State Pest Management Association Celebrates its History with Newly Released Book

RALEIGH, N.C. – What started as an idea 60 years ago, today has grown into one of North Carolina’s premier industries. In 1948, pest management operators from around the state joined forces to lay the foundation for an industry that today protects consumers from disease-causing pests, practices environmentally responsible techniques and employs 4,000 people across the state.   

This rich history of a key industry in North Carolina is the focus of a newly released book "Controlling Our Own Destiny: The History of the North Carolina Pest Control Association 1948-2008" by Donna Anderson.  The book chronicles the history of the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA), formerly known as the North Carolina Pest Control Association.

“The idea for this book was to, in one place, capture not only the history of the North Carolina Pest Management Association, but to also pay tribute to the hard work and dedication that has gone into making this association such a fixture in our state,” said Robert Dillingham, president of the NCPMA. “Our association has experienced a productive 60 years, but we continue to challenge ourselves to increase our dedication to the environment and provide outstanding services to our customers and steady jobs for our employees.”
Controlling Our Own Destiny highlights the development of North Carolina’s pest management industry as a complex, prosperous and highly technical industry. The original founders of the association, owners of local pest management companies and professors from North Carolina State College, banded together to help formulate and pass a pest control law, which became the basis for one of the best regulatory programs in the nation.  They also worked to organize an annual pest control technicians’ school and workshops to train their employees in the safe and effective use of pesticides, and provide scholarships and research funds for entomology and pest control students at North Carolina State University.

"In writing this book, I had an opportunity to pick the brains of 21 successful pest management operators and entomologists who have been actively involved in the association. Their step-by-step practical approach to solving the challenges in their industry was one of the most interesting parts of the story,” said Donna Anderson, author of Controlling Our Own Destiny. “Anyone who wants to build a successful career or business in any field could benefit from studying their tenacious and prudent shaping of their industry over the years.”

The book explains how in 60 years, the pest management industry has been transformed into a cohesive industry overseen by one central professional association.  North Carolina's pest management industry is now among the leaders in the field nationwide, with an annual school that is one of the best and largest in the nation.

“Our industry is a family industry, with generation after generation building it from the ground up. We are thrilled to have a book that chronicles the rich history of the pest management industry in North Carolina, and tells the story of the work that our grandfathers and fathers did and what we as the next generation continue today,” said Kristin Dodd of Carolina Pest Management in Monroe and a board member of the NCPMA.  “Many people don’t realize how complex our industry or its history is, and this book helps capture that story.”