Tar Heel Pest Management News
September 2016
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NCPMA Awards Eight Past President's Scholarships

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2016 Past President's Scholarships.  The Education Foundation of the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) recently awarded eight Past President's Scholarships to students pursuing a post-high school degree.
 
"NCPMA is proud to offer these students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals," said Dana McDuffie, NCPMA President. "As an association, we are always looking for ways to help our members grow, and the Past President's Scholarship allows our members and their families the opportunities to reach their educational goals."

Student
Hometown
School
Studies/Major
Lauren Coats
Clayton, NC
North Carolina State University
Business Administration and Communication
Devra Jasinowski
Greensboro, NC
Forsyth Tech
Respiratory Therapy
Jeffrey London
Hendersonville, NC
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Mechanical Engineering
Adam Lunsford
Cullowhee, NC
Western Carolina University
School of Nursing
Jared Matthews
Autryville, NC
North Carolina State University
Agriculture Business Management
Ansley Smith
Wilson, NC
East Carolina University
Marketing
Michael Smith
Mocksville, NC
Louisburg College/Haywood Community College
Business/Wildlife Management
Faith Thomas
Flat Rock, NC
Brigham Young University
Anthropology

In This Issue
North Carolina Representative John Szoka Elected as Conference Chair 

The champion of an effort to remove the service tax on the pest control industry in North Carolina has been chosen by his colleagues in the House to a key leadership position within the Chamber. Representative John Szoka from Cumberland County was unanimously elected in early August to serve as the House Republican Conference Leader. As Conference Leader, Representative Szoka will spearhead House Republican fundraising efforts and play an intricate role in developing the 2017 legislative agenda as a member of the House leadership team.

For more about Representative Szoka's impressive career and/or to show your support please click here. 

Meet the Board
Chris Miller
Allied/Associate Representative

Chris Miller, a Territory Manager with Forshaw, Inc., joined the NCPMA Board of Directors in July as the Allied/Associate Representative.  

Chris has been interested in pest management for most of his life, even when he didn't realize what it was. "I had always been fascinated with insects and when I was young growing up with my Grandmother I was always killing ants at her home.  Little did I know I was already in training as a Pest Technician at a young age," he said.

His job allows him to help people solve problems in their homes while also being outdoors.

With his office based in Charlotte, Chris and his family live in Southmont, N.C. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three young sons. He's an avid fisherman but you can also find him hunting from time to time.
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NCPMA Insider
"Pest Management Marketing: It's More Than a Logo"

By Clint Miller 

Marketing for a pest management company can include many different things.  In my 30 years in pest management, I've learned four keys to marketing the business.
  1. Pest management is about relationships. My business has been built on referrals.  Ninety percent of my customers were referred to me from one person to the next so it's important to make customers happy.  The majority of our public relations efforts are about building relationships.  Meeting people and learning what their needs are and finding solutions is the key to success. 
  2. Marketing for pest management can be creative.  Years ago I hired an artist to create an eye-catching design for my company's trailer.  That became our brand. The large termites on the design became so popular that we replicated it on our company trucks and now everyone in town knows the design. We've since extended our efforts to include newspaper ads and continuous updates to our website.
  3. Community involvement is key. We feel that it's important to be a good neighbor to our community so we give back whenever we can. It can include pro bono work for the local fire department, Habitat for Humanity, food bank or a church, coaching or sponsoring a local sports team or encouraging employees to volunteer for or be involved with a local organization. Or, it can be advising someone about how to solve their pest problem without a cost involved.
  4. Problem solving extends beyond pest management. If my technicians notice a problem at a customer's house that extends beyond pest management, they'll offer a solution or recommend someone who can.  For example, if they see a plumbing leak at a customer's house they'll recommend a plumber.  It's about adding value and building trust and good integrity. If we can help somebody, we're building a relationship.  If you help somebody, they're a friend for life.
--Clint Miller is the owner of Clint Miller Exterminating, Inc. in Mt. Pleasant.  He currently serves as the chair of the NCPMA Public Relations Committee.

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

United We Stand
Greensboro, NC
Nov. 17-18, 2016

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


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