UPF&DA Conference Draws 115 to Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. – Approximately 115 UPF&DA members and other industry professionals traveled to Tucson this week to educate themselves on a variety of topics, including homeland security and how to generate sustainable revenue for their businesses, as well as participate in a hotly contested Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament and a pre-conference golf outing at the beautiful Marriott Starr Pass Resort.

This year’s conference, once-again enthusiastically organized by Rich Vega of McLaughlin Gormley King, represented a change from past efforts, changes spurred by a recent survey of UPF&DA members by June Van Klaveren of Compelling Communications.

Rick Veatch, outgoing president of UPF&DA, said the survey prompted several changes in the format and content of the Annual Spring Conference. Specifically, Veatch said the study revealed that members wanted more networking opportunities at the three-day event and preferred a Monday through Wednesday format, rather than a Wednesday through Friday format. They also requested greater interaction with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and more frequent communication with UPF&DA members throughout the year. 

“We listened to what you said about the program and responded,” Veatch said.  “Every complaint has been heard loud and clear and acted upon.” Despite “overbooking” issues by the host hotel that caused problems for some attendees, the result was one of the finest UPF&DA Spring Conferences in the association’s history, a combination of first-rate educational sessions and ample networking opportunities at a premier location tucked away in the 50,000-acre Tucson Mountain Park.

REGULATORY UPDATE. Allen James, executive director of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), kicked off the educational portion of the program with an update on federal, state and local regulatory activity. James said when the industry trade association was formed in 1991 federal issues dominated the regulatory landscape. Over time, state issues became more prominent. Today, he said, “local issues are taking 80 to 90 percent of our time,” meaning grass roots involvement by UPF&DA members and others in the pest management industry is essential to counter the efforts of anti-pesticide activists.

While James acknowledged the pest control industry has exhibited a greater level of commitment to regulatory action than many other specialty chemical user groups, “industry unfortunately too often fails the grass roots test. We’ve got to get organized at the local level. And we’re dropping the ball in that regard most of the time. Without local participation, our industry is in great jeopardy.”

Towards that end, he said, RISE is working “to have deeper grass roots communications within your company.

“We need continued help with our lobbying efforts with both human and financial resources. We have to stand up more than we have ever in the past. Help RISE extend our reach. The issues are not going to go away.” Remember, he said, “science rides on our shoulders.”

Following James on the program was another veteran of Washington politics, Rob Lederer, executive director of NPMA, who updated attendees on the recent restructuring of the association and its plans for PestWorld 2005 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. Exhibit hours were extended based on exhibitor input following last year’s conference and the dates were changed when NPMA officials discovered the original dates of the conference were in conflict with a Jewish holiday. As a result, this year’s show will be held over the weekend, October 14-17. Popular country western singer Ricky Scaggs will headline the entertainment portion of the conference, while Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania and Director of Homeland Security, has been booked as the keynote speaker.

Lederer also reported approximately 200 companies are involved in the association’s QualityPro program and NPMA now boasts more than 6,000 members. The NPMA also plans to launch a new Web site in June, as well as host a series of bed bug seminars in various locations throughout the country. For additional information, visit www.pestworld.org.

Rounding out the NPMA portion of the program was a presentation by Cindy Mannes, executive director of the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), who updated attendees on the highly regarded organization’s attempts to grow the market for professional pest management services. 

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. One of the most eagerly anticipated sessions of the conference was a two-hour presentation by consultant Stan Herman, a former vice-president of sales and marketing for a Fortune 500 company, who talked about “How to Leverage Time, Talent and Capital for Sustainable Revenue.”

Herman, who earned an MBA from the City University of New York, led a “hands-on” workshop that took attendees through a six-step process to create sustainable revenue for their businesses. The six-step process included:
• Defining your customer(s)
• Identifying what your customers want
• Selecting your target customer(s)
• Developing a sound business strategy
• Identifying the four levels of business relationships
• Enhancing your customer relationships

Herman said in a recent survey of fast-growing companies, 90 percent of executives indicated the key factor in their growth was strategic planning. “They planned,” he said. “They stopped shooting from the hip.” It’s a lesson every company should heed, Herman urged. “I want you to start thinking more strategically.”

Remember, he said, excellence can be attained by caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think is practical; and expecting more than others think possible.

Rounding out the program was a session on homeland security that included presentations by representatives of the City of Tucson Fire Department, City of Tucson Police Department and FBI. Other program highlights included:
• The presentation of the Malcolm Stack Integrity Award to Roland Rhodes, owner and president of Rhodes Chemical Co., Kansas City, Kan.
• A decision by the UPF&DA Board of Directors to create a Communications Committee.
• The launch of UPF&DA’s new Web site at www.upfda.org.
• Norm Goldenberg of Terminix won the UPF&DA Golf Tournament with a low gross score of 82. Other winners included: PPMA’s Cindy Mannes and Dan Tubb of ACM-Texas, long drive; Univar’s Tony Smith and Norm Goldenberg, closest to the pin; and Eric Ham, Forshaw Distribution, low net.
• The winner of the Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament was Chuck Synold of Target Specialty Products. Synold's winnings will be donated to breast cancer research. Those participating in the last hand, before losing to Synold, were B&G Equipment’s Claude Thomas and EcoSmart Technologies’ Steven Bessette.

Next year’s UPF&DA Spring Conference will be held in Las Vegas, Nev., at a location to be determined.