UK to offer series of virtual training events

LOGO: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

The University of Kentucky (UK) has announced an upcoming online training series for pest management professionals (PMPs) to earn continuing education units (CEUs).

The virtual series will take place every Friday during Oct. 23-Dec. 18, 2020 from 8-10 a.m. EST.

Training event topics will include: COVID-19 and Pest Control, Occasional Invaders and Pest Proofing, Pest Identification, New Products and Technology, Social Media and Pest Control, Technician Training and Reinforcement and Termites, Cockroaches, Ants, Bed Bugs, Spiders. (See below for a full list of sessions and speakers.)

The virtual events are co-hosted by the UK Department of Entomology and the Kentucky Pest Management Association (KPMA). PMPs can find out more and register for the series on the KPMA website.

Back in June, the UK announced that it would not be holding the 2020 Pest Control Short Course Nov. 5-7 as planned because of COVID-19 concerns and would be offering the virtual training webinars instead.

CEUs will be available for Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Michigan. Credits in other states can be requested by notifying the conference organizers.

“While we cannot let this virus interfere with the important services we provide, first and foremost, we have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of our attendees,” said Dr. Zach DeVries, urban entomologist for the state of Kentucky, and organizer and chair of the event. “This decision does not come lightly, and has been made to ensure all our attendees are able to continue working and protecting the health and well-being of those they serve.”

Next fall will be the event’s 50th anniversary. It is scheduled to take place Nov. 9-11, 2021.

Dr. DeVries, who succeeded PMP Hall of Famer Dr. Michael Potter (Class of 2012) at the University of Kentucky, notes the Pest Control Short Course has a reputation of being one of the premier training events in the country.

Here is a list of the virtual series for this fall with speakers and topics:

October 23

• 8-9 a.m. EST: A National Overview on COVID-19 and Pest Control
  Dr. Brittany Campbell (the National Pest Management Association)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: COVID-19 and Pest Control: Protecting Yourself and Your Business
  Panel: Dr. Brittany Campbell (the National Pest Management Association), Matt Snowball (Snowball Pest Control), and Matt Schaffer (IPM Pest and Termite)

October 30

• 8-9 a.m. EST: Managing Fall Insect Invaders
  Dr. Ric Bessin (University of Kentucky)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: Pest Proofing
  Matt Christensen (Truly Nolen & Critter Control)

November 6

• 8-9 a.m. EST: The Cryptic Biology & Habits of Termites and other WDIs
  Dr. Bob Davis (BASF)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: Integrated Termite Management for Structural Protection; Using Termite Biology to Transfer Control Agents
  Dr. Bob Davis (BASF)

November 13

• 8-9 a.m. EST: Cockroach 101: Back to the Basics
  Dr. Zachary DeVries (University of Kentucky)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: What you need to know to successfully manage ants
  Dr. Karen Vail (University of Tennessee)

November 20

• 8-9 a.m. EST: They’d be Cuter with Antennae: What this Entomologist has Learned about Spiders
  Mark VanderWerp (Rose Pest Solutions)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: Let’s See Some ID! Basic Arthropod Identification and the Benefits that Come with It
  Mark VanderWerp (Rose Pest Solutions)

December 4

• 8-9 a.m. EST: New Products and Technologies for PMP’s
  Scott Underwood (Oldham Chemicals)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: “I read it on the Internet (or heard it on a podcast), so it must be…”
  Dr. Faith Oi (University of Florida and PMP Hall of Famer Class of 2019)

December 11

• 8-9 a.m. EST: Bed Bugs: Biology, Behavior, Treatment Techniques and Considerations
  Dr. Angela Sierras (University of Kentucky)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: How to Implement a Progressive Bed Bug Program
  Jeff White (Bed Bug Central)

December 18

• 8-9 a.m. EST: Invisible Itches: The Pain and Problems of Delusional Parasitosis
  Dr. Jonathan Larson (University of Kentucky)
• 9-10 a.m. EST: Sometimes You Can’t Win: Knowing When to Walk Away
  Frank Fowler (McNeely Pest Control)

Find updates about other industry events impacted by COVID-19: Pandemic affects status of industry events

Read more COVID-19 coverage here: MyPMP.net/COVID-19