Bug Off leader talks NYC rodents at Peru event

Andy Linares, founder and president of Bug Off Pest Control Center, recently expanded his international speaking circuit with a presentation and two roundtables at the 10th annual Peruplagas conference in Lima, Peru, which took place Sept. 4-5. This opportunity came as a direct result of his previous speaking engagements at Jornadas Técnicas Integrales Para Empresas de Control de Plagas in  Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Linares, who had spoken at the Argentinian conference both virtually and in-person in recent years, was invited to speak in Peru by the event’s organizers. Although the request came during a busy time of year, he was persuaded by their eagerness for him to participate. “They basically said we really want you,” Linares said. “So I said all right, let’s do it.”

The Peruplagas conference proved to be a significant event, drawing over 1,100 registrants across South America and featuring speakers from a dozen countries. The subject matter ranged from rodents and food safety to vector control and artificial intelligence. Linares served as the opening speaker, giving a presentation on the current state of rodent control in New York City. He also participated in two roundtable discussions, one on rodents and another on cockroaches.

Linares was impressed by the event’s organizers and the hospitality he received. “They really showed me pride of place, making me the opening speaker,” he said, noting the respect and accommodation he was shown throughout his visit.

Because he is fluent in Spanish and possesses a vast knowledge of the industry, Linares admits his travels to Latin America are part of an unexpected new role as a representative of U.S. pest management expertise. “I didn’t expect to be ‘Andy Linares, the face of US pest management in Latin America,’ but it’s looking like that,” he quips. “But I’m all right with that. I love to travel and have new experiences.”

After his return, Linares plunged back into preparations for his own event, the upcoming New York Pest Expo. Learn more about this Nov. 14 event at BugOffPCCenter.com/pest-management-new-york-pest-expo.