2027 Conference Program
*PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
*Indiana CCH TBA
Monday, January 11, 2027
*All Monday Sessions to take place in Loeb Playhouse, Stewart Center
8AM - 8:30AM
Opening Ceremonies and Industry Overview
Barry Pittendrigh, Director, Purdue Urban Center
Cate Hill, Department Head, Purdue Entomology
8:30AM - 9:30AM
Rodent Behavior-Understanding the “Story of a Mouse House”
Shannon Sked, National Technical Director, Rollins, Inc.
This presentation will outline research from over 50 years to create a story of mouse behavior. Understanding the complex and dynamic nature of mouse colonies and nest social status will help develop rodent IPM plans that can utilize mouse behavior for effective management tactics.
9:30AM - 10AM
Break
10AM - 11AM
Eras and Epochs: Cockroaches Continued Dominance in Urban Pest Management
Mark Vanderwerp, BCE, Rose Pest Solutions
This session equips general pest management technicians and applicators with the identification, biological, and integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge needed to control cockroach infestations effectively and in compliance with label and resistance-management expectations. Content is organized around four core competency areas directly applicable to structural pest control fieldwork: identification, biology and behavior, monitoring, and control (chemical and non-chemical).
11AM - 12PM
PCT Podcast/German Cockroach Research Panel
Mike Thome, Commercial Trainer, ACE, PHE, Rentokil, Jen Sweeney-Ingram, BCE, Consultant + Dr. Jose Pietri, Rollins/Orkin Chair Purdue Professor of Entomology, Purdue University
This will be recorded as a PCT/Beyond the Pest podcast but include three speakers who have worked in German cockroach research. Hosts Michael Thome and Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram will interview the panelists to learn about new research regarding these pests, and how it may impact the future of pest management.
12PM - 1:30PM
Lunch Break (Lunch on your own)
1:30PM - 2:30PM
The Mighty but Overlooked Glue Board
Natasha Wright, Board Certified Entomologist, Rose Pest Solutions
Glue boards contain a wealth of knowledge, if you know how to interpret them. We will cover a variety of glue boards and what they indicate.
2:30PM - 3:30PM
Dirty Little Dipterans (Small Flies)
Dr. Jody Green, Target Specialty Products, Technical Training Specialist
This talk will cover the small filth flies, which include vinegar flies, drain flies, phorid flies, fungus gnats, and the lesser dung flies. The focus will be on the biology, behavior, and the importance of inspection and IPM to eliminate breeding sites. Breaking the life cycle is very important for small fly management in homes, businesses and especially in food service.
3:30PM - 4PM
Break + Sponsor Profiles
4PM - 5PM
Minute scavenger beetles invade new hospital surgery center! Steps needed for a quick resolution.
Dr. Stephen Kells, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
This presentation will address the steps needed to bring a minute scavenger beetle infestation under control. This case is interesting considering the number of sources and the extent of building deficiencies that enabled this pest to thrive.
5PM
Group Photo - West Steps
5PM - 8PM
Exhibitor Hall Reception
Purdue Memorial Union North and South Ballrooms
Tuesday, January 12, 2027
7AM - 8AM
"Ask Me Anything" Breakfast
Purdue Memorial Union North and South Ballrooms
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
8AM - 9AM
Interactions with Heat, Bed Bugs, and Different Insecticides
Dr. Aaron Ashbrook, Assistant Professor of Urban/Peri-urban Entomology, Louisiana State University
One IPM technique that pest management professionals will use to manage bed bugs is the use of spatial heat. The goal of a heat treatment is to increase the interior temperatures above ~140 F to cause bed bug mortality. In some cases, bed bugs were found to survive heat treatments. Therefore, insecticides were often used in combination with heat to ensure that effective control was delivered and prevent losses due to guarantees and callbacks. In this presentation, we will review different insecticide classes that were tested in combination with heat on bed bugs for better pest management outcomes. These findings can be used to improve the success of heat treatments for bed bugs.
OR:
8AM - 9AM
Leaders From Within: Growing Your Next Managers From Your Own
Technicians
Dominique Sauvage, ACE, PCQI, Founder/President of Sequoia Quality Solutions
Most pest control companies hire managers from outside because nobody inside looks ready. This session is about changing that. Drawing on a career that ran from apprentice technician to managing director, Dominique Sauvage lays out how owners and operations managers spot the technicians who can lead, what to give them and when, and how to keep them once they can. Attendees leave with a practical structure for career pathing, the handful of leadership skills that matter at branch level, and a way to tell whether the people they are developing are ready before the promotion, not after.
9AM - 9:15AM
Break
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
9:15AM - 10:15AM
Bait, Behavior, and Beyond: Emerging Research in Rodent Management
Dr. Niamh Quinn, University of California, Cooperative Extension Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor
This presentation will highlight recent research exploring what happens both inside and beyond the bait stations. Topics will include studies of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in wildlife, the use of isotopically labeled rodenticides to track how these compounds move through urban food webs, and new work examining how rats interact with bait stations and other management tools. Together, these studies are helping us better understand why some rodent control strategies work, why others fall short, and how research can be used to build more effective and sustainable approaches to rodent management.
OR:
9:15AM - 10:15AM
Behind the Insurance Curtain: What Your Broker Isn't Telling You
Michelle Hetrick, Commercial Insurance Producer, USI Insurance Services
Most decision makers only think about insurance when they're renewing a policy or filing a claim. By then its often too late to fix the gaps that are costing them money. This session pulls back the curtain on how insurance really works. You'll learn how underwriters actually evaluate your risk, what separates a good broker from a great one, and the questions you should be asking that most decision makers never think to ask. Walk away knowing how to spot coverage gaps before they become claims, how to talk to your broker like an informed buyer, and what the insurance industry wishes clients understood.
10:15-10:30
Break
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
10:30AM - 11:30AM
How Nuisance Wildlife Management is Driving IPM Across the Pest Management Industry
Ian Williams, Orkin/Rollins, Division Technical Director, Orkin Southeast
In the last 20 years, the nuisance wildlife control industry has grown significantly and become intertwined with the pest control industry. These sister services often are regulated by different state and federal agencies and laws, but at their core share similar foundational principles of Integrated Pest Management. This session will explore the role of the rising nuisance wildlife management industry in pushing true IPM solutions in the pest control industry.
OR:
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Marketing for the Next Era: Building a Brand That Grows
Janelle Iaccino, Marketing Director, Rose Pest Solutions
The way customers find, evaluate, and choose pest control companies is changing. This session explores practical marketing strategies for building a trusted, recognizable brand—from social media and content that actually performs to budgeting, employee advocacy, public education, reputation management, and emerging AI-driven search. Using real-world examples, attendees will learn how to turn marketing from an expense into a business-growth tool.
11:30PM - 1:45PM
Lunch + Student Awards Ceremony
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
2PM - 3PM
The Future of Fumigation
John Mueller, President, The Fumigation Company
How Safety, Compliance, and Performance will change our behaviors.
OR:
2PM - 3PM
Odorous house ants: what every pest professional should know.
Dr. Grzegorz "Grzesiek" Buczkowski, Professor, Purdue University
This talk will cover the importance of ants as urban pests, their
biology and behavior, and review the three layers of treatment.
OR:
2PM - 3PM
Hands-on Demo Pesticide Safety Round #1 (1-hour)
2PM - 2:30PM
Spill Control
Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue University, Purdue Pesticide Programs Director
OR:
2PM - 2:30PM
Rodent Inspection Tools
Jeremy Southgate, ACE-I, Technical Support Auditor, Abell Pest Control
2:30PM - 3PM
Spill Control
Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue University, Purdue Pesticide Programs Director
OR:
2:30PM - 3PM
Rodent Inspection Tools
Jeremy Southgate, ACE-I, Technical Support Auditor, Abell Pest Control
3PM - 3:20PM
Break
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
3:20PM - 4:20PM
Ticks as a Public Health Threat
Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue University, Purdue Pesticide Programs Director
In the United States, ticks are expanding their range into areas where they had seldom been seen before. This has lead to an increase in Lyme disease, transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, sometimes called the deer tick. This presentation presents the biology of ticks in a way that better explains why certain actions are necessary by the pest control industry for reducing tick populations and the spread of diseases within the residential landscape.
OR:
3:20PM - 4:20PM
Termite Treatment Evolution
Steven Dupuy, Rentokil North America
Technical Services Manager and Termite Subject Matter Expert
Termite treatments have evolved over the past 100 years. We will discuss the past, present, and future of termite treatments and how invasive species have changed the way we view termite treatments today.
OR:
3:20PM - 4:20PM
Hands-on Demo Bedbugs & Monitoring Round #2 (1-hour)
3:20PM - 3:50PM
Bedbug Monitoring
Alex Blahnik, Midwest District Sales and Technical Manager, Lipha Tech, Dr. Lindsay Miles, Assistant Research Professor, Purdue Entomology
OR:
3:20PM - 3:50PM
Care and Maintenance of the Compressed Air Sprayer
Roy Soderquist, President, Airofog
3:50PM - 4:20PM
Bedbug Monitoring
Alex Blahnik, Midwest District Sales and Technical Manager, Lipha Tech, Dr. Lindsay Miles, Assistant Research Professor, Purdue Entomology
OR:
3:50PM - 4:20PM
Care and Maintenance of the Compressed Air Sprayer
Roy Soderquist, President, Airofog
4:45PM - 6:45PM
Smith Hall Lab Tours + Additional Hands-on Demo
CHOOSE ONE:
4:45PM - 5:45PM
Smith Hall Lab Tour #1 (1-hour)
Entomology Bug Barn, Research Collection, and Urban Labs
Dr. Emily Justus, Purdue Entomology Outreach Specialist, Dr. Jose Pietri, Principal Investigator (PI) Host-Microbe Interactions in Urban Insects, Dr. Lindsay Miles, Assistant Research Professor Biology and Management of Urban Pests, Dr. Grzegorz Buczkowski, Principal Investigator, Ants & Urban Ecology, Dr. Chris Wirth, Collections Manager
OR:
4:45PM - 5:45PM
Hands-on Demos Pest ID Round #1 (1-hour)
4:45PM - 5:15PM Ant ID
Tim Husen, General Manager at Braman Termite and Pest Elimination
CHOOSE ONE:
5:15PM - 5:45PM
WDO ID
Mark VanderWerp, Manager of Education & Training at Rose Pest Solutions
OR:
5:15PM - 5:45PM
Glue Board Interpretation
Natasha Wright, Rose Pest Solutions, Board Certified Entomologist
CHOOSE ONE:
5:45PM - 6:45PM
Smith Hall Lab Tour #2 (1-hour)
Entomology Bug Barn, Research Collection, and Urban Labs
Dr. Emily Justus, Purdue Entomology Outreach Specialist, Dr. Jose Pietri, Principal Investigator (PI) Host-Microbe Interactions in Urban Insects, Dr. Lindsay Miles, Assistant Research Professor Biology and Management of Urban Pests, Dr. Grzegorz Buczkowski, Principal Investigator, Ants & Urban Ecology, Dr. Chris Wirth, Collections Manager
OR:
5:45PM - 6:45PM
Hands-on Demos Pest ID Round #2 (1-hour)
5:45PM - 6:15PM
Ant ID
Tim Husen, General Manager at Braman Termite and Pest Elimination
CHOOSE ONE:
6:15PM - 6:45PM
WDO ID
Mark VanderWerp, Manager of Education & Training at Rose Pest Solutions
OR:
6:15PM - 6:45PM
Glue Board Interpretation
Natasha Wright, Rose Pest Solutions, Board Certified Entomologist
Pizza Party Sponsored by JT Eaton
Wednesday, January 13, 2027
8AM - 9AM
The Next Era of Compliance: Regulatory Updates & PFAS
Faye Golden, Director of Governmental Affairs, Cook's Pest Control
Regulatory change doesn’t happen overnight—but understanding what’s coming can give the industry time to prepare. This presentation will highlight important state and federal regulatory developments and take a closer look at PFAS and its potential implications for pest management.
9AM - 9:15AM
Break
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
9:15AM - 10:15AM
Buzzkill: Backyard Mosquito Management
Anna Iversen, PCO, Technical Services Manager, Control Solutions, Inc.
Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance; they're a serious public health pest that requires multiple integrated management tools. In this presentation, we'll discuss the biology and behavior of key mosquito species and how we can use that knowledge for more effective control through liquid applications (spraying, misting, fogging).
OR:
9:15AM - 10:15AM
Food Plant Pest Management and Regulatory and Audit Compliance
Judi Lazaro, Vice President Sales, AIB International
A practical look at what Food Safety professionals are seeing in manufacturing plants and distribution centers regarding pest issues.
10:15AM - 10:30AM
Break
(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)
CHOOSE ONE:
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Purdue Research Highlight
Evaluating the German Cockroach's Vector Potential for Human Pathogens
Matt Turner, Postdoctoral Fellow, Purdue Entomology Urban Center
This presentation will provide an overview of the vector potential of German cockroaches for dangerous human pathogens. A review of the literature on this topic, both historical and modern, will establish a strong foundation for understanding the role of the German cockroach in the propagation of human disease in urban settings. Our work has contributed key insights into how cockroaches can harbor dangerous human pathogens, including Salmonella Typhimurium, underlining the need for heightened surveillance and collaboration between the health industry, academics, and pest control professionals.
Delusional Parasitosis in Pest Management: National Survey Insights and Industry Impacts
Grace Kolb, Purdue Entomology Graduate Research Assistant
This session presents recent findings from a national survey on delusional parasitosis and examines how often PMPs encounter these cases in the field. We will review the scope of the problem, liability and risk concerns these clients create for pest management companies, and new data on stress and burnout within the PMP workforce. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how delusional parasitosis affects daily operations and technician wellbeing across the industry.
OR:
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Quality in Pest Management
Shep Sheperdigian, Chief Science Officer, Rose Pest Solutions
What constitutes quality in pest management? Everyone says they offer “quality,” but what does that really mean if anything? This presentation will explore the various components of pest control services and boil them down to the non-negotiable components that make for a quality pest management service?