LAS VEGAS - After 18 months of virtual meetings, including last year’s NPMA PestWorld, attendees of the National Pest Management Association's 89th annual convention and exposition are back in person this week in Las Vegas.
NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf kicked off PestWorld 2021 by reflecting on this past year, including drawing parallels to NPMA PestWorld 2001, which was held in New Orleans one month after the September 11 attacks.
Stumpf said that 20 years ago, “We defied the fear and instinct to just stay home and chose to face adversity head on. We got out there and we helped build up our communities. We threw ourselves into action and into service.”
Stumpf said the generosity and outreach efforts by members during the COVID-19 period has been an inspiration for NPMA staff. Recent NPMA accomplishments include:
- The creation of NPMA’s Workforce Development Program, which is dedicated to promoting careers in professional pest control and encouraging potential job seekers to search for employment opportunities on its exclusive job board for NPMA member companies
- The newly formed Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, which was created to help facilitate discussions on industry needs, and what NPMA can do as an association to assist member companies and the industry in this critical business area.
- Work done by NPMA’s Public Policy team to defend the pest control industry, including working on more than 600 pieces of individual legislation and sending more than 3,000 messages to policymakers across the United States and Canada.
- NPMA’s sister organization, the Professional Pest Management Alliance, has had its experts appear on television programs such as Good Morning America and Today, while PPMA’s TikTok videos are driving customers to call for professionals
- Promotion of industry education and professionalism through initiatives like the Pest Management Foundation and Quality Pro.
After Vergon’s opening remarks, he introduced the Opening Ceremony performers, Elvis and The Rat Pack impersonators.
Other day one highlights included:
The PPMA Board of Directors honored Larry Treleven of Sprague Pest Solutions, who is retiring from the board after 24 years as a member. Bobby Jenkins of ABC Home & Commercial Services and Russ Ives of Rose Pest Solutions presented Treleven with a commemorative ski jacket and hat, paying homage to Treleven’s love of the sport, as the board members all donned matching hats to celebrate the milestone. “It’s hard for anybody to meet Larry and not know that Larry loves people…. We’ve all been beneficiaries of that love of people,” said Ives. Added Jenkins, “You are absolutely loved and beloved by everyone in this industry.”
Just prior to the Opening Session at PestWorld, Pi Chi Omega, a national fraternity for pest control professionals, held a membership meeting. Pi Chi Omega Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian also reviewed highlights from this past year, including a look at scholarships the fraternity gave out the launch of its Junior Entomologist program.
Attendees visited the exhibit hall, where they got first-hand demonstrations on the latest products and services from industry suppliers.