CSI president on innovation, post-patent and working with PMPs

Trey Kendrick on innovation, realignment and the PMP as “co-engineer”

In October, Pest Management Professional (PMP) sat down with Trey Kendrick at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) PestWorld conference in Orlando, Fla. Kendrick recently took the helm at Control Solutions Inc. (CSI). Below is an excerpt of our Q&A with the new president and CEO of the Pasadena, Texas-based hybrid manufacturer of post-patent and innovative broad-spectrum specialty chemical solutions.

Key takeaways

• Pest control has advanced rapidly: The industry has seen rapid development in equipment, technology and application techniques, leading to more targeted, effective and eco-friendly solutions.
• CSI is a hybrid supplier: CSI-Pest has transformed its business model from a purely post-patent formulator to a hybrid supplier of both novel and post-patent products.
• PMPs are “co-engineers”: CSI considers its customers to be co-engineers and a key part of its research and development team, leveraging PMPs’ knowledge to test and fine-tune products.

The evolving professional pest control industry

Kendrick was promoted to CSI president and CEO from his previous role as the head of Alligare, CSI’s sibling company focused on industrial vegetation management. Before that, he helped steer growth at a few of CSI’s four core business units: CSI-Pest, Quali-Pro, Production Animal Health and Martin’s consumer products.

PMP: What’s changed since you last worked for CSI?

Kendrick: What hasn’t changed? For CSI-Pest, professional pest control has become far more sophisticated. The pest control equipment and solutions PMPs use daily, including the technologies and techniques they deploy for training, inspections and applications in the field, have advanced rapidly. Delivery systems are more targeted, eco-friendly and effective.

At CSI-Pest, we continue to invest in innovation so our industry can climb to new heights in protecting public health, property, food sources and the environment. I expect this change to continue, which is good for all because progress requires change.

Innovation and CSI-Pest’s hybrid strategy

PMP: Can you please share a few examples of CSI-Pest’s commitment to change by continually investing in innovation?

Kendrick: Vector Kleer, a botanical mosquito control solution and Fuse Cockroach Gel Bait are just two of CSI-Pest’s recent launches. Our dry flowable baits — Doxem Precise for cockroaches and Taurus Dry for termites — and our novel bait Precision Delivery System (PDS) are additional examples of CSI-Pest breakthrough technologies. These are proven to save PMPs time, labor and materials, while optimizing control.

CSI-Pest has transformed from being a purely post-patent pest control solutions formulator into a hybrid supplier, with quite a stable of novel products. This includes our Encapsulated Solutions, Combination Chemistry, Bait Solutions and Pressurized Solutions. All of this innovation requires continual and considerable investments in research and development (R&D), equipment and people, but the dividends for all stakeholders are self-evident.

Why the ADAMA professional solutions realignment matters

ADAMA also appointed Kendrick to lead its newly formed ADAMA Professional Solutions Commercial Unit (APS CU), which essentially combines CSI and Alligare.

PMP: What drove this realignment — other than, of course, your leadership experience across these rapidly growing business segments?

Kendrick: Our APS CU alignment is all about we, not me. It is designed to leverage global resources, broaden access to ADAMA’s arsenal of active ingredients and further streamline the process of bringing both innovative and post-patent specialty chemical solutions to market.

It’s critical to note that “we” includes our customers. They are our co-engineers, a key part of our R&D team. We leverage PMPs’ knowledge and experience to test and fine-tune products. Listening closely to the voice of the customer — beginning early on in product development and continuing to solicit and process feedback after it’s on the market — paves the way for successful launches and product enhancements.

From technician to CEO

The deep focus on customer input is a natural fit for Kendrick, who started his career in the field.

PMP: Rumor has it that in high school, you worked at Ford’s Pest Control in Pasadena. That service company was launched by Richard Boyd, the father of Mark Boyd, CSI’s founder and past president and CEO (who retired in September). Is this true?

Kendrick: It’s a small world, especially in the close-knit pest control industry. The rumor is true! I was a service technician at Ford’s Pest Control. I also helped mix products when the Boyds began to sell their chemicals to other pest control service providers.

Later, I was at the management table when Mark officially launched CSI in 1998. I was fortunate to work beside Mark for many years. I look back on those years with gratitude. I learned so much from Mark about the pest control, turf care and animal health markets. I consider that time the ultimate master class in specialty chemicals formulation and business management. I know I have big shoes to fill, but that’s how we roll in Texas. Go big or go home.

PMP: Is there anything you’d like to share with our 36,000-plus readers/PMPs, co-engineers of CSI-Pest’s ever-expanding portfolio?

Kendrick: Thank you for partnering with us! We pledge to continue to listen closely to you and deliver your needs and wants. Stay tuned, because the best is yet to come.