PCT Online will be providing live coverage from PestWorld, including news stories, photos, videos and more. About 3,000 industry professionals from throughout the U.S. and abroad are expected to gather in Baltimore this week for PestWorld 2017, the National Pest Management Association’s annual convention and exposition. PCT Online will be providing live coverage from PestWorld, including news stories, photos, videos and more.
Nicknamed “Charm City,” Baltimore has plenty to offer for history buffs, foodies and tourists. This year, it’s the site of PestWorld 2017, NPMA’s annual gathering of PMPs from all over the world. Attendees will have networking opportunities with professionals from a wide range of back-grounds, as well as opportunities to attend educational sessions featuring leading experts in the field. Below is a quick preview of what to expect.
OPENING CEREMONY/GENERAL SESSIONS. The opening ceremony, which takes place Tuesday, features music from the Drumadics Beat-N-Brass band. This event is sponsored by Bayer.
On Wednesday, Doc Hendley, named one of the “Top 10 CNN Heroes” in 2009 and a bartending musician, raised money and awareness to pro-vide water for impoverished areas around the world. He worked in refugee camps in Darfur for victims of genocide and visited United Nation “no-go” zones to distribute water and chlorine tablets. This session is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences.
On Thursday, Kirk Lippold, a retired U.S. Navy commander, will speak of his experience and lessons learned from a terrorist attack while onboard the USS Cole. Lippold provides advice for leaders on how to act and remain calm in crisis situations, how to prepare for such situations and how to lead a group of team members. This session is sponsored by Syngenta.
IN THE MIX RECEPTION. It wouldn’t be an NPMA conference without networking opportunities...and PestWorld will have plenty. The “In the Mix” reception will serve as a way to meet fellow PMPs from across the globe, while also learning about NPMA committees, including the Leadership Development Group, Pro-fessional Women in Pest Management, PestVets and the Diversity Committee. This reception will be held on Thursday evening and is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, Ecolab and FMC.
NETWORKING .The “In The Mix” reception won’t be the only chance attendees get to network with fellow PMPs. The Exhibit Hall will feature more than 200 vendors showcasing products, and allows PMPs to discover the latest innovations, make business connections and gain ideas to improve their business. There will be several events in the exhibit hall, including the Bayer-sponsored grand opening on Tuesday, two exhibit hall lunches on Wednesday and Thursday, and Black Friday deals on Friday.
Finally, there is a PestWorld 2017 mobile app downloadable for Apple, Windows and Android devices. The app includes the event schedule and a customizable agenda, information about keynote speakers, social sharing with other attendees and notifications of show changes/updates.
Throughout the week attendees will be able to attend concurrent education sessions, each block lasting an hour and 15 minutes. These sessions will cover a wide variety of industry topics.
Additionally, “Thought Leader” sessions, which are sponsored by MGK, include: “Employee Drug Testing in the Age of Legal Weed” — Kylie Luff, Seay Management Consultants; “Help with Yelp: Making your Business Stand Out” — Susan Hare, Thrasher Termite & Pest Control; “Your Employee Handbook and the Policies You Need to Have” — Kylie Luff, Seay Management Consultants; “Facebook 15: Hands-On with Facebook Business Pages” — Susan Hare, Thrasher Termite and Pest Control; “From Technician to CEO” — Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers.
On Friday, the educational sessions are broken up into tracks, which include topics such as 21st century IPM, structural pest control’s influence on public health, wildlife control, food safety and online marketing.