FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA) announces the addition of two new Master Technicians to a growing group of pest management professionals that carry this exclusive designation in Virginia. This brings the total number of professionals in this elite group to 77. These Master Technicians have successfully completed at least 4 individual workshops focusing on different pest groups to qualify for this prestigious designation. Technicians from the following Virginia companies joined the elite group of VPMA Master Technicians by attending workshops on Rodents and Cockroaches: Ronnie Eroh with 1st Defense Termite & Pest Control in Powhatan and Patrick Wallace with RichPro Pest Management in Richmond.
Realizing that consumers have many choices when selecting a professional pest management company, the Virginia Pest Management Association (a statewide trade association) created this hands-on training program as a way for pest management companies to educate their technicians in a way that sets them apart as experts. Called the Master Technician Program, it prepares pest management professionals to be the “problem solver” for their customers in all pest matters.
In October, VPMA hosted the Master Technician: Rodents and Master Technician: Coackroaches Courses in downtown Richmond. The Rodents course included discussions of biology and habits of commensal rodents, recent regulatory changes to rodenticide use, a hands-on demonstration of rodent elimination equipment and exclusion techniques. In addition, the class embarked on a walking tour of downtown Richmond after dark to inspect for rodent evidence and harborage. The Cockroaches course included species identification using high-powered microscopes, as well as discussions of the biology and habits of cockroaches. Hands-on activities including baiting and monitoring for cockroaches, as well as a laboratory test of the efficacy of different baits were conducted.
The Master Technician Program provides technicians with in-depth, hands-on training in pest identification; biology and behavior; and inspection and treatment methods. Workshops are currently available for Pest Ants, Termites, Occasional Invaders (including Stink Bugs), Bed Bugs, Cockroaches, Rodents and Pest Flies. Once an individual has successfully completed all aspects of at least 4 pest group workshops, they receive the designation of Master Technician.
The Master Technician Program’s curriculum coordinator and lead trainer, Dr. Dini Miller from Virginia Tech, says, “Technicians rise to the challenge when given the opportunity to expertly identify and study insects that they commonly, or not so commonly, encounter in the field. The scientific laboratory setting of the Master Technician Program encourages them to explore the intricate facets of each insect group.”
To learn more about VPMA Master Technicians, call 877/875-8722 or visit www.VPMAonline.com.
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