‘Can Do’ Spirit of Speakers, Attendees Highlights 78th Purdue Conference

Editor’s note: The annual Purdue Pest Management Conference features the latest research finding and field observations from renowned industry speakers, as well as an exhibit hall filled with the latest product innovations from industry suppliers. The Purdue Conference Planning Committee had put together another stellar lineup of speakers and topics for this year’s conference. Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not cooperate, as the state of Indiana was crippled by blizzard-like conditions and sub-zero temperatures that actually closed the university on Jan. 6 (the first day of the conference). The conference resumed on Jan. 7, and Purdue’s Gary Bennett provided the following recap of this year’s memorable event. Rose Pest Solutions’ Mark (Shep) Sheperdigian supplied the photos.

About 50 pest management professionals gathered in the Purdue Union Club Hotel and other local hotels January 5, 2014 for the 78th Purdue Conference scheduled to start Jan. 6.

Speakers Ted Granovsky, Dale Hodgson, Pat Hottel, Jay Kelley, Drew Martin, Jeff McGovern, David Mueller, Arnold Ramsey, Mark (Shep) Sheperdigian, and Gerry Wegner were present, and in consultation with the others present decided to proceed with the conference program despite Purdue campus closure, 8-10 inches of snow on the ground and blizzard conditions! With Shep, Scott Robbins, Gene White, Ted Granovsky and Jeff McGovern filling in for speakers who couldn’t get to Purdue, the updates on spiders, flies, carpenter and odorous house ants, and rodents were admirably covered.

The 50 or so pioneers met the first afternoon in the Exhibit Hall (with Scott Robbins providing the AV equipment and Shep helping out with his laptop). The second and third days of the conference were held in regular classrooms in Stewart Center (courtesy of room keys provided by Purdue Memorial Union staff). Our attendance numbers jumped dramatically on the second day with an additional 50 PMPs joining the conference (see conference group photo).

The 78th Purdue Conference will be remembered for its unique organization and delivery. The program was reshaped daily to match speakers with the topics on the program. Those knowledgeable with the subject matter were inserted on short notice for those speakers who could not get to the conference, and in every case, these substitute speakers did a wonderful job. Meetings were held in places where we had never had meetings before, and audio-visual equipment just happened to be available because Scott Robbins had the equipment in his vehicle. Food and beverage was virtually unavailable for a day or two. It was truly a great example of the “can do” spirit of the pest management industry.