<FONT color=blue>PCT On The Road</FONT>: NPMA Leaders Meet In New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — About 200 pest management professionals attended the National Pest Management Association’s sixth annual Leadership Week in New Orleans last week.

The goal of NPMA Leadership Week, which was sponsored by Univar for a third consecutive year, is to bring NPMA’s committees and board of directors together in one setting to develop strategies and methods that will ensure the continued growth and success of the association and industry.

The three-day event was held Tuesday, June 17 through Thursday, June 19 at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.

On Tuesday, four groups — Professional Women in Pest Management, the Wildlife Division, the QualityPro Board of directors and the Technical Committee — met to discuss goals for the future and challenges facing their particular interests. A welcome reception was also held Tuesday night.

Wednesday began with a Leadership Program/breakfast. Attendees were welcomed by NPMA Executive Vice President Rob Lederer and John Bolanos, vice president of Univar’s Professional Products & Services Division.

Bolanos reviewed several issues facing the professional pest management industry today, including the mortgage/real estate crisis, gas prices, the declining stock market, the weather and the upcoming U.S. presidential election. He also discussed the impact of post-patent products on the industry. He cited a statistic from industry researcher Gary Curl that said that in 2007 vs. 2006, product sales in the professional pest control market were down by $60 million.

“As this much value comes out of the market, profit starts to erode,” Bolanos said. “Suppliers to the industry are forced to change their marketing strategies, ratchet down their sales force and look at their meeting sponsorships. Univar has to face all of these things.”

He said his firm has to add value at both the manufacturer and pest management professional levels. Regarding Univar’s support of NPMA, he said, “You have to find a way to bring back to the industry. We can do that if we’re supported.”

Following breakfast, attendees headed off to various committee meetings, including the Residential and Fumigation Divisions, the Leadership Development Group Council meeting, Lawn Care and WDO Division meetings, the Professional Pest Management Alliance Board of Directors meeting, the Minorities in Pest Management Council meeting and the Pest Management Foundation Meeting.

At the Leadership Development Council meeting, attendees discussed plans for NPMA’s upcoming Academy meeting, to be held July 17-19 in Scottsdale, Ariz. At the PPMA BOD meeting, Executive Director Cindy Mannes reviewed the group’s recent public relations, advertising and public outreach initiatives.

“Social media” continues to be a new way to reach consumers, including podcasts and NPMA’s MySpace page, which has had more than 500 visitors since its inception in early March.

PPMA continues to promote www.pestworldforkids.org as the “go to” place for children and teachers searching for information about insects.

Wednesday night, attendees headed to the New Orleans Audubon Insectarium. Housed in the historic U.S. Customhouse on Canal Street, the 23,000-square-foot facility sports 70 interactive exhibits that allow visitors to test their speed against leaf-cutter ants, crickets and cockroaches; adopt a bug's-eye view; and sample various insects in a "Bug Appétit" area. The Insectarium is sponsored in part by Dow AgroSciences, BASF and Terminix International. There, Leadership Week attendees toured various insect-related exhibits and dined on dishes such as fried dragonflies and cricket crepes.

On Friday, the Government Affairs Committee, Business Management Committee, Commercial Division, By-Laws Committee and the NPMA Board of Directors met.

At the Government Affairs meeting, committee members discussed termiticide efficacy standards, state and local issues, as well as the 100th Congress and how its actions are affecting the pest management industry.