Live from Legislative Day 2020

Diane Sofranec March 9, 2020

The National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) annual Legislative Day event took place Mach 9-11 in Washington, D.C.

Legislative Day gives pest management professionals (PMPs) an opportunity to advocate for the pest control industry on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, and empowers them to continue their efforts when they return home.

At the Capital Hilton hotel, not far from the White House, NPMA members gathered March 8-10, for committee meetings; educational sessions about business, regulations and politics; and networking receptions. It culminates with state representative meetings on Capitol Hill, where PMPs discuss, face-to-face, issues that are currently having an impact on the pest control industry and could affect PMPs’ livelihood. They are pesticide preemption, the Illicit Cash Act, and the importance of pest control on public health and safety.

Attendees learned how best to conduct their meetings with their state representatives, and received handouts that highlighted talking points.

Legislative Day 2021 will take place March 14-16.

: Attendees at the National Pest Management Association’s Legislative Day event received a warm welcome at the Capital Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: On Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, the NPMA’s Legislative Day 2020 event featured a strong lineup of speakers that include pest management professionals and political pundits. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Legislative Day 2020 got underway Sunday, March 8. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The Association Leadership Forum began with a panel discussion on how to engage and influence legislation. Chris Reardon of Pest Control Operators of California, Derrick Lastinger of the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Bonnie Rabe of Rollins (pictured from left to right) shared advice and best practices. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The Association Leadership Forum featured a panel discussion led by the NPMA’s Director of Public Policy Jake Plevelich, left. Kevin Lemasters of EnviroPest, Bill Welsh of Rose Pest Solutions and Lonnie Alonso of Columbus Pest Control (pictured from left to right) discussed the lifecycle of a bill. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Attendees of the Professional Women In Pest Management (PWIPM) networking event took time out for a photo. A topic of discussion was the International PWIPM Leadership Forum, the NPMA’s new event for women that will take place in May. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Legislative Day 2020 would not be possible without the continued support from sponsor companies PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The Presidential Ballroom would be bustling with Legislative Day attendees less than 24 hours later. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: NPMA Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs Dr. Jim Fredericks and PPMA Executive Director and NPMA Vice President of Public Affairs Cindy Mannes enjoy the Legislative Day Welcome Reception. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Alfie Treleven of Sprague Pest Solutions, Russ Ives of Rose Pest Solutions and Dr. Cisse Spragins of Rockwell Labs (pictured from left to right) catch up at the Legislative Day Welcome Reception. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Legislative Day attendees mingled at an evening welcome reception sponsored by Syngenta. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The NPMA’s Director of Public Policy Jake Plevelich unwinds with CEO Dominique Stumpf, CMP, CAE during the Legislative Day Welcome Reception. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: FMC’s Mike Seyfert and Former Congressman Bob Dold Jr. (pictured from left to right) offered tips on how to build relationships in Washington, D.C. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The NPMA’s Allie Allen moderated a panel discussion on hiring and retaining employees that featured Leila Haas, Sara Cromwell and Daniele Collinson. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Dr. Kenton White, co-founder of Advanced Symbolics, discussed artificial intelligence as it relates to surveys. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: AP&G’s Vice President of technical products and services Dr. Stan Cope composes a letter to the troops as part of Operation Gratitude. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: As part of Operation Gratitude, troops will receive care packages assembled by NPMA members during Legislative Day. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The NPMA’s Director of Public Policy Jake Plevelich chats with PestVets’ Marty Overline. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: A color guard stands by as Rose Pest Solutions’ Russ Ives sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” before lunch is served. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: NPMA CEO Dominique Stumpf welcomes attendees during lunch. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Politico journalists Anna Palmer (left) and Jake Sherman (right) participated in a friendly political debate moderated by the NPMA’s Ashley Amidon, center. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Keynote speakers The Washington Post Columnist Michael Gerson and Governor Howard Dean flank the NPMA’s Vice President of Public Policy Ashley Amidon. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: EnviroPest’s Kevin Lemasters, and the NPMA’s Jake Plevelich and Ashley Amidon discuss strategy for Capitol Hill visits. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The keynote presentation by Michael Gerson and Howard Dean included talk of the upcoming presidential election. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The New England-based members of the NPMA represent at Legislative Day. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The Ohio contingent usually is one of the largest groups at Legislative Day. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania members of the NPMA take a photo break. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: North Carolina NPMA members gather at Legislative Day. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: NPMA members from Texas turned out at Legislative Day. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: NPMA members take a break at the Legislative Day Reception. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The Legislative Day Reception Monday evening gave attendees a relaxing space to network. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: NPMA members unwind at the Legislative Day Reception. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: NPMA Dominique Stumpf, center, mingles at the Legislative Day Reception on Monday. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: The NPMA’s Legislative Day event encourages members to get involved in regulatory issues. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Ty Ferraro, CSI’s director of marketing, introduced Legislative Day keynote speaker David Wasserman. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Keynote presenter and political analyst David Wasserman discussed the culture gap that was evident when Donald Trump ran for president in 2016. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Sign of the times: Many of the U.S. Representatives posted signs on their doors about their no-handshake policy, like this one on Bob Latta’s (R-Ohio), due to the Coronavirus. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Jackie Ramsey (left) and her father, Copesan Services’ Dave Ramsey (right), met with their state representative on Capitol Hill to help bring about change. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: MGK’s Steve Gullickson introduced the speakers at the NPMA’s Headquarters on the Hill luncheon the company sponsored. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) advised pest management professionals to think of themselves as educators when advocating for the pest control industry. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: Bob Casey (D-Pa.) told those gathered for the Headquarters on the Hill Luncheon that PMPs’ work may be appreciated more with the recent heightened awareness of public health. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

: MGK sponsored the NPMA’s Headquarters on the Hill luncheon. MGK staff on hand included (from left to right) Michael Burkett, Brian Krelitz, Steve Gullickson. PHOTO: PMP STAFF