GPCA Winter Conference Wrap-Up

Bill Blasingame

NORCROSS, Ga. – The Georgia Pest Control Association’s Winter Conference, held Jan. 10-12 at the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., was one of the associations largest ever.

“Our Golden Jubilee conference was success from several perspectives,” said Ashley Kiefer, GPCA President. “Our Executive Director Valera Jessee and Assistant Director Connie Rogers and the entire GPCA staff have conscientiously attended to every detail. Eunice Hall of DowAgroScience and Danny Nix of Arrow Exterminators co-chaired the conference committee and secured a lineup of the best speakers in the industry.”

Nationally known speakers like Dr. Mike Potter, Dr. Jerome Goddard, Dr. Nancy Hinkle and Dr. Byron Reid headlined the event, presenting topics approved for recertification hours.

Two Honored as Conference Co-Chairs.
The association, celebrating its 50th annual conference, honored several members as part of the event.

Cal Stephenson

Bill Blasingame and Cal Stephenson, Sr. were name co-chairs of the conference and were presented with engraved chairs and honored for their service to GPCA and the professional pest control industry.

Leadership Class Graduates
The semiannual GCPA-sponsored Leadership Program graduated 17 individuals who completed their one year leadership training course. These members have all committed to serve on committees and as officers as needed in the future. “This program builds the foundation for a strong GPCA,” according to Valera Jessee, GPCA Executive Director. “The difficulty of finding officers and committee members for the Association does not exist because of the Leadership Training Program.”

Leadership class graduates included:
James Bass, Allgood Pest Solutions
Scott Eubanks, NW Exterminating
David Gagliano, Arrow Exterminating
David Garland, Garland Services
Robert Grizzard, T.Y. Gibson Pest Control
Richard Isdell, A & R Exterminating
Brad Leggett, Allgood Pest Solutions
Randy Martin, Home Tec Exterminating
Jeff Minchew, Peachtree Pest Control
Shay Runion, DowAgroSciences
Bill Strickland, Southeastern Exterminating
Whitt Tindol, Allgood Pest Solutions
Chip Tovey, Cook's Pest Control
Ted Veitch, Cook's Pest Control
Mark Wyrosdick, Cook's Pest Control

Structural Pest Control Commission Met
At the annual Structural Pest Control Commission meeting, Dr. Flora Tydings, president of Athens Technical College, presented a plan in which technicians and certified applicator testing will be available at the 74 technical colleges in Georgia. Using a new system, technicians will be able to be tested and receive scores at the completion of the exam. There is a technical college within 30 miles of every Georgian. More information will be announced after the program is rolled out in seven colleges initially.

More than 50 Vendors Represented at Confernence.More than 50 manufacturers, distributors and allied members supported the conference – the largest exhibitor contingency in GPCA’s history. This year’s meeting allowed extra vendor hours to provide ample opportunity for pest control company reps to visit vendor booths. It is through this kind of generous support that the Athens conference is possible.

The Annual Winter Conference will again be held January 9-11, 2007 at the Georgia Center at the University of Georgia.