PCT Announces Winner of 15th Annual Photo Contest
Ed Freytag, senior entomologist at the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board, wins PCT's annual contest with a beautiful photo he submitted of an acorn weevil.
Brad Harbison
Awards People
The winning entry in this year's PCT photo contest — an acorn weeveil snapped by Ed Freytag, senior entomologist at the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board — was not even Freytag's intended target. Freytag took this photo in late August at the Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch in Rockbridge, Mo., in the afternoon while he was trying to capture photos of catalpa caterpillars using a macro setup.
"I spotted the weevil under the leaves of the catalpa tree and proceeded to poke it with a small stick to make it move on the top of the leaf for a better shot," Freytag said. "It wasn't too happy about getting prodded but it finally settled down and gave me a few opportunity shots, this one being the best pose."
Freytag said he was impressed most by "how the body was covered in scales and hairs, not easily seen until after I reviewed the picture on the camera's LCD screen."
Here's a sampling of what PCT's judges had to say about the winning photo:
"The contrast of the brown insect against the rich green leaf creates a striking image."
"Love the detail in this photo, from the grooves on its body to the drop of moisture on the leaf."
Freytag has been with the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board for the last 27 years and his research and field work focuses on those "big 3" pests, as well as other problematic vermin in the city's 300 facilities. As winner, Freytag receives $500 from PCT. His photo will be showcased in March PCT, along with photos of the 10 finalists (also online here).
CDC Issues Zika Virus Update for Spring Travelers
Experts say that the Zika virus has never been totally eliminated in 30 Caribbean islands and 18 countries in South America.
CDC warns that there could be chances that the Zika virus might be active again in Spring. The CDC previously warned people travelling in Brazil and the Caribbean because of the Zika Virus outbreaks. Zika virus prone areas lost 30% of their regular profits. While Zika free zones like Hawaii earned twice as they used to.
Experts say that the Zika virus has never been totally eliminated 30 Caribbean islands and 18 countries in South America. And the disease seems to turn up in everywhere from Southeast Asia to the South Pacific. Zika stories are not heard lately, because during winter mosquitos do not thrive.
However, regardless of this, between the months of November and January, the CDC recorded almost 4000 cases of Zika virus. The Zika zones involved are US, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. The disease is more alarming than previously known. It is not similar to other diseases that are contained geographically. Other mosquito-borne diseases like malaria or dengue fever carry less blemish because they are curable.
Inspect-All Services Named to the Bulldog 100
The Bulldog 100 is a list of the fastest growing businesses owned or operated by a University of Georgia graduate.
ATHENS, Ga. — Inspect-All Services, headquartered in Conyers, Ga.,, was recognized as the No. 41 fastest growing business owned or operated by a University of Georgia graduate during the 2017 Bulldog 10 Celebration on February 4 at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta.
Inspect-All Services, co-owned by siblings and UGA graduates, Brandon Lunsford and Brian Lunsford, serves Greater Atlanta, GA and Jacksonville, FL and specializes in pest control, home inspections and lawn care. This is the company's seventh year in-a-row being named to the Bulldog 100.
The Bulldog 100, a program coordinated by the UGA Alumni Association, recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA graduates.
Approximately 490 nominations were submitted for the 2017 Bulldog 100. The class includes companies of all sizes, providing services and products in a variety of industries, including real estate, law, IT, consulting, retail
and pest control. Companies as far west as California and as far northeast as New York, made the list this year.
The average compounded annual growth rate for this year's Bulldog 100 businesses was 44 percent.
To recognize the 100 businesses and the 131 alumni who lead them, the UGA Alumni Association hosted the 2017 Bulldog 100 Celebration February 4 in Atlanta. This year's keynote speaker was Debbie Storey, retired Executive Vice President of AT&T Mobility Customer Service and author of the book Don't Downsize Your Dreams. Storey spoke about the importance of strong vision, adaptability and creative thinking in an everchanging economic and technological landscape.
"The UGA Alumni Association is excited to honor our graduates who are founding and leading these prosperous enterprises," Ruth Bartlett, president of the UGA Alumni Association board, said. "It is inspiring to
see the influence these businesses have on our students. Student participation in Bulldog 100 allows our
scholars a unique opportunity to network with these accomplished business leaders, and also to observe the best examples of success from people who once were where they are now."
To view the complete list of 2017 Bulldog 100 businesses, photos from the event or nominate a business for the 2018 Bulldog 100, see www.alumni.uga.edu/b100.
NPMA Announces 2017-2018 Board of Directors Nominees
The NPMA Board of Directors has ratified the candidates recommended by the NPMA Nominating Committee for the national offices of the Board of Directors.
The following is a list of nominees for 2017-2018 Board of Directors.
The Secretary shall be responsible for the recording and distribution of all minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Membership, and declaring a quorum for the respective meetings.
Scott Steckel, Varment Guard Environmental Services, Inc., Columbus, OH
REGIONAL DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
REGION ONE
CT, DC, DE, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI
Sarah Thomas-Clark, Thomas Pest Services, Inc., Albany, NY
Brian Alonso, Columbus Pest Control, Inc., Columbus, OH
REGION FOUR
AR, AS, AZ, GU, LA, MH, MP, MS, NM, OK, TX
Fred Willey, Invader Pest Management, Inc., Glendale, AZ
Tommy Cantu, Bug Off Pest Control, Pharr, TX
AT-LARGE DIRECTORS
Jerry Batzner, Batzner Pest Control, Inc., Waukesha, WI
Vic Charles, ServiceMaster, Memphis, TN
Chris Christensen, Truly Nolen of America, Inc., Lexington, AZ
Gary Gillen, Gillen Pest Control, Inc., Richmond, TX
Faye Golden, Cook's Pest Control, Inc., Decatur, AL
Suzanne Graham, Massey Services, Inc., Orlando, FL
Dayton Hylton, Dayton's Pest Control Services, Inc., Knoxville, TN
Kevin Lemasters, EnviroPest, Loveland, CO
Jason Payne, Payne Pest Management, Inc., San Diego, CA
Jim Steed, Neighborly Pest Management, Inc., Roserville, CA
PAST PRESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Laura Simpson, Dugas Pest Control of Baton Rouge, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA
The Board of Directors election will be held this Spring, via online voting. (To ensure you have the opportunity to vote, please make sure we have your proper email. Please take a moment to update and review your member profile at www.npmapestworld.org. Click here for instructions on how to update your profile.)
Additionally, any 25 Regular Members, not more than 10 of whom are within any one Region, may nominate any qualified Regular Member as a candidate for Secretary or At-Large Director. Such nominations shall be made by filing a written petition with the Chief Executive Officer no later than 15 days after the names of nominated candidates are announced. The name of any Regular Members so nominated shall be included together with the names of those nominated by the Nominating Committee and ratified by the Board in the report of nominations to the membership. Any 10 Regular Members within a Region, not more than six of whom are from any one state in the Region, may nominate any qualified candidate for a Regional Director position provided a written petition is filed with the Chief Executive Officer no later 15 days after the names of nominated candidates are announced.
Written petitions must be submitted by February 28 to:
Dominique Stumpf, Chief Executive Officer
NPMA
10460 North Street Fairfax, VA 22030
For additional questions, contact NPMA at (703) 352-6762.
Stuart Mitchell Earns Fellow Status in American Psychotherapy Association
Fellow status is reserved for individuals who meet the stringent requirements of the association in areas of knowledge, skill, education, training and experiences in the therapeutic process.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Dr. Stuart Mitchell of Des Moines, Iowa, has been awarded Fellow status in the American Psychotherapy Association. Fellow status is reserved for individuals who meet the stringent requirements of the association in areas of knowledge, skill, education, training and experiences in the therapeutic process.
The American Psychotherapy Association is an international membership association developed to bring together professionals from a variety of disciples to advance the profession of psychotherapy and elevated standards of practice.
Learn more at http://www.americanpsychotherapy.com/