IN MEMORIAM: Bob Rosenberg

Bob Rosenberg

Bob Rosenberg, former CEO of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and longtime advocate for the structural pest control industry, died at age 72 on Sept. 10.

Rosenberg’s career with NPMA spanned more than 27 years. Prior to being appointed as NPMA CEO in 2013, he served as senior vice president for government affairs. His career was founded on building bridges between industry, academia and government agencies. His storied career was highlighted by receiving the NPMA Pinnacle Award, the association’s highest honor, in 2015.

“We are deeply saddened by Bob’s passing, but know that his legacy will live on through the important work that NPMA continues to do today as an advocate for the professional pest management industry,” Dominique Stumpf, NPMA’s CEO and successor to Rosenberg, said in the news release. “His ability to lead was second only to his charisma and ability to communicate. Bob had a true knack for connecting with people and rallying them to a common cause, which was integral to his success in government affairs and NPMA leadership.”

Rosenberg was a renowned industry leader not only nationally, but worldwide. He was inducted into the Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP) Hall of Fame in 2013. Rosenberg and fellow Hall of Famer (Class of 2014) Gene Harrington were longtime columnists for PMP in the 2000s.

Among other accolades, he was inducted into the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials’ (ASPCRO’s) Hall of Fame and served as a longtime member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee.

“Every month for several years, either then-Editor-in-Chief Lisa Shaheen or I would have a phone call with Bob and Gene to write up their column question-and-answer style,” recalls PMP magazine Editor-in-Chief Heather Gooch. “Both were so knowledgeable about what was going on in Washington, and passionate about ensuring our industry voice was heard. Even though I know he was enjoying retirement, Bob will be dearly missed by many of us in pest control.”

Check out his speech when he was inducted in the PMP Hall of Fame in 2013: