Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA) – 2013 State Technical Conference

For those of you who are tuning into this blog expecting to hear from Hunter, our Loyal K-9 Termite and Bedbug Detective, we ask for your patience and understanding. Hunter remains on a temporary work assignment in Florida until Nick and Gena Lupini, President and Vice-President respectively, of Loyal Termite and Pest Control, hire and train more staff. With the growing demand for our quality services; we are in need of 4 or 5 more top quality technicians. We are making progress, however; Nick and Gena insist on employing only people of equal character, work ethic and dedication to our customer’s needs as those technicians who have been working here for many years.

This is a difficult task that takes a lot of time and effort. Until the Lupini’s are completely satisfied with the new personnel hired and fully trained; will it then be time to bring Hunter back and put him on a full schedule sniffing out both Termites and Bedbugs. When he does get back, Hunter is going to be one busy hound dog. As you know, Hunter is not shy. He will be anxious to tell you all about what he is up to on a weekly basis and share his wealth of knowledge about the termite and the pest control business.

For now, he is still reporting to us via his very popular column, “Hunter’s Backyard”, in our monthly newsletter, The Loyal News (we are now up to 2,100+ monthly email recipients). I will be posting this blog, “What’s Buggin’ You?” in his absence. The name of the blog is the same, “What’s Buggin’ You?, because our company, Loyal Termite and Pest Control, has this name registered with the state of Virginia.

This is the last mention of Hunter in my substitute weekly blog; so, welcome to my second official company blog. When Hunter does get back, he will pick up where he left off with Hunter’s Blog, “What’s Buggin’ You?” #74.

Now back to the intended subject of this blog.

The Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA) held it’s Annual (2013) State Technical Meeting September 25th and 26th at the Sheraton Park South Hotel in Richmond, VA. Gena Lupini is beginning the second year of her 2 year term as President of the VPMA. Nick Lupini, is beginning his second of a 2-year term as Education Committee Chairman of the VPMA. Nationally the Lupini name is well known throughout the pest control industry. Joe Lupini, Nick’s Dad, now retired, was very active in both the Virginia and National Associations. Now Nick and Gena are continuing in roles as active leaders, and are highly respected by the industry rank and file.

Over 30 vendors attended the conference displaying various products used every day by the attendees; some just hitting the market for the first time. It is a great opportunity for the conference attendees to become acquainted and re-acquainted with the latest products and methods to better serve their customers.

During the two days; expert speakers were scheduled through Nick’s committee, who spoke on many subjects from how to organize and lead your company to success, time management, and organizational skills, the Power of Positive Thinking, to ways to sharpen your sales and marketing techniques in order to increase revenue and profits.

Gena has proven to be a real “pro” during her stewardship as President of the VPMA. She has been instrumental in building increased VPMA membership, a hardworking and responsible leader, and during the first evening of the conference at “Pest Fest” (the Industry Banquet), through the efforts of Gena and her supporting cast, raised over $5,000 for the VPMA Scholarship Fund. The fund supports students who are working on breakthrough solutions to many of the problems and challenges facing today’s PMP’s. Gena is held in very high regard by the VPMA rank and file.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the fantastic food provided by Mickey Lyles and his crew. I came away 5 lbs. heavier than I was before I got there. He had everything from smoked and BBQ cured bacon and sausage in the morning to hickory smoked pork, chicken, beans, and all the other fixins at the evening banquet. It was all fantastic!

All in all the 2013 VPMA State Technical Conference was a tremendous success!!