PWIPM names 2021 Empowerment Grant Recipients

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Professional Women in Pest Management (PWIPM) named the 2021 Empowerment Grant Recipients.

The two grant winners are Janice Crisostomo, of Terminix Commercial, and Kristen Stevens, of Cook’s Pest Control.

PWIPM grants can help advance a career in the pest management industry or help to reduce the costs related to education. Grants are a minimum of $1,000 and include a free pass to attend the NPMA PestWorld 2021.

Janice Crisostomo

Crisostomo began her career in pest management in 2014 as the marketing manager for Copesan’s Operating Companies: Wil-Kil Pest Control and Holder’s Pest Solutions. Today, she leads client experience efforts as the marketing manager at Terminix Commercial.

She has her bachelor’s degree in communication studies and is actively pursuing her master’s degree in business administration.

Kristen Stevens

Stevens is the director of training at Cook’s Pest Control, where she oversees company-wide training and continuing education programs. She recently transitioned Cook’s Pest Control to a hybrid model of virtual and in-person instruction. Before joining Cook’s Pest Control in 2019, she served as technical director for Clegg’s Pest Control.

Stevens is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in adult education from Auburn University. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in entomology, with a specialization in urban pest management under Dr. Phil Koehler, from the University of Florida. She worked as a teaching assistant during her master’s program and has delivered numerous seminars, workshops and presentations at pest management conferences over the past six years.

Starting in 2022, the grants will be named as  Deni Naumann Women in Pest Management Empowerment Grants each year in honor of Deni Naumann, who gave so much to the pest management industry.

In addition, Kuyan Rider from Conquer Termites Northside won the 2021 Professional Women in Australian Pest Management Excellent Award. The award was sponsored by BASF.

Grant applications are being taken for the 2022 grants, due July 31, 2022, on the NPMA website.