You See What Others Don’t

I can’t tell you the number of technical pest control presentations I’ve attended where the speaker says, “You are paid to see what others don’t.” That phrase usually comes up when the presenter is discussing pest control inspections. But it’s just as relevant when it comes to protecting our communities from something far more dangerous than termites, ticks or rodents: human trafficking.

Every day, pest management professionals enter homes, apartments, hotels and businesses. That trusted access gives them a unique opportunity to notice when something feels “off.” In this month’s cover story, “Trained to See (page 40),” PCT examines how the pest control industry is using this access to play a pivotal role in the fight against human trafficking.

From distributors to M&A advisers to service providers, the pest control industry is becoming involved. In 2020, Tom Forshaw IV, CEO of Forshaw Inc., connected with Safe House Project, a national anti-trafficking nonprofit, to create a series of training videos to help service technicians recognize the signs of child trafficking. Since the video has been available to pest management companies, Forshaw estimates about 25,000 PMPs have been trained in the U.S. M&A adviser Cetane Associates also stepped up, partnering with Safe House to make training videos available on its website.

PCT also interviewed PCOs who have initiated company-wide human trafficking training, including Amanda Forrestall, president of Pest-End, Plaistow, N.H., and Melanie Matthews, vice president of Jacksonville, N.C.-based Modern Exterminating, which has trained all 40 of its employees on how to spot human trafficking. “Our employees have said the training is something that they’re proud that our company is doing. They realize that they may be able to make a difference for someone who may be in danger,” Matthews said.

The role of individuals and companies in fighting human trafficking cannot be understated. Brittany Dunn, co-founder and COO of Safe House Project, said human trafficking can’t be solved by one policymaker, one agency or one nonprofit. “It really takes the collective will of the people to say this is an issue that we no longer want to tolerate within our community,” she said.

An important message from this month’s cover story is that all PMPs have the power to make a difference, a process that begins by watching the free training videos at Safe House Project (www.safehouseproject.org/onwatch); Forshaw (www.forshaw.com/eyesandears) and Cetame (www.cetane.com/insights/safe-house-training). As pest management professionals, you already have the skills to observe what others overlook; now, that same attentiveness can help save lives. Take 30 minutes to complete the free training and turn every service call into a chance to protect vulnerable community members.

The PCT staff recently returned from NPMA PestWorld 2025 in Orlando. Hands down, the hottest topic was how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the pest control industry. Jess Phelan, president of Vault Communications, gave a fantastic presentation titled, “The Next Wave: Emerging Digital Trends and AI-Driven Marketing for Pest Control Companies.” Just where are we at with AI? Phelan suggested attendees go home, take a photo of the inside of their refrigerator and upload it to ChatGPT. “ChatGPT will give you a recipe. You don’t even have to type out the ingredients. It can just take a look and report back. That is a wild use for day-to-day life. But that’s where we are today.”

The author is editor of PCT magazine.