2027 Conference Speakers

Aaron Ashbrook is an assistant professor of urban/peri-urban extension entomology at the Louisiana State University. He received a B.S. in Biology at Grand Valley State University. He then pursued a M.S. at Purdue University, where he focused on insecticide resistance detection and management in bed bugs and German cockroaches. He also obtained my Ph.D. from Purdue where he investigated bed bug thermal tolerance, their physiological response to heat stress, and how their behavior changes after high temperature exposure to optimize heat as a tool for their control. For his postdoc, he studied at North Carolina State University and tested the susceptibility of German cockroaches and bed bugs with fungal entomopathogens. What motivates his extension program is developing a biological understanding of insects at multiple levels to improve pest control strategies to better alleviate impacted people. His program focuses on providing training on IPM and improving different reduced risk structural pest management strategies, including heat and fungal entomopathogens, for better pest control outcomes. He has interests in insect behavior, insecticide resistance, biocontrol and the evolutionary adaptations of indoor pests. When not in the office, lab, or on the road, Dr. Ashbrook enjoys hiking, fishing, and occasionally neglecting his indoor and outdoor plants.

Steven Dupuy is a Technical Services Manager and Termite Subject Matter Expert for Rentokil North America. Steven began working in the Pest Control industry in 1995, when he developed a passion for termites, termite treatments, and termite inspections, particularly Formosan termites. Steven is licensed in four states and travels across the US for Rentokil to assist in termite training and termite control
issues. He assisted with the Penn State Wood Destroying Pest Study Manual, assisted with NPMA on Building Terms training course, was a member of the NPMA Technical Committee twice, worked on the North American Termite Survey(NATS) programs across the southern US, and was on the committee and was a past President of the Louisiana Pest Management Association.

Jody Green earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University’s Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management, where she studied under Gary Bennett in the early 2000s. Jody is a Board Certified Entomologist and Extension Educator with Nebraska Extension, serving the Greater Omaha Area.

Michelle Hetrick is a Commercial Insurance Producer with USI Insurance Services, with over 15 years of experience helping business owners manage and finance risk. She works with companies across the pest control industry - including operators, manufacturers, and distributors - taking a consultative approach to uncover exposures and lower total cost of risk. Having grown up in a family of business owners, she believes insurance should be more than an annual renewal conversation; it should protect profitability and drive smart decisions.

Janelle Iaccino has spent 21 years shaping the marketing and public presence of Rose Pest Solutions, America’s oldest pest control company, and its sister brand, Franklin Pest Solutions. Using an education-forward philosophy, she has helped reintroduce the historic brands to a modern Midwest audience by making pest management more approachable, engaging, and human. With extensive television and radio media experience, Janelle created the public persona “Bug Girl” to connect with audiences in a more personal and relatable way. Today, she leads the Bug Squad, bringing pest and nature education to schools, museums, Girl Scouts, and communities while helping people of all ages understand the balance between humans and the natural world.

Niamh Quinn is University of California Cooperative Extension Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.  Her focus is directed on the coordination of Cooperative Extension programming regarding human-wildlife conflicts, particularly within the residential and industrial areas within Southern California where significant human-wildlife conflicts are occurring. Her research and education focus on everything from mice to mountain lions but she mostly focuses on rodents and coyotes, their management, and the pathways and effects of rodenticides on non-target wildlife.

Dr. Shannon Sked is a research entomologist and the National Technical Director at Orkin.  He received his B.S. from Rutgers University, M.S. in Entomology from Penn State University and PhD in back Rutgers in their Urban IPM lab in Entomology.  His research focuses on distribution and temporal modeling of insect and rodent communities in order to design effective invasive species management programs.  He began his career as a Navy Entomologist overseeing structural pests, specifically focusing on pests related to imports, exports and within the logistics chain for Navy operation.  He had the unique opportunity to practice applied entomology and invasive species management in the Middle East, Northern Africa, the Caribbean and the eastern shore of the United States.  In his current role for Western Fumigation since 2020, he oversees pest prevention systems within international produce, commodity and equipment logistics with a focus on public health.  He then served as the Director at Western Fumigation and most recently as the National Technical Director for Orkin, utilizing his research on the spatial dynamics of economically important pests with novel technologies to develop modern and practical management methods to support public health and the global supply chains.

Jennifer Sweeney-Ingram BCE entered the pest control industry in 2018 after starting as a technician for ABC Home & Commercial Services in Austin, TX, where she served several roles including Commercial Operations Manager before moving to Nashville, TN in 2021. Here, she served as Technical Director for All-American Pest Control and was actively involved as the Education Committee Chair with the TPCA. Jen received her M.S. in Entomology in 2017 from Texas A&M, and currently serves as host of the monthly Beyond the Pest Podcast with the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (UPMTC). Jen currently lives on a U.S. Coast Guard base in New York with her husband, Michael and son, Gene.

Mark is the Manager of Education and Training for Rose Pest Solutions, founded in 1860.  He is based out of Rose’s corporate office in Madison Heights, MI. Mark leads a variety of training initiatives, including new employee training, public outreach, and more!  Mark has been a certified applicator for over 20 years and is certified in the states of MI, IN, and OH.  He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in entomology from Michigan State University in 2005.  Mark is a board-certified entomologist, a member of NPMA’s Technical Committee, and a member of the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee.  

Dr. Whitford’s legacy is deeply rooted in his unwavering dedication to agricultural education and history. As a clinical engagement professor and director of the Purdue Pesticide Programs since 1991, he has authored more than 300 publications, 9 books, 160 extension bulletins, and has delivered over 7,000 presentations. His ability to translate complex pesticide regulations and safety practices into accessible information has made him a trusted voice across Indiana and beyond. His dedication to Extension outreach has earned him numerous accolades, including the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana, the Honorary Master Farmer title by Indiana Prairie Farmer, and an honorary fellow with the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators.

Ian Williams joined Rollins, Inc. in 2021 as part of Rollins Technical Services, later renamed the Rollins Entomology Department. In this role, he supported business operations through the development of sales and service training resources, direct field and customer support, and the advancement of emerging technologies, including drones and remote monitoring.

Prior to Rollins, Williams built a 11-year career in nuisance wildlife management. He began as a pest control technician with TruTech Pest and Wildlife Removal in Atlanta in 2009, where he developed expertise in both vertebrate and invertebrate pests. He later served as a branch manager before becoming training manager for TruTech and Critter Control, leading training initiatives for new and tenured teammates and aligning programs to support business growth.

Williams holds a Master of Science in entomology from the University of Florida. He is a Board-Certified Entomologist and a Certified Wildlife Control Professional through the National Wildlife Control Operators Association. He is active in the industry, having served on committees with the Georgia Pest Control Association and the National Pest Management Association, and frequently speaks on practical pest management solutions that prioritize safety and environmental responsibility.