Pest Management Professional, December 2017

COVER STORY Like family Target Specialty Products President Todd Ferguson presented Kelley Tunis with the 2017 NPMA Women of Excellence Award kim kelley tunis has grown to love the industry which is like family By John Walsh Contributing Editor A s the oldest of three children and the daughter of a science teacher Kim Kelley Tunis ACE BCE spent a lot of her childhood in Terre Haute Ind outdoors In elementary and high school she gravitated toward science and nature studies When Kelley Tunis enrolled at Purdue University West Lafayette Ind she started in pre veterinary She soon realized though that other topics piqued her interest She switched her major to wildlife science During the summer between junior and senior years she took a job in the entomology department which required to her to travel to Gary Ind to test pesticides in housing developments That was the start of it recalls Kelley Tunis chair of the National Pest Management Associations Professional Women in Pest Management Committee It was an interesting job It was hot and sweaty Kelley Tunis liked working with people in the lab and thought lab work was fun At that time she still intended to pursue wildlife as a career She wasnt thinking about pest management even after she graduated from Purdue in 1991 Dr Byron Reid then director of Purdues Industrial Affiliates program and currently senior principal scientist at Bayer CropScience told Kelly Tunis he still could use her help in the lab so she worked there a few more years Later she worked for Purdues Center for Urban and Industrial Pest management while her soon to be husband Brian Tunis started a masters program in forestry and natural resources at the university In 1995 PMP Hall of Famer Dr Bobby Corrigan Class of 2008 asked Kelley Tunis to think about pest management as a career So the newlywed started working in the field with McCloud Services Schaumburg Ill For 14 years she worked in different areas of the industry training service route and sales work In 2009 she Brian and their two children relocated to Raleigh N C where Kelley Tunis was Orkins Atlantic Division technical manager In 2012 she moved to Atlanta Ga to become technical services director of Orkins parent company Rollins Inc focusing on quality assurance and termite claims Its a role she continues today Weve Worked through it While Kelley Tunis admits shes had to bust some industry misconceptions over the years her biggest challenge came in January 2015 when Brian died suddenly after a heart attack Shes now raising their children Andrew 18 and Kaelan 16 pictured left by herself Weve worked through it she says The industry is like a family Theyve been phenomenal I wouldnt be here if I didnt have their support PMP Walsh is a Cleveland based writer He can be reached at pmpeditor@ northcoastmedia net Kim Kelley Tunis ACE BCE title Director Quality Assurance and Claims Company Rollins Inc Atlanta Ga years in industry 29 adviCe For Women in the pest management industry Never give up Dont let any obstacles hold you back from what you love whether perceived or actual Oftentimes women wont even try pest management because of these obstacles like a fear of bugs family obligations or perceived physical limitations Thats not what this industry is all about It actually provides for a flexible work schedule daily variety of tasks and a support system that is unmatched by any other industry Stick with it ask for help when you need it and have fun 40 December 2017 Pest Management Professional mypmp net photos Kim Kelley tunis Joelle harms