As a brief introduction, I grew up in eastern Kentucky before heading off to college on a track scholarship at the University of Georgia. After my All-SEC performance at the 1983 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships during my freshman year, I decided to further my collegiate long-distance running career at the high-altitude campus at Colorado State University. It was there while pursuing dual degrees in Political Science and History that I learned about industry trade associations. I still remember the exact moment while studying for a final exam that it clicked that pursing a career as an association professional could be in the cards for me.

Over my 25-plus-year career, my goal-oriented personality and energetic work ethic has been fostered
from my decades of competitive sport. My athletic background has also taught me the significance of
being resilient while working toward goals and the importance of exceeding expectations. As a visionary
leader with results-oriented experience, I possess a track record of working closely with staff and
association leadership in the development of comprehensive strategic plans that hold stakeholders
accountable to public policy, budget management, communications strategy, advocacy and event
management goals.

I look forward to helping PCOC leadership and members address an ever-changing marketplace along
with the challenges the pest management industry faces in the legislative and regulatory arena. There is
no better place to learn how to address and adapt to these events than through involvement in industry
trade associations on the local, state and national levels. Now more than ever, membership in specific
professional pest management trade associations is paramount. Stakeholders and operators must work
together to address outside forces seeking to eliminate markets or significantly alter the way our
products and services are delivered. 

Another part of the professional pest management mission is to bridge the gaps from those entities that
are struggling to learn what is required of professional operators in this industry. Representatives of PCOC must continue outreach efforts to non-association members to provide them the opportunity to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to meet today’s more complex, dynamic marketplace.

Lastly, I look forward to tackling the challenge of getting as many new and old members to actively
participate in PCOC. In that pursuit, I will channel these paraphrased words of the Irish statesman
Edmund Burke, “Nobody made a greater mistake than one who did nothing because one could do only a
little.” Building on PCOC’s solid 80-year foundation, I look forward to working with members, the Board
and staff to take this association to even greater heights.

Michael E. Wilson
Executive Director
Pest Control Operators of California