Highlights from 88th Annual Purdue University Pest Management Conference

The Resource Shop’s Jeff McGovern kicked off the conference this morning with a talk about doing pest control in small spaces. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Sage advice from Jeff McGovern: It beats getting roofing nails in your leg. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

As has become tradition at the Purdue Conference, a year-in-review video by Rose Pest Solutions’ Mark VanderWerp, BCE, provides both info and comic relief. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

University of Florida’s Dr. Faith Oi, a PMP EAB member, delivers the Purdue Conference keynote on the topic of what the One Health concept means to PMPs. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

The after-lunch sessions on Day One of the Purdue Pest Management Conference: PMP EAB member and columnist Pete Schopen, RV There Yet Consulting, introduces fellow EAB member Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, BCE, Rose Pest Solutions. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

PMP’s Pete Schopen moderates a panel of cockroach experts. Seated from left are Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar, Purdue; Mark Sheperdigian, BCE, Rose Pest Solutions; Morgan Wilson, Virginia Tech; and PMP columnist Dr. Michael Bentley, BCE, NPMA. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Jeff McGovern is back onstage with a variety of new tools and tech for Purdue Conference attendees, including the new Ferret Tools inspection camera. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

PMP’s Mike Joyce is ready for the exhibit hall hours at the magazine’s booth at Purdue University. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Purdue Conference attendees play cornhole at the opening night reception, courtesy of industry fraternity Pi Chi Omega. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

A closer look at the customer cornhole boards. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Pi Chi Omega Executive Director Andrea Coron awarded a water bottle to  Monday’s top cornhole winner, Kevin Nichelson, operations manager of Reliable Pest Solutions in Hannibal, Mo. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

From left are Rob Jackson, IPMA vice president and Jackson Pest Management; Desiree Straubinger, Pi Chi Omega president, PMP EAB member and BASF; Doug Foster, IPMA education chair, PMP EAB member and owner of Burt’s Pest Control; and Carrie Campbell, Hatfield Pest Control and president of IPMA. Burt’s Pest Control and IPMA created a new scholarship for Pi Chi Omega, as announced at the latter’s membership meeting Monday evening. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Rentokil Initial’s Dr. Cassie Krejci, immediate past president of Pi Chi Omega, kicked off Day Two of the Purdue Pest Management Conference, presenting “Doing the Math.” PHOTO: PMP STAFF

FMC’s Eric Ham is speaking on truck equipment and safety, but gave Purdue Conference attendees a bonus safety lesson on avoiding eye strain. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

PMP’s editor-in-chief, Heather Gooch, moderates presentations at the conference Tuesday morning. PHOTO: PETE SCHOPEN

Grace Kolb received the graduate assistantship award named in honor of PMP Hall of Famer Dr. Gary Bennett, BCE. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

PMP Magazine scholarship recipients with PMP editor-in-chief Heather Gooch (middle). Ryan Beard (left) is an entomology grad student studying billbugs and other turf pests, while Lide Bi (right) is starting his doctorate in medical entomology, studying Aedes egypti. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Dr. Linda Mason is dean of Purdue’s Graduate School who received the 25-year award for 25 years of attending the Purdue Conference. PMP Hall of Famers Dr. Gary Bennett and Bob Dold Sr. received recognition for 55 and 58 years of Purdue Conference attendance, respectively, among other multi-decade honorees. PHOTO: PMP STAFF

Three of the 10-year award winners in attendance included, from left, Greg Strohl, Pest Management Supply territory manager; Chris Daugherty, pest control and equipment repair specialists at Indiana University Bloomington; and Dave Johnson, North Central region manager at AP&G. PHOTO: PMP STAFF