Tar Heel Pest Management News
December  2016
2017 PCT School
January 23-26, 2017
Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center 

The North Carolina Pest Management Association, in cooperation with the North Carolina State University Department of Entomology, is pleased to present the 67th Annual Pest Control Technicians' School. The program was designed for pest control technicians, their suppliers, nuisance wildlife control agents and others closely involved with pest control operations.  The school's general program offers phase training with the opportunity to earn continuing certification units and information for technicians, owners and managers on the latest developments in pest control.  
 
Register Today!
 
Click here to download the PDF registration form.

Hotel Accommodations
For your convenience, NCPMA has reserved a limited number of rooms at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center at the rate of $125 per night (Please note this is different from the price printed in the registration form which is incorrect). To make reservations contact the Sheraton directly at 919.941.5050 or central reservation number at 800.325.3535. PLEASE NOTE: Group Block has limited availability.  An additional block of rooms has been reserved at the Springhill Suites by Marriott, located adjacent to the Sheraton Imperial Hotel at 920 Slater Road, Durham, NC  27703. Please call the Springhill Suites directly at 919-998-9500 to make your reservation and use reference code:  NPSH.****

In This Issue
Do You Know the Best Technician in North Carolina?
Technician of the Year Applications Deadline Extended to Dec. 23

The NCPMA Technician of the Year Award is designed to recognize the
individual who exemplifies those qualities that best define an outstanding
service technician in the pest management industry of North Carolina.
 
Contest Criteria and Rules:
  • Must be a member of the North Carolina Pest Management Association
  • Must have two years of experience in his/her phase
  • Technician must work at least 80% of the time in the field 
  • Must be recommended by company owner, manager or supervisor
  • Two phases from which to choose: Pest Control and WDO
  • Each winner receives a $250 gift card, one free PCT School registration with one night hotel room and a plaque
  • Winners will be recognized during the next PCT School at the Opening Session  
Nominate someone you know and recognize the outstanding work they are doing or make a recommendation to the the technician's supervisor, manager or company owner!



2017-2018 Proposed NCPMA Slate of Officers

NCPMA, in accordance with its bylaws and nominating committee, has put together the below proposed slate for the 2017 - 2018 Board of Directors. These individuals who have been nominated for positions on the board for 2017 -2018 will be presented and voted on during the General Membership Meeting taking place in conjunction with the 2017 PCT School on Jan. 24 from 3:25 - 5:30pm. 

Position
Name/Company
President Donnie Shelton, Triangle Pest Control
Vice President Bruce Roberts, A-1 Termite & Pest
Secretary/Treasurer
 Clint Miller, Clint Miller Exterminating
Region One Director
 Don Grant, Grant Exterminating
Region Two Director
 Marie Horner, Arrow Exterminators
Region Three Director
 Wes Wooten, State Pest Control
Region Four Director
 Preston Brown, Wheeler Exterminating
At-Large Director
 John Adkins, Four Seasons Pest Control
At-Large Director
Jay Taylor, IV, Jay Taylor Exterminating

At-Large Director
 Marty Roberts, Rid A Bug Exterminating Inc. 
At-Large Director
 Sarah Dodd, Carolina Pest Management 
Allied Member
 Maria Miller, Univar

Member Spotlight
Burns Blackwell
Co-Chair, Public Policy Committee

Burns Blackwell has been an active member of NCPMA for more than 15 years. A past president of NCPMA, Burns serves as the co-chair of the Public Policy Committee and is a former chair of the Public Relations Committee.

Burns grew up in the pest management industry and is the P resident and CEO of Terminix Company in Greensboro. 

"I  have always had a passion for pest management since I started working when I was 16.  The interaction you have with people makes each day different, challenging and all around fun.  This business is a rewarding job when you can make homeowners and businesses a better place by providing the great services we offer," he said.

An avid golfer, Burns can often be found teaching his young son how to play the game.  He and his family live in Greensboro.

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NCPMA Insider
Public Relations Tips

By Lee Smith

P est management is an exciting field and changes everyday. We all know this, but how do we let our customers know this as well?
 
An important part of any business is marketing and public relations. As a small business, we know this first hand. We have to work daily to ensure that our community knows about us and knows that we are here as a resource for them.
 
While a company's marketing and public relations plan can include many different aspects, one of the most common is press releases.  Press releases are great for maintaining communication with the media, your customers and the general public.  Press releases provide a way for us to keep the media informed of what's happening with my company as well as maintaining an ongoing archive of announcements on our website.
 
Here are the topics that I've found to be most effective for press releases.
  • "New" Pest News: Media outlets are most interested in the news so it's important to keep release information timely. Is there a new pest species in the area? Are pests showing up out of their normal season? I like to keep my local media (and my customers) informed of these developments through releases.
  • Seasonal Pest Updates: For us spring means termite swarms and fall means time to seal up your house, but the general public may not realize this. Press releases about seasonal topics can remind our communities about these developments and how they may prevent pests in their own homes.
  • Company Announcements: Did one of your employees just win an award? Did your company get recognized for something it did? Is there a new hire?  These are items that you can announce via a press release.
 
The important thing to remember is that press releases reflect your company, its values and its brand. They should be an extension of your marketing and public relations plan.  

--Lee Smith is the past president of NCPMA. He is Vice President of Rid-A-Pest, Inc. in Morehead City.

Mystery Pest? Try NCPMA's "Identify a Pest" 
NCPMA Web Tool Gives Answers to Technicians and Public

As pest professionals we encounter many different kinds of pests in our day-to-day work.  But what happens if you come across a pest that you haven't seen before? Or one that you are having trouble identifying?

The NCPMA website has a tool to help!

Identify a Pest allows anyone to upload a picture of the pest along with a brief description of the pest and any problems associated with it.  

A team of pest experts reviews the submissions and provides insight via email.

Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. Click links to get more information or to register.

2017 Pest Control Technician's School
Raleigh/Durham, NC
Jan. 23-26, 2017


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