Industry leaders honored at 2026 Legislative Day

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recently announced the recipients of two prestigious industry awards at its annual Legislative Day conference in Washington, D.C.

The Policy Person of the Year Award was presented to Adam Carace, and the David Cooksey PestVet of the Year Award was presented to David Poplin. Both awards are sponsored by Envu.

Policy Person of the Year: Adam Carace, ACE

Adam Carace, CEO of Pest-End, was recognized for his exceptional contributions to NPMA’s public policy efforts. After taking on the State and Provincial Affairs Representative (SPAR) role for the New England Pest Management Association (NEPMA), Carace quickly distinguished himself as a voice amplifier — growing the participation of fellow NEPMA member companies in public policy discussions across the region.

In October 2025, Carace organized and hosted the first-ever Massachusetts Hill Day, a landmark achievement for NEPMA and a model for state-level advocacy engagement. He serves as Chair of Public Policy for NEPMA and is a member of the NPMA Public Policy Committee.

David Cooksey PestVet of the Year: David Poplin

David Poplin, CEO of Legion Pest Management, was honored for his outstanding service to both the pest management industry and the veteran community. A Marine Corps veteran with four years of service, Poplin has built his Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business around a commitment to veteran employment, holding more than 49 Department of Veterans Affairs pest management contracts across the United States.

Poplin is also co-owner of Revolution National Pest Council (RNPC), a pest control trade school and approved SkillBridge program that helps service members transition from active duty into careers in pest management. RNPC has received the Hire Vets Medallion Award for eight consecutive years. Beyond his businesses, Poplin has served more than six years with American Legion Post 852 and has contributed over $8,500 through his foundation to MilVet, a community organization supporting active duty personnel worldwide. He was recognized with a Veteran Service Award from the California State Senate in 2017.

About the National Pest Management Association

The National Pest Management Association is a non-profit organization with more than 4,000 members. It was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property from the diseases and dangers of pests. The association has had many notable leaders over the years, including Pest Management Professional Hall of Famers Bill Buettner (Class of 1998), Dr. Ralph Heal (Class of 2003), Dr. Phil Spear (Class of 2004) and Bob Rosenberg (Class of 2013), to name just a few.