Tar Heel Pest Management News
February 2020
2020 PCT School

The 2020 Pest Control Technician's School was our biggest ever! 

With more than 1,100 attendees, we enjoyed four days of hands-on training, networking, Casino Night and more! 

If you missed our Opening Session, check out the link below to see a video highlighting our 70 years of PCT School.

NCPMA History Slideshow--70th Annual PCT School
NCPMA History Slideshow--70th Annual PCT School


Thank you to everyone who attended this great event and made it such a huge success. We can't wait to see you in 2021!

ACE Update

It was another successful year for the ACE program at the PCT School!

Our passing rate continued to be high among participants who took the exam.

At the 2020 PCT School, 11 participants took the review course. Nine of those participants took the ACE test, and five participants passed the exam.

In 2020, 100% of the participants who had committed to the prep course for at least 6 months in advance passed the exam.

What makes our program unique?  Unlike any other ACE prep course offered in the country, our goal is to help participants through the process from completing the Entomological Society of America (ESA) application to passing the exam which includes matching participants with mentors for the entire process.

Dana McDuffie, former NCPMA president, participated in the 2020 ACE Prep Course and Exam and shared her experience with NCPMA.

" I reached out to my ACE program mentor, and she guided me through the entire process," Dana said.

"Once I submitted my NC ACE Prep course application, she made arrangements to travel to my office and meet with me to start the process beginning with the ACE Application, letters of reference, etc.  She stayed in touch with me on a regular basis and guided me on areas to focus including studying and administering pop quizzes," she said. "I can assure anyone interested in taking the ACE exam that this program is exceptional, and I would not have been able to focus and successfully pass the ACE exam without going through the North Carolina ACE prep course."

Interested in becoming an Associate Certified Entomologist by taking the ACE Course in 2021? Registration is now open on our website.

In This Issue
Endowment Update

We have launched the NCPMA Extension Program Endowment in Honor of Mike Waldvogel to  support the ongoing work of NCSU, focusing on supporting positions that directly contribute to the education of our industry.

Contributions are being accepted by visiting
this site  or   downloading the contribution form.






Spring Workshop Dates Announced
 
calendar
Join us for the NCPMA Spring Workshops at a location near you. 

Monday, February 24, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Cumberland County Extension Center
201 E Mountain Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28306
 
Wednesday, February 26, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
New Hanover Extension Center
6206 Oleander Drive 
Wilmington, NC 28403

Monday, March 2, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Cabarrus County Extension Center
715 Cabarrus Ave W
Concord, NC 28027

Tuesday, March 3, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 
Forsyth County Extension Center
1450 Fairchild Road 
Winston-Salem, NC 27105


Registration Open: Premier Technician Courses
 
Our Premier Technician Program will help take your career to the next level!

The next Premier Technician Courses will be held March 10-11 in Raleigh. Register today to join us for these hands-on, intensive courses which are part of our Premier Technician Training Program.

Each course will be held at the North Carolina State Structural Pest Management Training Facility located at
4000 Chi Road, Raleigh, NC.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020
 
Topic: Termites: Beyond the Basics
Presenter: Dr. Michael Waldvogel, Entomologist NC State University

Participants will go beyond the basics and explore what termites do in their daily life, how they communicate, do they get sick like we do? how do they survive? what happens when they die? because the answers to these questions will give you the answers on how to develop an effective treatment protocol. 

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Topic: Small Fly Control: Prevention and Control
Presenter: Daniel Dye ACE, Technical Director Florida Pest Control/retired

Many small flies are found in kitchens, food prep areas, and anywhere else that has decaying food.  In this course participants will learn about the 5 most common small fly species, their breeding sites and how/where to do successful inspections to determine the species of the fly.

More Courses to Come
Stay tuned for more information about our next round of courses in November 2020 which will focus on Bed Bugs and Occasional Invaders.  

Congratulations to NCPMA's Scholarship Winners
 
                           
NCPMA President Clint Miller awards a scholarship to Maria Gonzalez of NCSU.
In 2019, we awarded scholarships to seven students pursuing post-high school education programs.
 
The Education Foundation of the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) awarded a scholarship to Maria Gonzalez to assist in the continuation of her studies at North Carolina State University (NCSU). Gonzalez is a graduate student studying Entomology. She is working on her PhD and is completing research focused on issues pertaining to cockroaches and bed bugs
 
The NCPMA Education Foundation awards $1,500 annually to a student attending North Carolina State University. The scholarship was presented at the NCPMA Pest Control Technician's School in Durham in January 2020.
 
In addition, the NCPMA Education Foundation also awarded six Past President's Scholarships to students pursuing post-high school degrees.
 
Student
Company
School
 
Ashley Terrell
Carolina Pest Management
Liberty University 
Makayla Roberts
A-1 Termite and Pest
North Carolina State University
Ansley Smith
Rid-A-Pest
East Carolina University
Ethan Davidson
Master Exterminators
Carolina College of Biblical Studies
Joseph Hall
McNeely Pest Control
 
(unknown)
Samantha Barber
Lake Norman Pest Control
Western Carolina University
 
The Past President's Scholarship by the Education Foundation of the NCPMA was created in 2004  to help encourage and build the next generation of pest management professionals. Scholarships are awarded to owners or employees of NCPMA member companies and/or their family members including spouses, children and grandchildren. Preference is given to those who demonstrate an interest in pursuing careers in the pest management industry.
 
NCPMA has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships since 2005.

Meet the Board:  Jordan Myers
At-Large Director
 
Jordan Myers, an At-Large Director, is serving his first term on the NCPMA Board of Directors and will begin his second term in July.

What started as a summer job has turned into a career for Jordan.

"When I was in college, Mr. Scott McNeely, who is a family friend, asked me if I would like to come work for him in the summer in his company's wildlife department. I worked on my family farm most summers so I jumped at the chance to have a "fun" summer job that actually paid money," Jordan said. 

Jordan returned to McNeely Pest Control a year after graduating from North Carolina State University and has since become the Regional Manager. He is now studying for his Master's of Business Administration.

He's been an active member of NCPMA since his pest management career began in 2011.

Jordan enjoys hunting and other outdoor activities and can also be found traveling and cooking with his wife. 
In the News

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PCT School


Upcoming Events

Don't miss these upcoming events: 

Spring Workshops
February-March 2020
Locations Statewide

NPMA Legislative Day
March 8-10
Washington, DC

Premier Technician Courses
March 10-11
Raleigh, NC

Board of Directors Meeting
March 25
Pinehurst, NC

NPMA Academy
July 14-16
Orlando, FL

July 23-25
Myrtle Beach, SC

PestWorld 2020
Oct. 13-16
Nashville, TN


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