Dodd, Hazelwood Honored at 65th Annual Technicians’ School

Founded in 1952, the NCPMA is one of the industry’s most active state associations, in part, because of its history of strong leadership as embodied by Dodd and Hazelwood, who were inducted into the NCPMA Hall of Fame during opening ceremonies of the four-day event.

 

“We are proud to recognize Dee Dodd and Chuck Hazelwood with this prestigious honor,” said NCPMA Vice President Lee Smith. “For decades, they have made their mark on both the industry and the association through their tireless work ethic and initiative, and it is our honor to recognize their contributions to our state.”

 

Dodd and Hazelwood join 23 previous winners of the award, which is presented annually at the NCPMA Technicians’ School. A brief review of each of their careers follows.

 

David (Dee) Dodd III has been a licensed operator since 1984 and has worked for Carolina Pest Management, his family’s business, for most of his career. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dodd has been active in association affairs for many years, serving as NCPMA president in 1997; chairman of the Rules and Regulations Committee since 1990; and helping to found the NCPMA Education Foundation and Past Presidents’ Scholarship.

 

Presenting the award to Dodd was his daughter, Kristin, who said her father has exhibited “unwavering dedication” to the NCPMA throughout his career. “Growing up and seeing my father give his time over the years to NCPMA has instilled in me the desire to carry on this tradition and be active in our association,” she said. “Without that kind of role model, it’s often easy to get too busy or caught up in the day-today operations of our companies and not always realize the impact our association has in North Carolina on all of our businesses.”

 

In a career with many professional highlights, Kristin said perhaps her father’s proudest accomplishment was the role he played in establishing the NCPMA’s Education Foundation and the Past Presidents’ Scholarship, which awards college scholarships to the children of NCPMA members.

 

“He felt that it was important to use the money the association had to encourage the next generation of pest management professionals,” she said. “By establishing this scholarship opportunity for children whose parents are active in the industry, the Education Foundation has been able to give out thousands of dollars to help with educational expenses.”

 

Another hallmark of Dodd’s career has been his willingness to help others, including longtime competitors. “I have seen him on so many occasions sitting with other members who are our direct competitors and tell them how we do things or offer to help them out with problems they may be having,” Kristin said. “I think that is the greatest compliment I can give my dad – his willingness to help anyone out and not ask for anything in return, but to do it out of the goodness of his heart and for the betterment of the industry as a whole.”

 

Charles (Chuck) Hazelwood began his pest management career in 1980 when he joined Go-Forth Pest & Lawn, working for his wife Suzanne’s father. Hazelwood owned the company until 2012 when he sold the family-owned business to his son Chase.

 

Hazelwood was named Small Business Person of the Year in 1999 by the High Point Chamber of Commerce and has been active in NCPMA throughout his career, serving as association president in 1998; helping create the NCPMA Wood-Destroying Insect Report Accreditation (WDIR) program; and serving as co-chair and director of the NCPMA Pest Control Technician's School for a number of years. He also has served as a regional vice president for the National Pest Management Association.

 

In welcoming Hazelwood to the Hall of Fame, his son Chase described his father as “a passionate guy” who has worked tirelessly to advance the pest management industry. “He wanted to find ways to ensure that pest professionals were educated and trained in ways that would show consumers that this industry is worthy of respect,” Chase observed.

 

“From founding and administering the WDIR accreditation process, to helping raise about $200,000 in scholarship funds, to serving many roles in NCPMA all the way from president to committee chair, to helping design and administer this very school, Chuck has undeniably earned this Hall of Fame honor for being a strong force for quality, education and growth in NCPMA,” Chase said.

 

In addition to honoring two of the NCPMA’s finest, Technicians’ School attendees volunteered at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, holding a food drive as part of the NCPMA in Action program. “As an association we are committed to helping the people of our state whether it’s through pest management treatments or giving back to those in need,” Smith said.

 

The Technicians’ School is one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the country, attracting hundreds of PMPs from North Carolina and surrounding states eager to participate in the association’s Wood- Destroying Insects Report accreditation program, attend a variety of educational sessions and walk the tradeshow floor.

 

This year’s educational program included presentations on cockroach control by Dr. Mike Waldvogel, North Carolina State University; termite treatment technology by Ron Harrison, Rollins Inc.; Structural Fumigation by Ken Kendall, Ensystex; ant control by Dan Suiter, University of Georgia; and a pollinator label update by Dr. Bennett Jordan, NPMA staff entomologist.

 

In addition, the conference hosted a panel discussion featuring Burns Blackwell, Terminix Company; Dee Dodd, Carolina Pest Management; Scott McNeely, McNeely Pest Control; and PCT Publisher Dan Moreland, who discussed the NPMA’s “Benchmarking Your Business” study published by PCT magazine earlier this year. The study was sponsored by BASF Pest Control Solutions.

 

Longtime member Steve Taylor, founder of Capital Pest Services, said the NCPMA is “a very strong association with a very active membership,” which results in strong attendance at the Technicians’ School year after year.

 

January is also a good time to get away for continuing education and peer networking, Jack Roberts, owner of A-1 Termite & Pest Control, said. “They don’t lose as much work time” and “it is part of the history and tradition of the association to get your training at the North Carolina Pest Control Technicians’ School.”

 

A tradition no doubt that will be continue thanks to the strong leadership being exhibited by the generation of PMPs who are following in the footsteps of Dee Dodd and Chuck Hazelwood.

 

Sponsors of the 65th Annual Pest Control Technicians’ School included Bell Laboratories, BASF, Atlantic Paste & Glue, Liphatech, Howard Fertilizer and Chemical, Syngenta, Univar, Bayer, Target Specialty Products, and Forshaw Distribution.