Missy Henriksen, PPMA Executive Director, Resigns

Henriksen is headed to an allied industry: the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), formerly known as PLANET, where she will serve as vice president of public affairs. “I will be creating the equivalent of the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) for them,” she told PCT.

 

Henriksen said she’s leaving PPMA purely for personal reasons. “My decision to leave is bittersweet. I have loved working with the professional pest management industry and am proud of the work we have done to impact consumers’ understanding of the industry; however, the opportunity presented by NALP was too good to pass up for my family and me,” she said. “I am really excited to be part of creating NALP’s consumer outreach initiatives from the ground up. They have a great story to tell — I am excited to help get the word out!”

 

Henriksen has held the PPMA executive director role since March 2009, following the departure of Cindy Mannes. Mannes is currently the chief marketing and strategy officer for Arrow Exterminators in Atlanta. 

 

“We have been fortunate to have had Missy as part of the team for the past six years and have valued the work she has done on behalf of the industry,” said Bob Rosenberg, NPMA CEO. “Obviously, PPMA is a critical program under the NPMA umbrella and, fortunately, Missy has agreed to remain with us until the middle of June to ensure an orderly transition.”

 

WHAT’S NEXT? Just as pest management professionals are gearing up for their busy spring season, so too is PPMA. For example, April is National Pest Management Month and Bed Bug Awareness Week is June 7-14. So it’s critical the group doesn’t lose momentum with a change in leadership. NPMA/PPMA and Henriksen told PCT that won’t happen. 

 

“I will remain with PPMA through sometime in June to help ensure a smooth transition for the organization. If a successor is not found during that time, our public relations firm, Vault Communications, and PPMA’s board of directors are prepared to commit whatever extra resources are necessary to ensure PPMA doesn’t miss a beat,” Henriksen told PCT. “Vault has worked on our account for 12 years; the agency knows the industry and has proven incredibly capable in creatively expanding the industry’s message and impact.”

 

“We’ve been so fortunate to work hand-in-hand with Missy for the past six years in guiding the Professional Pest Management Alliance’s important work in growing, protecting and defending the professional pest management industry,” said Jessica Phelan, executive vice president and partner at Vault Communications, Philadelphia. “While we will deeply miss having her as a part of the day-to-day team, we are confident that the good work will continue seamlessly under the strong direction of the PPMA board of directors.”

 

Phelan added, “There are lots of exciting things planned for the remainder of this year. Keep your eyes peeled for an innovative and memorable ad campaign launching in airports around the country, the conclusion of our in-depth consumer research project delving deep into the pest control buying decision, and, of course, a continued focus on generating hundreds of positive stories about professional pest management in markets nationwide.”

 

Henriksen said she’s optimistic about the future of PPMA. “PPMA has 17 years of success under its belt and has an effective formula for communicating with the public,” she said. “The organization’s work has brought visibility to the industry and increased the public’s perception of professionalism within it. Thirty-seven percent of homeowners reported using a pest management professional in the past year, up from 18 percent in 2001. That increase is due, in part, to the voice PPMA has provided. PPMA’s support from its guardians and contributors is at an all-time high and its actions are guided by a committed and experienced board of directors.”

 

Henriksen said she will miss the people in the pest control industry the most as she heads to her new role. “This is an industry of dedicated individuals committed to their customers and to protecting people, property, and food. I am so proud to have been associated with the professional pest management industry.”

 

To learn more about PPMA, visit http://npmapestworld.org/ppma/index.cfm.