PMPs, suppliers meet one-on-one at inaugural PMP Growth Summit

From left, Tami and Pete Schopen, Schopen Pest Solutions, chat with Andy and Nancy Carace, Pest-End Exterminators, during Tuesday evening’s cocktail reception. Photo: PMP Staff

This week in Orlando, Fla., Pest Management Professional magazine has brought together pest management professionals (PMPs) and several sponsors for a myriad of networking opportunities in its first-ever PMP Growth Summit.

“It’s part of our mission as a magazine to build relationships and revenue for our readers,” says Marty Whitford, PMP publisher and editorial director. “This event, which we hope is the first of many for our industry, gives attendees the opportunity to forge partnerships that can lead to sustained, mutual growth.”

About 30 PMPs representing 25 companies nationwide participated in the event, which was held at the Reunion Resort. Representatives from Bayer, Bird Barrier America, Control Solutions Inc., Kness Manufacturing, MGK, PelGar USA, Real Green Systems and Rockwell Labs met in one-on-one sessions with each PMP company.

PMP’s parent company, North Coast Media (NCM), has hosted similar Summits with its other publications, including Golfdom, Landscape Management and LPGas. Representing PMP in Orlando this week are Whitford, Editor Heather Gooch, Managing Editor Diane Sofranec, Digital Editor Joelle Harms, Senior Account Manager Mike Joyce and Account Manager Ryan Gerard. NCM President and CEO Kevin Stoltman, VP of Finance and Operations Steve Galperin, and Event Manager Kyle Castro were also on hand, as well Summit veterans Bill Roddy, publisher of Landscape Management, and Brian Kanaba, publisher of LPGas.

Tuesday evening’s keynote speaker, PMP columnist and Hall of Famer Dr. Austin Frishman, provided an entertaining, yet informative overview of the industry’s history, present and future. Thursday morning’s keynote speaker, PMP columnist Pete Schopen, will focus on “Working with urgency and staying consistent.” In addition to a Wednesday afternoon golf outing at Reunion, suppliers and PMPs are paired in a series of 20-minute meetings to discuss tailor-made solutions for their respective companies.

Check out our social media coverage on Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned for industry insights, pest trends and more gleaned from the conference in the March issue of PMP.