What PMPs should prioritize in 2024

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We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members share what they think pest management professionals (PMPs) should prioritize in 2024. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our January 2024 print edition.

Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic: Reader poll: What should PMPs prioritize in 2024?

PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board and Regular Contributors

Foster Brusca: “The pest control industry is ever-changing and evolving, so ongoing training and education is crucial in 2024. This will not only enhance the expertise of pest management professionals (PMPs), but also ensure they can adapt to evolving challenges and changes in legislation and restrictions on certain pesticides — as well as be able to employ the latest technologies and maintain the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility.”

Paul Hardy

Paul Hardy: “Because it’s an election year, we can expect to see many strange things. 2024 is the year of holding onto your bridle: Employee retention is going to be critical; many large and small companies will be cutting back on costs; and current customers will be tightening their belts as costs keep going up.”

Sheri Spencer Bachman: “Prioritizing planning is essential. Develop comprehensive daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly plans aligned with your goals, rather than merely reacting to daily, weekly or monthly challenges. Time is invaluable and cannot be purchased. Inadequate or absent planning robs us of our precious time.”

Greg Baumann: “Customer retention through stellar customer service. Keeping customers is much less expensive than obtaining new customers.”

Dr. Faith Oi

Doug Foster: “Every owner needs to take a hard look at their organization and see what’s important to them. I’m prioritizing my most important asset: my staff. We are investing in increased training, compensation, benefits and a supportive environment at work.”

Dr. Faith Oi: “Education and training that will prevent callbacks and help troubleshooting in the field.”

Pete Schopen: “With the continued struggle to find employees, the focus should be on keeping the people we already have. ‘Stay interviews,’ goal mapping, leadership training and creating core values are all things owners should be doing to keep their people focused and energized.”