2026 Conference Program

Monday, January 12, 2026

  • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    • Welcome and Year in Review – Dr. Barry Pittendrigh, Dr. Cate Hill, Mark VanderWerp, Isabelle Lucero
    • Update on insects and control in a newscast-style format.
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    • 90 Years of Pest Management and Service Excellence – Dr. Gary Bennett & Dr. Bobby Corrigan
    • Historical look at the conference and industry evolution.
  • 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    • Sponsor Profiles
  • 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
    • Break
  • 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Opening Ceremonies – Dr. Barry Pittendrigh & Dr. Cate Hill
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • The Tick Talk: What Every Pest Professional Should Know – Dr. Jody Green
    • Tick biology, diseases, and control strategies.
  • 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
    • Lunch Break (on your own)
  • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
    • Rodent Control 2026 – Dr. Robert Corrigan
    • New research, tools, and AI in rodent control.
  • 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
    • Rodent Control Inspection Tools – Dan Collins
    • Technology and tools for inspections.
  • 3:15 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Sponsor Profiles or Break
  • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Break
  • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    • The Latest Trends in Bed Bug Management – Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar
  • 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    • Exhibitor Hall Reception – Purdue Memorial Union

 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

  • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    • Regulatory Challenges for Pest Management Industry Panel – Megan Striegel, Isabelle Lucero, Sarah Caffery (Moderator: Bob Dold Jr.)
    • Discussion of regulatory changes at state and federal levels.
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    • When the Client Sees What You Don't: Ethical and Practical Challenges of Delusional Parasitosis – Grace Kolb
    • Handling complex client situations with professionalism.
  • 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    • Sponsor Profiles or Break
  • 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
    • Break
  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Pest-Free Production: Best Practices for Preventing Stored Product Pests – Patricia Hottel (Loeb Playhouse)
    • Prevention strategies and pest biology.
  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Unseen Invaders: Managing Wood-Destroying Insects – Harry Bryan & Kim Kelley-Tunis (Fowler Hall)
    • Control methods for wood-destroying insects.
  • 11:30 AM – 1:45 PM
    • Student & Attendee Awards Lunch and Exhibits – Purdue Memorial Union
  • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    • Beyond The Pest Presents: Mosquito Control Discussion – Mike Thome (Loeb Playhouse)
    • Insights and myths in mosquito control.
  • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    • Fumigating Stored Product Pests: Research on Challenges and Solutions – Dr. Thomas Phillips (Fowler Hall)
    • Fumigation challenges and future solutions.

SMITH HALL ACTIVITIES

  • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    • Smith Hall Lab Tours, Round #1
  • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    • Hands-on Training Session #1
    • Capacity: 30 spots (10 per station)
  • 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM
    • Bell IQ - Sara Knilans, Bell Labs
    • At this Bell Labs station, trainees will learn hands-on how to incorporate electronic monitoring into their rodent control programs. They will also learn the advantages of using electronic monitoring and the value to both pest management professionals and their clients in investing in this technology.
  • 4:50 PM – 5:10 PM
    • Exclusion - Ben Channon, ACE, Xcluder
    • Pest exclusion is a critical step in the prevention of pests and in limiting pest survival. At this learning station, attendees will have the opportunity to practice pest exclusion skills.
  • 5:10 PM – 5:30 PM
    • Tips and Tricks for Effective Rodent Baiting and Trapping - Alex Blahnik, MOL, ACE, LIPHA
    • Trapping and baiting for rodents is an art and a science. At this hands-on learning station, tips will be shared by rodent expert, Alex Blahnik on how to optimize these strategies in urban rodent control programs.
  • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
    • Smith Hall Lab Tours, Round #2
    • Capacity: 30 spots (10 per station)
  • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
    • Hands-on Training Session #2
  • 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM
    • Calibration of Sprayers - Dr. Tim Husen, BCE, PHE, PCQI, Syngenta
    • The calibration of sprayers is a critical element to ensure that the proper amount of material is applied for successful control and environmental stewardship. Entomologist, Tim Husen will demonstrate how to calibrate sprayers and answer your questions on this important topic.
  • 5:50 PM – 6:10 PM
    • Stored Product Pest ID - Samantha Kiever, Insects Limited
    • At Insects Limited, the importance of "starting with the insect" is a key principle in all they teach. Insects Limited entomologist, Samantha Kiever will highlight how to identify some of the common stored product pests including some of those rising in significance like red-legged ham beetles. You will have the opportunity to sharpen and test your hands ID skills during this session.
  • 6:10 PM – 6:30 PM
    • Optimizing the use of pheromones in stored product pest management - Tom Mueller, Insects Limited
    • Insects Limited president, Tom Mueller will provide information on how to establish and maintain the use of pheromone traps in your facility pest management programs. The value of these tools will be emphasized as well as new trends in pheromone monitoring will be discussed. There will be opportunity to discuss your pheromone trap related questions with Tom.
  • 7 PM – 9 PM
    • Purdue Alumni Reception
    • Harry's Chocolate Shop

 

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

  • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    • Training the Adult Learner: How to Get Your Point Across – Shep Sheperdigian, BCE (Rose Pest Solutions)
    • It isn't training if the student doesn't learn; focuses on effective adult learning techniques.
  • 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
    • Break
  • 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
    • Making Training Fun! – Peter Schopen (RV There Yet Consulting) – Loeb Playhouse
    • Strategies for engagement, retention, and improving training effectiveness.
  • 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
    • The Science of Survival: Understanding and Managing Insecticide Resistance on Urban Pests – Dr. Sudip Gaire (Rentokil Terminix Innovation Center) – Fowler Hall
    • Covers resistance mechanisms and sustainable pest control strategies.
  • 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
    • Break
  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Smarter Growth: Leveraging AI to Scale, Elevate, and Empower Your Business – Courtney Carace, ACE (Pest End Inc.) – Loeb Playhouse
    • Using AI for operations, marketing, and business growth.
  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Antswers: Outsmarting the Colony! – Dr. Kathy Heinsohn, BCE (American Pest/Anticimex) – Fowler Hall
    • Ant biology and modern pest management techniques.