Pest Expo — A Winning Formula

ORLANDO, Fla. — Take a major trade-show, add a comprehensive education schedule, toss in 10 hours of CEUs, a technical field day, a golf tournament and a traditional Southern cookout and you’ve got an industry winner.

The Florida Pest and Lawn Care Expo held in Orlando January 29-31 hosted more than 650 attendees and nearly 80 exhibit booths. Managed by the Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA), the event was a cooperative effort between FPMA, the Florida Turf Grass Association (FTGA) and Florida Pest Pro magazine.

In his keynote address, Dr. Jay Lehr, a noted economist and futurist, debunked some of the negative myths about the pest management industry and emphasized the important role of pest management in public health and safety.

Representatives from multiple green industry organizations met to work on water quality and fertilizer ordinance issues. Also the FPMA Government Affairs Group proposed that the new Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Guidelines be evaluated by the membership through an upcoming polling survey.

At day’s end, the group relaxed at the annual Dempsey Sapp Cookout with steaks sponsored by Florida Pest Pro Magazine cooked and served up by FPMA members. Sponsors DowAgrosciences, Bell Labs, UAP Professional Products and Amvac served chili, soft drinks and ice cream.

Other Pest Expo sponsors included: BASF Corp., Bayer Environmental Science, Central Life Sciences, Control Solutions, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Professional Products, Florida Pest Pro Magazine, Forshaw Distribution, Great Scot! Insurance, GT Leasing, Lesco, Mullinax Ford, Nisus Corporation, Oldham, PestWest, Syngenta, Univar, USA Inc. and Whitmire Micro-Gen Research Laboratories.  

Attendee Steve Lum of Slug-a-Bug in Melbourne, Fla. said of the event, “This new format works for me. Personally I was impressed. This is great. The idea of concurrent classes was excellent.”