunities in rodent control conducted by Bobby Corrigan will be reviewed as part of this dynamic program. Other sponsors include FMC, Syngenta Professional Products, Bayer Environmental Science and Whitmire Micro-Gen.

To find out more about either of these meetings, contact NPMA at 703/573-8330.

Dow announces relaunch of Sentricon System Web site

INDIANAPOLIS — The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System Web site has now been updated to make it even more consumer-friendly, and incorporates the new look and feel of the Sentricon System, Dow AgroSciences says. Additionally, www. Sentricon.com now includes information on recent enhancements to the Sentricon System, such as electronic monitoring, and will feature upcoming product innovations as they launch.

On the Sentricon.com home page, visitors can choose to enter one of three paths to make their visit more personalized: one can enter as a property owner, a real estate agent or property manager or an individual in the new construction industry. Within each of the three sections are resources targeted to satisfy that specific group’s interests.

For example, when choosing the link to property owner information, a visitor can learn more about termites, treatment options and the Sentricon System, while real estate agents will have their visits catered to recognizing signs of termites and how the Sentricon System can add value to a home. Visitors can also take a Flash-animated tour of how the Sentricon System takes advantage of natural termite behavior to provide proven colony elimination.

Visit www.sentricon.com for additional information.

Griffin L.L.C. sells turf, nursery, ornamental and aquatics products to SePRO Corporation

VALDOSTA, GA. — Griffin L.L.C. has divested specific products within its turf, nursery, ornamental and aquatics businesses to SePRO Corporation of Carmel, Ind. Transfer of these assets and products was effective July 1. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

"We believe these products will be a good fit for SePRO," said Mike McDermott, global business manager for DuPont Professional Products on behalf of Griffin L.L.C. "As we build our portfolio for the professional products business within DuPont, we will focus on the pest management and lawn care industries with our proprietary products. We are confident SePRO will continue to meet the business requirements of the Griffin product users in the U.S. aquatics and horticultural industries."

Griffin L.L.C., based in Valdosta, Ga., is a supplier of crop protection chemicals. Griffin offers products, formulations, chemical actives and support services through more international locations than any other post-patent chemical company in the world, it reports. Griffin L.L.C. is a wholly owned affiliate of DuPont.

Red imported fire ant nemesis gains permanent foothold in Florida

GAINESVILLE, FLA. — The permanent establishment of a new species of phorid fly is bad news for the red imported fire ant, according to Agricultural Research Service scientists who are working to control the aggressive ant that has spread across the southern United States.

The establishment of the fly Pseudacteon curvatus is significant because it is the smallest of the decapitating flies. This means it can parasitize small worker ants— the most abundant workers in an ant colony. Phorid fly maggots live in the head capsules of their fire ant hosts, eventually decapitating them and pupating inside their heads. Phorid flies attack only fire ants.

ARS scientists at the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Fla., recently reported that they collected P. curvatus flies from a research site southwest of Gainesville, one year after the flies were initially released. This confirms the first overwinter survival and permanent establishment of P. curvatus on red imported fire ants in the United States.

Sanford D. Porter, acting research leader of the ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit in Gainesville, and Juan Briano, director of the ARS South American Biological Control Laboratory in Argentina, originally collected P. curvatus in Argentina in October 2001. The flies were released at the Gainesville site in March 2003 and have been found in increasing numbers ever since.

According to Porter, another biotype of P. curvatus was previously established on hybrid fire ants, but it did not prefer red fire ants. The more recent establishment came from a biotype that prefers the much more abundant red imported fire ants.

There are about 20 species of phorid flies in South America that specifically attack fire ants. P. curvatus and P. tricuspis are the only ones known to be established here.

P. curvatus is one more natural enemy of fire ants that scientists can add to their arsenal of biological control agents. Fire ant populations are much greater in the United States than they are in South America, where natural enemies appear to keep them from being the dominant species.

ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency.

Pest control company profiled in real estate magazine

SANDSTON, VA. — In an industry that is filled with so many companies and so much competition, it can be hard to stand out. Everyone has an idea about how to accomplish this, but Loyal Termite & Pest Control Inc. has succeeded with a simple philosophy that has to do with honesty, longevity and locality.

The company, based in Sandston, Va., and serving central Virginia and the greater Richmond area, was profiled in a past issue of Real Estate Executive magazine, which is for real estate agents. Loyal is a family-owned and -operated company that has been in business since 1960. Nick Lupini, vice president, said real estate agents recommended that his family’s company be profiled in the publication, and that was how they were chosen. He thinks Loyal’s honesty is part of what got them the attention.

"We’ve been doing real estate work for years here in Richmond," said Lupini. "Realtors want somebody they can trust and they can rely on. We’re an honest company. We’re honest and local and family-operated."

Everyone at the company wanted to be involved with the process and enjoyed the experience, Lupini said. A reporter visited the family and spent about an hour interviewing family members for the article, asking about the business and what they do. A photographer visited them later and spent about a half hour taking pictures. Several shots were taken. There was one of the inspectors, one with Lupini and Hunter (the company’s termite dog), one of the family and one with the entire staff.

"It was just nice being recognized and being chosen by Realtors to be in the magazine," Lupini said.

Another positive that came out of the article was that the real estate agents who work with Loyal Termite & Pest Control were able to see some of the behind-the-scenes people. Lupini said he heard many positive comments about the coverage; the real estate agents liked seeing some of the people that they only talk to over the phone.

The article has definitely increased the company’s business, he said. They had extra copies of the story printed and use them in their sales brochures. Lupini said people respect the company more now, because employees/owners aren’t the only ones saying good things about Loyal — real estate agents are too.

"Any time anybody wants to pump you up, it always makes you feel good," Lupini said.

 — Marisa Peters

Comings & Goings

At the company’s June board of directors meeting, Mark O’Hara was named president and chief operating officer of Anderson Pest Control, Elmurst, Ill. Former president, Charles T. O’Hara Jr., will become chairman of Anderson Pest Control

Arrow Exterminators Inc. announced the appointment of Kevin Burns to the newly created position of vice president of sales.

Brigitte Pyatt has joined PestWest USA as a sales support coordinator on the Bradenton, Fla., office team.

Pest-Heat, a division of Topp Portable Air, announces the appointment of Gary Williamson to the position of sales engineer.

Massey Services announced the appointment of Jasmine Richards to the position of director of human resources.

The company also announced the appointment of Elizabeth Grimsrud to the position of director of benefits and recruiting.

Rose Exterminator Co. has named Dale Hodgson to the position of regional technical supervisor, based in its Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, office.

BASF launches new Speakers Network Program

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — BASF Professional Pest Control has created a new educational program aimed towards keeping pest control professionals trained on the latest in pest management — the BASF Speakers Network. This new program is a component of BASF’s overall "Growing Beyond the Basics" initiative, offering programs and tools to help grow the business and profitability of its customers.

The Speakers Network utilizes some of the pest management industry’s most experienced technical resources to help educate pest control professionals on the latest in pest control topics, the company says. BASF offers its technical experts and timely, objective pest control presentations at no cost to pest control groups and associations.

"At BASF, we certainly appreciate the difficulties pest control companies have in maintaining a trained and educated sales and technician staff — new pests, newer products, and ever changing-regulations make that job more challenging each day," comments Karl J. Kisner, senior marketing manager, BASF Professional Pest Control. "It’s with those difficulties in mind that we’ve created the BASF Speakers Network."

The BASF Speakers Network provides a range of topics on the control of household pests like termites and ants, including the following:

• Identification and Control of Subterranean Termite Species

• Identification and Control of Nuisance Ant Species

• Marketing Undetectable Termite Control to Homeowners

• Building a Termite Pretreatment Program Using Undetectables

• Understanding and Communicating Pesticide Toxicity

Speakers Network information packets were mailed out to state and local associations in June. Contact Tom Chaump at via e-mail at tchaump@fcfschmidtpr.com or at 610/941-0395 for more information.

Orkin to work with CDC

ATLANTA — Orkin Inc. announced that it will collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on several public education initiatives involving health risks associated with pests.

Under the collaboration, Orkin will work with CDC to develop information materials about certain infectious disease agents and the pests that can carry them. The goals are to better inform the public about pest-borne maladies and to further enhance the knowledge and training of Orkin pest control technicians.

Over the next 12 months, Orkin and CDC plan three major shared efforts:

• Upgrading materials for Orkin training and customer service to assist Orkin pest management professionals in providing accurate information to their customers.

• Developing and distributing public information regarding pests and prevention of associated infectious diseases;

• Expanding health-related information on Orkin’s Web site, www.orkin.com.

"This collaboration will enhance our ability to share important information about health risks to the public from certain pests," said Glen Rollins, president and chief operating officer of Orkin.