Pest Management Professional, January 2014

Kim Kelley Tunis How did you turn your Purdue University degree in wildlife into your position as director of technical services for Rollins People tend to forget pest management is more than just insect management My degree in wildlife science has been the perfect foundation for my role as a technical services director The management of rodent and other vertebrate pests is also a big part of our industry In some cases vertebrate pests account for a larger percent of the pest management business My educational background has given me a much broader view of how interconnected our human environment is with the plants insects and animals within it What are your job responsibilities My primarily role is to support the efforts of pest professionals working every day in the field whether its helping identify a specific insect or vertebrate pest assisting in solving a specific problem or identifying an alternative strategy for controlling a specific pest I also work closely with manufacturers to identify and objectively evaluate the various products and equipment Rollins uses to ensure their safety and effectiveness when used by our field personnel How long have you worked for the company I joined Orkin Pest Control in July 2009 as a division technical services manager providing technical support for the Atlantic Division In May 2012 I accepted the position of technical services director for its parent company Rollins What has been your career path in this industry I began my career working as a student research assistant in Purdues Center for Urban and Industrial Research Upon graduation I transitioned into a full time research assistant gaining a greater understanding of the business through studies of the various control methods and techniques common in the industry at the time I left Purdue and took a position with McCloud Services where I was able to expand my knowledge of the industry For what structural pest do you have the most respect and why Ants are one of the most fascinating pests the industry deals with The diversity among the various species physically and behaviorally is what makes them challenging to control Ants have this incredible ability to adapt to their surroundings overcome environmental challenges and thrive as a community Theres a lot we can learn by watching a colony of ants How do you define integrated pest management IPM IPM is a process using all your knowledge and tools to solve a pest management problem It begins with a thorough inspection to identify the problem and all those factors contributing to the problem From there those issues and concerns identified during the inspection must be addressed using all of the tools available It might simply be a matter of habitat or behavioral modification or it might involve various mechanical or chemical control strategies However the most important aspect of the process is the constant monitoring and follow up which is critical for the success of any process difference makers Jerry Mix t Editor at Large Continued on page 84 www mypmp net Pest Management Professional January 2014 83