Pest Management Professional, December 2017

42 December 2017 Pest Management Professional mypmp net photos Dr Dini Miller Industry champion E ven after nearly 20 years of playing a very active role in pest management Dr Dini Miller has lost none of her enthusiasm for the industry I feel like I lucked out says Dr Miller an urban pest management specialist for the Commonwealth of Virginia at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Tech Blacksburg Va Bed Bug amBassador Dr Miller has built a reputation for bringing good practical information to the pest management field Her current focus is talking to industries that are not directly involved in the pest management industry but could be if bed bugs are discovered in their facilities This group includes apartment managers real estate associations medical professionals and social services agencies where taking care of elderly and disabled folks are a concern In Virginia Im responsible for any group of citizens that is having a problem with indoor insect pests she explains noting that different facilities have different questions but popular among all groups is what exactly qualifies as a bed bug infestation Dr Miller has an answer at the ready One male bed bug does not make for an infestation and you dont have to do a 1500 treatment for that onesey The paTh To urBan pesTs Dr Miller didnt exactly jump right on the urban insect management bandwagon She earned her bachelors degree in geography ecosystems from UCLA in California in 1991 She had decided to study beetles and their impact on the ecosystem until a fateful phone call from the University of Floridas Dr Phil Koehler a PMP Hall of Famer Class of 2015 changed her path Dr Koehler wanted her to come look at the sewage treatment plant in Gainesville Fla and study the abundance of American roaches there Id never studied insects before and this was the weirdest thing anyone has ever said to me to entice me to do something Dr Miller says He told me If you switch from beetles to roaches I will fund you all through your Ph D I drove from California to Gainesville to study roaches and from that day to this that was the single best decision I have ever made Dr Koehler was true to his word Dr Miller earned her masters degree in 1994 and her doctorate in 1998 both from UF When Dr Bill Robinson decided to retire from his Virginia Tech post in 1998 Dr Miller was named his successor Shes been teaching winning awards most recently the U S Department of Housing Urban Developments inaugural Healthy Homes Hero award in July and conducting research for the betterment of pest management ever since PMP You can reach MIX a 2005 PMP Hall of Famer at pmpeditor@ northcoastmedia net dr dini miller is renowned for her ability to explain pest management to the masses BY Jerry mix Editor At Large Above Dr Miller is flanked by Pi Chi Omega and Virginia Pest Management Association adminstrators sisters in law Kristen left and Andrea Coron At right Dr Miller takes a break from doing fly control at a swine center COVER STORY Dr Dini Miller TiTLe Professor of Urban Pest Management Company Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University years in indusTry 19 adViCe For Women in The pesT managemenT indusTry The No 1 thing you need to be able to do is get out in the field You absolutely need to do the hands and knees thing so you can address your audience from an experience point of view If I can do it you can do it You should also make sure you are good at public speaking Practice practice practice You are in a position to tell others about your experiences