Rats of California media campaign, led by ARC Strategies and Grassroots Lab
ratsofcalifornia.com

It's been a busy spring at PCOC but as the weather starts warming up, we're excited about PCOC's Annual Expo in Disneyland this June from the 8th through the 10th. This will be the first Expo in two years so it will be great to see everyone celebrating our industry. Our Exhibit Hall will be open and our General Membership Meeting on June 10th will be exciting this year. We will kick it off with Dr. Niamh Quinn from the University of California Extension to discuss the latest rodent research, then hear from leadership expert Garland Vance to discuss how to better retain and engage employees, and close out our morning with our policy panel of Dom DiMare, (PCOC Lobbyist) and Andy Architect (NPMA COO) describing the challenges facing us in Sacramento and Washington D.C. We will also have terrific breakout sessions in the afternoon that touch topics like how to grow a business, social media engagement, structural fumigation education and utilizing Integrated Pest Management. Finally, as you know, we celebrate our Harvey Logan Lifetime Achievement Award Winner every year at our banquet, and this year I'm proud to announce we have two distinguished winners, Tom Meany and John Sansone. We plan on celebrating both Tom and John's careers so it will be a fun evening. Hope to see you all there!

Chris Reardon
PCOC Executive Vice President
chris@pcoc.org
(916) 372-4363

Central Life Sciences Announces Promotions in Restructure
of Zoëcon Professional Products Team

Tony Schultz, Mel Whitson and Scott Harris Appointed to New Roles

Schaumburg, Ill., APRIL 6, 2022 —Central Life Sciences announced three promotions as part of a restructuring of its Zoëcon Professional Products team responsible for the sale of professional pest control and vector solutions product lines.

“With an evolving product line and the steady growth in sales we’ve seen in recent years, we are expanding and restructuring our Zoëcon Professional Products team to better serve our customers and improve collaboration across our organization,” said Scott Todd, vice president and general manager, Professional Brands at Central Life Sciences.

Tony Schultz has been promoted to the role of senior director, Zoëcon Professional Products. In his new role, Schultz will be responsible for the Zoëcon Professional Products go-to-market strategy, and will oversee both Vector and PCO marketing and sales. Schultz has more than 18 years of experience with Central Life Sciences and was most recently serving as business manager of Zoëcon Professional Products.

Mel Whitson has been promoted from senior field technical service manager to director of sales, PCO. Whitson has been with Central Life Sciences since 2002 in varying technical and sales roles, and he will now oversee sales of professional pest control products.

Scott Harris has been appointed to national accounts manager, where he will partner with Drew Lockhart who currently holds the same title to increase engagement with key national and regional accounts. Harris has served as the Western region sales manager for Zoëcon Professional Products for eight years.

“Tony, Mel, and Scott all bring years of experience and expertise to these roles, putting Zoëcon Professional Products in the best position to deliver the quality and service our customers have come to expect,” said Todd.

For more information on the Zoëcon Professional Products sales team and the complete lineup of professional insect control products from Central Life Sciences, visit www.zoecon.com.

About Central Life Sciences

Central Life Sciences products are a part of Central Garden & Pet Company. Central Life Sciences is dedicated to creating healthier environments and making life better for people, plants and companion animals around the world. As inventors of insect growth regulator technology more than 50 years ago, the founders of Central Life Sciences pioneered biorational pest control: using the insect’s chemistry as a means to reduce pest populations. To learn more about Central Life Sciences, call 1-800-248-7763 or visit our website at www.centrallifesciences.com.

April District Meetings

 LOS ANGELES / SOUTH BAY HARBOR DISTRICT - April 21 @ 6:30 pm
CHAIR:  Greg Bausch – American City Pest & Termite Inc.
greg@americancitypest.com • (310) 542-8622
Marie Calendar’s, 15466 S. Western Ave, Gardena

BIG VALLEY DISTRCIT - April 27 @ 7:30 am
CHAIR: Vince Scoville
vscoville@pestcontrolcenter.com • (916) 761-0618 – cell
Wyndham Hotel Sacramento, 5321 Date Ave, Sacramento 95842
RSVP by Monday, April 25 (Breakfast - $35/person)

May District Meetings

CENTRAL VALLEY DISTRICT
May 3 - Social Hour @ 4:30, Meeting / Dinner @ 5:00 pm
CHAIR:  Chris Aguiniga – Clark Pest Control
caguiniga@clarkpest.com • Office (209) 368-7152 • Cell (209) 747-1686
Vino Grille & Spirits, 1440 E Champlain Dr #106, Fresno 93720
RSVP to Chair ($30/person)

SAN BERNARDINO/RIVERSIDE DISTRICT
May 4 – Social Hour @ 5:30 pm, Meeting / Dinner @ 6:00 pm
CHAIR:  Rob Willis – Terminix
rwillis@terminix.com • (619) 250-9966 – cell
Hilton Garden Inn, 10543 Sierra Ave, Fontana, 92337

VINTAGE COASTAL DISTRICT
May 5 - Social Hour @ 5:30 pm, Meeting / Dinner @ 6:00 pm
CHAIR:  Billy Gaither – Van Hooser Enterprises
beetleman@comcast.net • (707) 410-8117
Meeting Location TBD - Contact Chair

SHASTA DISTRICT - May 10 @ 12:00 pm
CHAIR:  Mike Bullert – Big Time Pest Control
mbullert@bigtimepestcontrol.com • (530) 242-8830
Gaia Hotel (Woodside Grill), 4125 Riverside Place, Anderson 96007

SAN DIEGO DISTRICT - May 10 @ 5:30 pm
CHAIR:  David Hinrichs – Lloyd Pest Control
david.hinrichs@lloydpest.com • (619) 668-1958
Country Inn & Suites, 5975 Lusk Blvd., San Diego

BAY AREA DISTRICT
May 11 - Social Hour @ 5:00 pm, Meeting / Dinner @ 6:00 pm
CHAIR: Edgar Serpas – Time’s Up Termite
edgars@timesuptermite.com • (510) 568-7200
El Portal Restaurant, 2028 Lewelling Blvd., San Leandro

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT
May 12 - Social Hour @ 5:00 pm, Meeting / Dinner @ 6:00 pm
CHAIR:  Ralph Reuss – Hydrex Termite & Pest Control
RREUSS@rollins.com • (951) 729-0644
Dave & Busters in the Irvine Spectrum

SOUTHERN VALLEY DISTRICT - May 12 @ 6:00 pm
CHAIR:  Sean Clark – Sequoia Pest Solutions
seanclark@sequoiapestsolutions.com • (661) 330-5465
Hodel’s Country Dining, 5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield, 93308

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY DISTRICT - May 17 @ 6:30 pm
CHAIR:  Mike McKenzie – Clark Pest Control
mmckenzie@clarkpest.com • (951) 710-0113
El Sombrero, 3550 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte

CENTRAL COAST DISTRICT - May 19 @ 6:30 pm
CHAIR: Dave Watkins – Terminix International/California
david.watkins@terminix.com •  (805) 797-8559
F. McLintocks, 750 Mattie Rd., Pismo Beach

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DISTRICT - May 25 @ 6:00 pm
CHAIR:  Todd Veden – Terminix
tveden@terminix.com • (818) 407-1404
Caruso’s Italian Restaurant, 10152 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills 91344

Future District Meetings

MID CAL DISTRICT
July 12 - Social Hour @ 4:00 pm, Meeting / Dinner @ 5:00 pm
CHAIR:  Brad Delk – Delk Pest Control
bdelk@delkpestcontrol.com • (209) 465-5656
The Stockton Country Club, 3800 W. Country Club Blvd, Stockton

Ventura District
CHAIR:  Israel Alvarez – Insight Pest Management, Inc.
info@insight-pest.com • (805) 628-2881
Normally meets on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in ODD months at Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 600 East Esplanade Dr., Oxnard.
Next Meeting: TBD


Diablo Valley District
CHAIR:  Gordie Zilke – Valley View Termite Control
valleyviewtc@gmail.com • (925) 787-2118
Normally meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month at various times and locations. Please contact Chair for meeting details.
Next Meeting: TBD

Monterey District
CHAIR:  TBD
Normally meets at 6:00 p.m. quarterly on the 3rd Thursday of the following months: January, April, July, and October at El Palomar, 1336 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.
Next Meeting: NO MEETINGS AT THIS TIME

Santa Clara Valley District
CHAIR:  TBD
Normally meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Drying Shed, 402 Toyon Ave., San Jose.
Next Meeting: NOT MEETING AT THIS TIME.

This article comes to you with mixed news. Lets start with the good news.

SB 1064 (Newman), the bills sponsored by PCOC requiring pest control companies to have workers’ comp is moving easily through the new making process. There is great support from the legislature on the premise behind this bill and we do not anticipate any issues or opposition for this bill. 

AB 2452 (Chen), extending the Fumigation Enforcement Program, is moving through the legislation process easily as well. This extension is removing San Diego county but keeping Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Clara counties. The counties participating have committed to using the funds for inspections and will continue to enforce the laws and regulations in a consistent manner. Removing San Diego will allow the association and the county to reset expectations and get everyone on the same page.

Now the for not so good news.  AB 2146 (Bauer-Kahan), the bill banning neonicotinoid insecticides with some exceptions, is also moving through the process. PCOC has engaged the author and is in current dialogue with her staff on the impact of this bill and will be proposing amendments. These conversations will determine our course of action moving forward. Other interest groups have already engaged the author and are proposing amendments as well. One change that has occurred to the bill language is the proposed restricted use designation has been removed. We will continue to do everything we can to protect the tools of this industry.

If you are interested in being more involved in the association and any of its legislative activities, do not hesitate to reach out.

Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE
Director of Learning and Technical Services
Clark Pest Control
Office: (209) 368-7152 ext. 235
Mobile: (209) 224-4629
Fax: (209) 334-5040
darrenv@clarkpest.co

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