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ORLANDO - NPMA PestWorld 2007, held last week in Orlando, was attended by more than 3,600 pest management professionals (PMPs), suppliers, and distributors, including 450 international delegates and 175 exhibiting companies, NPMA reports. These attendance numbers break the previously held attendance record from Pest Management 2000 in Las Vegas.
NPMA Executive Vice President Rob Lederer noted that next year’s PestWorld, which will be held in Washington, D.C., will be a milestone event (75 years).
“Consistent with the importance of this milestone, NPMA will launch a year-long campaign culminating in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “NPMA will be joining hands with the Professional Pest Management Alliance to launch a campaign designed to build brand awareness in the association within the membership and to boost media coverage by putting an aggressive face forward to the consumer. I would hope our forefathers over the last 75 years would be proud of where the association has come since its inception.”
Lederer said that in 2007 NPMA boasts a membership of more than 5,500 companies. Other NPMA status updates provided by Lederer included: the association is in the midst of 10 years of surplus budgets; NPMA has a strong and stable staff; NPMA has a good and expanding relationship with state and international associations.
“Most importantly, from my perspective, the number of members who are involved in the affairs of the association, both at the board level and throughout the various committees, has never been bigger and more engaged than they are today,” Lederer said.
Other highlights of this year's event, included
- An exhibit floor with the latest products and services from leading manufacturers.
- The opening ceremony, which was an appearance by Rhythm Extreme, was sponsored by Bayer Environmental Science. Rhythm Extreme created unique music using metal and rubber products such as garbage cans.
- 75 educational sessions, including five all-day intensive learning center meetings.
- Appearances by speakers James Bradley and Billy Donovan.
- Bradley, who wrote the New York Times best-seller “Flags of Our Fathers,” spoke at the opening session Thursday morning. His book focuses on the six men — including his father — who raised the American flag after the battle of Iwo Jima, and how everyday Americans can find the strength and courage to do extraordinary, and seemingly impossible, things. Bradley's presentation was sponsored by Dow AgroSciences.
- Donovan brought his tales of his success on the basketball court as a player under Rick Pitino in the 1980s, as the youngest NCAA head coach in history at Marshall, and as the coach of unprecedented back-to-back national championships for the Gators. Donovan spoke about how he realized his life’s dream by applying his fire, passion and discipline. Donovan's presentation was sponsored by FMC.
- Field trips that focused on three successful pest management and lawn care companies in the Orlando area — Massey Services, Middleton Lawn and Pest Control and Truly Nolen .
- The presentation of the NPMA Pinnacle Award to Orkin Technical Director Paul Hardy. NPMA's Pinnacle Award is presented annually to an individual or group of individuals for industry contributions.
- The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) celebrated its 10th anniversary during a special reception.
- NPMA’s Minorities in Pest Management (MPM) selected Mississippi State University (MSU) graduate student Sandra Woolfolk as the first-ever recipient of the MPM Scholarship. MPM’s Genma Holmes presented the award to Woolfolk during PestWorld.
- PCT and Syngenta honored this year’s Crown Leadership winners during a special ceremony.