PMP Publisher and Editorial Director Marty Whitford emceed the presentations given by partner companies. PHOTO: PMP STAFF
The primary purpose of Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) Growth Summit is to bring together supplier partners and company owners in one-on-one meetings, where they can tailor their conversations to specific needs. It’s a departure from the typical trade show atmosphere, where partners need to take care of a volume of interested customers, and company owners as a result might not be able to get their immediate questions answered.
The mix of partners and attendees each year is designed to expose new companies to new opportunities, as well as offer those with existing supplier relationships the chance to revisit where they are with having their needs met, find out what’s new, and strengthen their working relationships.
The boardroom presentations were our first order of business at the Growth Summit, to give an overall “elevator pitch” from each partner so attendees were better informed when they attended their individual meetings, and could jump right into what their specific needs were.
With the exception of Kness Manufacturing, maker of KritterSense and other products, whose representative’s plane arrival unfortunately did not allow participation, here’s just a glimpse of what each partner presented:
Bird Barrier America: Technical Specialist Ray Olschewski, ACE, broke out into a rap about the products his Carson, Calif.-based manufacture. (Editor’s Note: Visit PMP’s YouTube channel to hear a recreation of his masterpiece.)
ConidioTec: During his presentation, CEO Don McCandless played a short video that explained how Aprehend, a fungal biopesticide containing “millions of tiny spores,” works to control bed bug populations.
Control Solutions Inc. (CSI): Marketing Director Ty Ferraro showed attendees the state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at CSI’s Pasadena, Texas, headquarters, noting its various training offerings and new products for insect control.
J.T. Eaton: Pro Division Sales Manager Joe Smith outlined how the 88-year-old, family-owned manufacturer, based in Twinsburg, Ohio, creates many of its rodent control and other product innovations based on customer need and feedback.
LabelSDS.com: President and CEO Chip Hughes entered to the theme of the “Shark Tank” TV show, part of a theme for the company’s branding throughout the event. The former PMP explained how his customizable label and safety data sheet database solution helps companies.
The boardroom was filled to capacity. Here, Zoëcon’s Tony Schultz does his presentation. PHOTO: PMP STAFF
Lytx: Regional Sales Manager Nicholas Freeman explained how Lytx’s award-winning video telematics and analytics offerings can reduce insurance costs, improve driver behavior and increase safety.
Neogen: National Sales Manager Casey Prewitt explained how his Lansing, Mich.-based manufacturing company offers food and animal safety products in addition to several products specifically for PMPs.
Nisus Corp.: Territory Manager Charlene Mertz came bearing gifts — Stellar golf shoe bags and Nisus logo golf towels. She also noted the availability of empty Niban Comfort Grip service containers for PMPs to refill with Niban for use in the field.
PelGar International: Americas Business Manager Andrej Branc gave an overview of his company’s history, its current facilities — including a “rat farm” in the UK — and its research-focused future on a global level.
PestRoutes and Lobster Marketing: PestRoutes VP Chase Kincaid and Key Account Manager Mark Stewart, along with Lobster Marketing Account Executive Ryan Drury, explained how their companies’ “marriage” helps PMPs not only with billing, routing and scheduling, but using customer data to integrate marketing strategies.
Slingshot: Chris Huntsman described how the company he co-founded “about six years ago in my bedroom” took more than 1 million calls and did more than $50 million in residential sales last year, thanks to its 24/7 sales and lead capture, live webchat, emergency dispatch service and more.
Zoëcon Professional Products: Florida Sales Manager Bill Barrs and Business Manager Tony Schultz noted the company’s history in developing insect growth regulators (IGRs), and its current offerings of IGRs and other insect control solutions.
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