NPMA member services team takes association to new heights

From newly enrolled members to decades-long participants, the association is ensuring its benefits appeal to everyone.

Alexis Wirtz, CMP

Janay Rickwalder, CAE

Alexis Wirtz, CMP, is excited about what she sees on the horizon.

“Not only is it a new era of the NPMA, it’s a new era for the pest management industry,” says Wirtz, vice president of conventions and meetings for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). She should know — as a pivotal component of the NPMA’s member services team, Wirtz is about as engaged with the pest management industry as a person can be, as she works to meet the needs of the organization’s membership. That’s only one of her many priorities in her role with the NPMA, however. She’s also invested in strengthening its engagement with members while continually inviting new members into the fold.

“The reality is, of the 5,500 companies that belong to the NPMA, only 20 percent consistently participate in the association from a leadership, education or advocacy perspective,” Wirtz reports.

“The biggest challenge for us is reaching the 80 percent of members who choose to renew their membership every year, and get them involved.”

Janay Rickwalder, the NPMA’s vice president of communications, marketing and membership, says the association has recently taken new steps toward bridging the gap between enrollment and participation.

“Earlier this year, the Executive Leadership Program (ELP) was created to pave the way for members to become involved in leadership roles in the organization,” she says.

Rickwalder notes that while the ELP process is still being fleshed out, it will likely include an opportunity for state associations to nominate local candidates to participate. The candidates will be provided a mentor from the NPMA’s leadership, and will become immersed in everything NPMA.

The NPMA’s member services team meets regularly to discuss priorities and solutions.
Photo: NPMA

“The intent is that these ELP graduates will not only create a pipeline of future leaders of the association, but also produce NPMA ambassadors in their respective communities,” Rickwalder says.

Looking to the future, Wirtz explains that technology and globalization has put the NPMA in a position of having to think strategically immediately, to keep up with a rapidly changing world. Part of this strategic thinking, she explains, will be the focus of the NPMA P3 Summit, taking place this month in Florida.

“We need to identify those agents of change that can impact our association for better or worse,” Wirtz says. “We need to be able to not just react to change, but also anticipate the change so that we can be proactive in our response — whether it be related to the delivery of educational programming, the creation of membership benefits, or the way in which we communicate.”

Rickwalder says that during the next year, the NPMA’s member services staff will continue to focus on strengthening the organization’s relationships with state associations.

“They’re the most important conduit between the NPMA and the communities we serve,” she says. “We need to ensure they understand their value to us and their tremendous role in our success.”

Senior Editor Will Nepper can be reached at wnepper@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3775.