Pest Management Professional, September 2015

5 questions By marty Whitford Publisher Editorial Director questions with Mary Vongas 5 This month we feature a question and answer Q A session with mary Vongas president of Saddle Brook N J based ChemTec Pest Control 1 You hold a bachelors degree in communication and a masters degree in change management How are the two areas of study intertwined Change is needed to advance but if its not managed it probably wont be successful This is where organizations crash and burn We know that folks fear of change is usually based on lack of knowledge or threatening a comfortable place Change can challenge your abilities and rock your self confidence Just think of the last time you upgraded your cell phone Thoughtful well planned communication is needed for change to be accepted and succeed 2 Can you please share three dos and three donts to help pest management professionals PMPs embrace positive changes within their organizations 1Do empower your people Empowerment is an overused word but not an overused practice 2Do tell and re tell great customer or employee stories They are a positive reflection on your company and our industry and make you an attractive employer 3Do ask for others opinions and viewpoints Im always pleasantly surprised at how a group of us can view a situation so differently 1Do not micromanage it squashes creativity 2Do not ignore negative feedback Whether its from customers or employees it can snowball 3Do not expect everyone in your company to be the same We all have different strengths and weaknesses and those differences should be used to make an organization stronger 3 You took the reins at ChemTec in 2013 becoming the companys third president since the business was founded in 1931 Is there one key change youve helped make at ChemTec during the past two years We approach everything we do with a sense of urgency Every task on all levels is important 4 In 2006 the National Pest Management Association NPMA made you the first recipient of its Professional Women in Pest Management Award What did receiving that award mean to you It meant that I had found my home and that the industry was accepting me I have no background in pest control I stumbled upon the industry and became attracted to the people the sense of community and the reality that any one person with drive From left are mary Vongas and her daughters Kaitlin and Allie who also have worked at ChemTec for years and an idea can make a significant contribution that will help the industry grow and advance 5 What does the Professional Women in Pest Management PWIPM organization do for the industry and how can individuals and companies get involved PWIPM provides an awareness of the role that women play in our industry It offers educational programming encouragement through networking opportunities and national and locallevel meetings and career assistance and advancement through the Womens Empowerment Grant Any woman working for an NPMA member company can belong Reach out to any current member you know attend a meeting sign up for the newsletter or like its Facebook page to get started When in doubt contacting NPMA Chief Operating Officer Dominique Stumpf is always a good starting point dstumpf@ pestworld org pmp You can reach Whitford at mwhitford@ northcoastmedia net or 216 706 3766 158 September 2015 pest management professional Photo Mary Vongas