PCT Radio Network

Suzy Rayner, owner of Valkyrie Pest Solutions, Manitoba, Canada, shared how her homelessness experience has shaped her into the pest control owner and operator she is today, using a trauma-informed approach when working with customers in low-income housing.

Mike Thome and Jen Sweeney-Ingram of UPMTC chat with Mark "Shep" Sheperdigian, Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich. Sheperdigian shares how he got started in pest control, favorite pest encounters, the importance of the "people side" of pest control and what all is involved in his current role as chief science officer.

After nearly 50 years working in the business, Gary Blankenship of Lexington, Ky.-based Guarantee Pest Control recently sold his second generation family business to Scherzinger Pest Control in Cincinnati, Ohio. PCT interviewed Blankenship at the UK Short Course to reflect on his pest control journey, the benefits of attending state and regional meetings for continued growth in the industry and his plans for retirement.

Sydney Crawley, principal vector scientist with Rentokil Terminix, shares how pest activity continues and, in some cases, increases during the winter months, challenging the common belief that pests slow down in cold weather.

Horner, vice president of government affairs & industry stewardship, Arrow Exterminators, was recognized by PCT and Syngenta during the Crown Leadership Awards ceremony at PestWorld, in Orlando.

Hosts Mike Thome and Jen Sweeney-Ingram of UPMTC sit down with Jeff Weier, BCE, consultant and technical director emeritus for Sprague Pest Solutions, to explore Weier’s 50+ year journey through the evolution of pest management.

At the 2025 University of Kentucky Short Course held in Lexington, Ky., Dr. Faith Oi, UF/IFAS extension associate professor, discussed the future of pest control and using integrated pest management on a global health scale under one framework: One Health. PCT interviewed Oi on this developing concept and the role it plays in the future of pest management.

In the following Q&A interview with Jim Fredericks, executive director of the Professional Pest Management Alliance, he shared more about the Alliance's rebranding, the culmination of months of strategic planning sessions, board collaboration and extensive member feedback.

Anneke Cannon, chief operating officer, Sage Pest Control, sat on a panel at NPMA Academy in Palm Springs, Calif., focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and ways fast-growing pest control companies are using AI to enhance operations while keeping a personalized feel to their company’s messaging. PCT interviewed Cannon to learn more about this AI practice.

Beyond the Pest podcast hosts and UPMTC members Mike Thome and Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram sat down with industry veteran Pat Hottel to discuss her entomology career, experiences in Bermuda that kickstarted her pest control journey, the evolution of women in the pest control and more.

At NPMA 30th Academy event, PCT interviewed Julie Tesh-Clark of Pest Management Systems, Inc. (PMi) about some of the company’s outreach efforts, working alongside her father to grow the family business and the impact Academy has left on her leadership style, team-building skills and personal development.

PCT interviewed Russell Hand, service manager for New Jersey-based Viking Pest Control, at NPMA Academy about how heavy precipitation extreme weather patterns led to heavy pest pressure. Hand also discussed Viking's integrated approach to mosquito management.

In PCT’s September issue, readers shared memorable wildlife experiences with these oftentimes unpredictable animals. In the following video interview, PCT interviewed Scott Hornemann of Adam’s Pest Control, Medina, Minn., to hear more about one of his first experiences working with bats lurking in an attic.

Jen Jackson, general manager of Jackson Pest Management, Leo, Ind., attended the NPMA Women’s Forum in Austin, Texas, as an Impact Award recipient. PCT interviewed Jackson on her role in the second-generation company and how Jackson and her husband, Rob, have grown the business and created a work-life balance in their careers.

Beyond the Pest podcast hosts and UPMTC members Mike Thome, technical services manager, Rentokil, and Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram, technical director of All-American Pest Control, sat down with Jeremy Southgate of Abell Pest Control to discuss his career and the importance of earning his Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) credentials.

Bobby and Raleigh Jenkins, owners of ABC Home & Commercial Services in Austin and Houston, Texas, made a 5,500 mile bicycle trek from Anchorage, Ala., departing on June 19, with a planned arrival in College Station, Texas, on Sept. 6

Prestige Pest Control in Pooler, Ga., was founded by husband and wife duo Marty and Cindy Jones in 1986. PCT interviewed Cindy on her 40-year pest control career and her firsthand experience on the evolution of women in the industry.

Cassidy Roberson, director of customer experience at Green Pest Solutions in Kansas City, attended the NPMA Women’s Forum to learn more about hiring and retaining women in the pest control industry. In the following video interview, Roberson shared her experiences as a third generation family member in the business and her hopes to bring more women to the industry.

Accel Pest & Termite Control won PCT's 2025 Best Places to Work (Medium-Sized Company). PCT interviewed Accel’s Vice President of Administration and Finance Wendy Lund on the company’s focus on employee retention through earned trips and high-energy culture.

PCT interviewed Allison Beach, technical specialist, Rose Pest Solutions, Chicago, at NPMA Academy. Beach discussed her lifelong passion for entomology, attending Purdue University’s entomology program and using her academic experience in pest biology to provide technical resources for Rose employees.

In the second episode of Beyond the Pest podcast, hosts and UPMCT members Mike Thome, technical services manager, Rentokil, and Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram, technical director of All-American Pest Control, Nashville, Tenn., sat down with Bob Gilbert, staff entomologist and technical trainer for Blue Sky Pest Control, based in Phoenix, Ariz.

In the first episode of Beyond the Pest podcast, hosts and UPMCT members Mike Thome, technical services manager, Rentokil, and Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram, technical director of All-American Pest Control, Nashville, Tenn., sat down with Jay Everitt, technical director, Rottler Pest Solutions, to discuss his pest control career at the St. Louis-based company.

In this introductory podcast, hosts and UPMCT members Mike Thome, technical services manager, Rentokil, and Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram, technical director of All-American Pest Control, Nashville, Tenn., discuss UPMTC is and what subscribers can expect to hear in future podcasts.

At NPMA Women's Forum in Austin, Aly Silva-Mulgrew, president, Plunkett’s Pest Control, Minneapolis, Minn., spoke on a panel about investing in leadership growth and being your own advocate in career progression.

PCT interviewed Wakon Childers, CEO, Bowman Termite & Pest Management, Wailuku, Hawaii, at NPMA Legislative Day on regulatory challenges PCOs face working in Hawaii, and the impact of the deadly wildfires that engulfed the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in August 2023.

PCT interviewed Richard Christner, co-owner, Whitmore Pest and Wildlife Control, Denver, Colo., at NPMA’s Legislative Day on the affect Colorado's roll back on state preemption could have on business growth and his experience on communicating effectively with legislators on pest control and public health.

Jonathan Richardson, professor, University of Richmond, gave a presentation at PestWorld 2024 on his research investigating the zoonotic disease risk of rising rodent populations in Virginia, and the implications for rodent infestations in other major cities.

Spring's in full swing! With warmer and wetter climates approaching in the spring and summer months, NPMA's Public Health Pest Index and Bug Barometer warns of increased pressure from mosquitoes, ticks, cockroaches and rodents.

In the following video, PCT talked with Rentokil’s Michael Thome, A.C.E., about the importance of small fly identification, customer communication on proper sanitation and locating the breeding source for long-term control.

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jacob Kulzer, vice president of operations, North America at Ecolab, was presented with the 2025 David Cooksey PestVet of the Year Award at NPMA's Legislative Day.

Sydney Crawley, principal vector scientist, Rentokil Terminix, shared updates on Rentokil Terminix and the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit’s joint effort against dengue fever-carrying mosquitoes swarming the U.S. territory, collaborative research efforts with the CDC and thinking ahead to leverage technology for more sustainable pest control practices.

Justin McCauley, CEO of McCauley Services in Benton, Ark., was named NPMA's 2025 Policy Person of the Year at Legislative Day in Washington D.C. PCT interviewed McCauley on the meaning of earning this award and his experience working on legislative issues in Arkansas.

PCT interviewed Christian Allan, owner, Tailor Made Pest Control, Lexington, Ky., at the UK Short Course. Allan shared how the company has doubled yearly revenues thanks to its recurring service model, wildlife service offerings and recent acquisition of Swat Team Pest Control.

American Pest President Kevin Poland shared how the company has grown over the last 100 years from acquisitions, putting a focus on employee training and being an Anticimex company.

In the following interview at PestWorld in Denver, Colo., Hoffman's Exterminating's Eve Pappas shared her goals on wanting to continue helping grow and scale pest control businesses and develop the next generation of leaders in the pest control industry.

At PestWorld 2024, PCT interviewed Evens Clerjuste, owner of Universal Pest Control, Princeton, N.J., on how he got started in the pest control industry, his journey on starting his own pest control company and the importance of clearly communicating with employees.

PCT published the 2025 State of the Termite Control Market Report, sponsored by BASF, in PCT’s February issue. In this video, Dr. Freder Medina, B.C.E., BASF technical market manager, discusses termite control treatment options, weather impacts on termite swarms, BASF products PMPs can use and more.

In the following video interview, Truly Nolen's David Schupp shared his first-hand experience treating an invasive termite species infestation and working with Florida state departments to solve the issue. That experience was chronicled in a February PCT feature.

PCT visited the Rentokil Terminix Innovation Center in Dallas, Texas, to tour the facility and interview team members about research being conducted in the labs and how they have welcomed pest management professionals (PMPs) into the center for continued training and collaboration.

In the following online extra podcast, PCT interviewed Newell to discuss the topic further on best practices PMPs can implement during commercial building inspections, how and why pests enter a commercial space to begin with and some unique challenges Newell faces as a technical services manager.

Sterling Barbour, president of Revolution National Pest Council, was recognized by PCT and Syngenta during the Crown Leadership Awards ceremony at PestWorld in Denver.

Zach DeVries, assistant professor of urban entomology at University of Kentucky, was recognized by PCT and Syngenta during the Crown Leadership Awards ceremony at PestWorld in Denver.