Schwalb earns BCE certification

KNOXVILLE, TN—Ron Schwalb, national technical manager for Nisus Corp., recently passed the requirements and examination to be recognized as a Board Certified Entomologist (BCE) with a specialty in Urban Pest Management through the Entomological Society of America (ESA). He also earned the Associated Certified Entomologist (ACE) designation last year while attending the ESA conference in Knoxville, Tenn.

Schwalb is one of the few professionals in the urban pest management industry to achieve both BCE and ACE certifications.

Included among the strict requirements for attaining a BCE designation are proof of degreed academic work in entomology or related fields, a minimum number of years of full-time post-degree field experience and the successful completion of the BCE examination. The ESA Certification Board is responsible for setting the education, work experience, competency and ethical standards for admittance to the Certification Program.

“Earning a BCE certification is a significant achievement and a genuine asset,” says Lee Barrett, Pest Control Division vice president at Nisus. “We are excited to have Ron’s extensive background and expertise recognized this way by the pest industry.”

Schwalb has more than 35 years of experience in the pest industry, including pest management company ownership, management and technical positions. He received his bachelor’s of science degree in biology from East Tennessee State University and completed additional post-graduate work in entomology at the University of Florida. Schwalb is currently licensed as a PMP in those states.

“After all these years, I feel very blessed to receive both the BCE and ACE designations,” says Schwalb. “The BCE reflects both my educational and field backgrounds in entomology, making it clear that I have a solid grounding in the industry – and I’m still learning. I am just as proud to be an ACE because it reflects experience in the urban pest management industry. In fact, I recommend that anyone without an industry-related college degree who has the right experience in the pest management profession work toward becoming an ACE.”