March 2023

news & updates

March 7, 2023 | Issue 25

WSDA Exam Results

Pesticide licensing exam results are now available on the WSDA website! Exam results will appear as either pass or fail and will be posted online for up to three weeks. Results for testers who have not paid all required fees will not appear. Results will be available online as early as two business days after exams are graded. Exam results will continue to be mailed out after each exam session.

Check your Test Results

Educational Updates

Pacific Northwest Pest Management Conference

Samantha Malone, WSPMA Executive Director

The Pacific Northwest Pest Management Conference (Hood River) was a huge success. Despite a freak snowpocalypse that surround southwest Washington and Portland, pest management professionals braved the storm and showed up. If you ask anyone who was there on Thursday, I am sure they will have quite the travel tale to share. WSPMA Members spent time during the conference reviewing business practices, networking, building relationships with vendors, supporting each other and then the event closed with a full day of educational classes that were remarkable. Mark your calendars for next year around the same time and be sure you make the trip to Hood River, you won't be disappointed.

Be sure to read the WSPMA General Membership Meeting Notes here.

February Workshops

Ants / B&G

During the month of February, the WSPMA Education Committee offered two opportunities to attend workshops. These workshops were done virtually allowing members from across the state to attend. The content was well presented and added a great value to our knowledge base.

The first workshop focused on Ants and Ryan Neff with MGK provided so many real life studies and behaviors of different ant species he found around his home. The second half of the workshop went into a very in-depth look at formulations and modes of action.

One of the highlights was the in-person B&G rebuild class that was held in late February. This is the first time that WSPMA has organized such an event and it fulfilled all our expectations. Through the 3 hour rebuild, the entire class was able to trouble shoot a variety of maintenance issues. At the end of the class, each technician walked out with a completely functioning and rebuilt B&G. Look for this workshop to be offered again in the future!

Upcoming: April Workshop

Pollinator Health

This workshop will be all about protecting our pollinators while providing pest services. If you're interested in pollinator health trends, how to treat around flowering plants, or how you can protect pollinators, this is the course for you.

Approved for 2 CEUS in OR & ID

Pending approval in WA

Virtual Webinar

Tuesday, April 11

8 am to 10 am

$25 WSPMA Member / $40 non-Member

Welcome New Members

VENDOR MEMBERS

Green Dog Inspection

FULL MEMBERS

Eradipest, Elma

Member News

Rambo Total Pest Control

We are excited to announce that Rambo Total Pest Control has acquired the client list for long-time WSPMA member company All Green Pest Control! We plan to continue offering the outstanding service that Dave Sherrod has been providing his clients for the past 25 years.

Dave Sherrod opened All Green Pest Control in the late 1990’s, and has had his eyes on retirement for a little while now. Dave and I met about 15 years ago at WSPMA CEU classes and became industry “pest friends.” Dave, Jim Shinn, and some others like them were invaluable resources for me in my early days as a business owner. They helped me navigate the minefield that owning a pest control business can be. Dave and I reconnected recently and when he said he was looking for a someone to buy his company I was immediately interested in the opportunity. We are happy for Dave to pursue his retirement dreams, and we are excited to learn more about all the moving pieces of what an acquisition requires. This is our first acquisition but hopefully not our last! Cheers, and best of luck to you on your journey Dave!

Letter to EPA

On February 13, 2023, the WSPMA Board submitted a formal letter to the EPA regarding the proposed interim rodenticide ruling. This letter was carefully crafted with the help and guidance of NPMA. The Board has the best interest of our industry in mind and will continue to advocate for you. That letter may be viewed here.

Summer Meeting

Our Summer Meeting (formerly Leavenworth) is scheduled! Mark your calendars and make your room reservations.

AUGUST 24-26, 2023

Skamania Lodge

This 3-day event will offer a chance to work on your business development with over 4 sessions to attend. Along side the classes, there will be a variety of opportunities for you to network while participating in some amazing activities.

More information about this event will come out with your renewal packet and in future emails.

NETWORKING ACTIVITIES

Golf / Wine Tour / Zip Lining / Aerial Course / Axe Throwing / Hiking / Spa

Renewals Coming

It is that time of year when we ask for you to renew your membership and continue to support our efforts to protect our industry. Your WSPMA Board and Staff have worked to accomplish a lot in the past and we have so many plans for the future. Enclosed in your mailed renewal packet you will find: summer meeting information, committee meeting poster and a save the date.

Look for your printed renewal packet coming soon!

Diversity Corner

Thinking Outside of the Box and Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity

Joe Hatcher, Enterprise Fleet Management

Thinking outside of the box, or a willingness to consider alternative ways of doing things, has long been a staple aspect of successful businesses and innovation. Almost everything we see and use on a daily basis is the result of some “outside of the box” thinking at some point in time. From the light bulb, to Netflix and even how bed bugs are dealt with are great examples of someone improving on the status quo by thinking creatively.

One of the best ways to help a business think outside the box is to ensure we have a diverse base of employees who bring fresh perspectives and insights to the old problems. The more unique perspectives we have the better equipped a company will be to challenge the norm, invent alternative solutions, and improve the industry as a whole to adapt to the changing world in which we live.

Check out this article to read more!

WSPMA | www.wspma.com

April 11: Pollinator Health

August 24-26: Summer Meeting

November 2: Eastern Fall Seminar

November 4: Western Fall Seminar

December 1-2: Winter Convention