Pest Management Professional • November 2022 • Intel

On Oct. 12, Crawley, England-based Rentokil Initial plc finalized its acquisition of Memphis, Tenn.-based Terminix Global Holdings Inc., which is now known as Rentokil Terminix. As a result, the company boasts approximately 4.9 million customers and 57,700 employees globally. Many Rentokil and Terminix team members celebrated the milestone while at PestWorld 2022, hosted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) in Boston, Mass.

BAYER SELLS ES BUSINESS TO CINVEN, NOW KNOWN AS ENVU

Envu (ehn-view) made its official debut at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) PestWorld event in Boston, Mass. The Cary, N.C.-based manufacturer is the result of private equity firm Cinven’s acquisition of the Environmental Science (ES) business from Bayer, a deal worth approximately $2.6 billion, which closed Oct. 5. Nearly 900 employees have transferred from Bayer to Envu. Its new website can be found at us.envu.com.

In an interview with Pest Management Professional (PMP) sibling publication Athletic Turf News, Envu CEO Gilles Gaillou said the innovation pipeline remains the same, “except now we have the opportunity to find new partnerships, new solutions, new ways to grow.”

Gokhan Vergon, head of Professional Pest Management for Envu U.S., agreed, telling PMP during an interview at PestWorld, “we now have an entrepreneurial mindset, where we can act fast so we can grow fast, building on what we already have.”

Arrow Exterminators has busy autumn

Atlanta, Ga.-based Arrow Exterminators made several announcements regarding its activities and programs in recent weeks, including:

⦁ The establishment of the Joe Thomas Endowed Scholarship Program and The Arrow Exterminators Endowed Scholarship Program. Both $25,000 scholarships will be awarded annually. The first, named after Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Joe Thomas (Class of 2009), is for undergraduate or graduate students in any field at the University of Tennessee. The second is for undergraduate or graduate students at any college or university, with priority given to those whose families serve in the pest control industry. Both scholarships are designed to be complementary to existing scholarships within Arrow and the industry.

⦁ The hosting of its inaugural Veterans Appreciation Banquet at the Cherokee Count Conference Center at the bluffs in Canton, Ga. The focal point of this occasion was to officially recognize Arrow Exterminators‘ partnership with the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) Program. The program guarantees soldiers an interview and possible employment after their Army careers.

⦁ The hosting of its annual Premier Club and Circle of Diamonds event at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, Calif., to honor top-producing sales professionals and leadership team members.

⦁ The opening of a new office in Callahan, Fla., under the Nader’s Pest Raiders brand, to better serve the North Jacksonville, Fla., market. This is Arrow’s 46^th office in Florida and its 166^th office in the United States overall.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Getem Services celebrates 100 years

Norfolk, Va.-based Getem Services is marking its centennial year by winning both the 2022 Norfolk Small Business of the Year as well as the 2022 Hampton Roads Regional Small Business of the year. Pictured below from left are Bryan Stephens, CEO and president of the Hampton Roads Chamber with Carley Church, her father, Charlie, and her brother Chaz Church. Charlie is Getem’s third-generation owner, as the company was founded in 1922 by his grandfather, Luther Church, Sr. Luther also founded and was first president of the Virginia Pest Management Association in 1948 — and Charlie served as president in 1998.

⦁ Pasadena, Texasbased Control Solutions Inc. (CSI) promoted Karl Kibodeaux Sr., ACE, to key accounts manager of the CSIPest division.

⦁ Paul Griffin and Susan Scott joined PestWest USA as Eastern regional technical specialist and accounting manager, respectively.

⦁ Syngenta appointed Matt Higley as a new territory manager within its professional pest management (PPM) business, for customers in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

⦁ Aly Silva Mulgrew will succeed Stacy O’Reilly, president and owner of Plunkett’s Pest Control, effective Jan. 1, 2023. O’Reilly will remain chair of the board of directors.

⦁ Jacksonville, Fla.-based Turner Pest Control, a division of Anticimex, promoted VP of Sales Cheri Michaels to president.

⦁ Cary, N.C.-based Envu added three new leaders: Brittany Bailey joined as head of marketing, while James Cooksey and Maria Miller joined as area sales managers for South Florida and the Carolinas, respectively.

MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS & EXPANSIONS

⦁ Atlanta, Ga.-based Bug Busters acquired Coyne Pest Control, based in Acworth, Ga., to strengthen its presence in the North Metro Atlanta area. Pictured below from left are Keith Smith, Bug Busters’ Woodstock branch manager; Court Parker, Bug Busters’ CEO; Daphne Bertholf, Bug Busters’ CFO; and Coyne Pest Control Co-owners Michelle and Christopher Coyne.

⦁ Richmond, Texas-based BUGCO Pest Control, in coordination with its Dallas, Texas, operations, purchased Termite Technology & Pest Control in Sulpur Springs, Texas. Pictured below from left are James Pennington, CEO and president of Termite Technology & Pest Control; Christopher Millward, BUGCO Pest Control’s executive VP of operations; Hunter Burchfield, field supervisor in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Justin Moon, senior administrator; and Darrell Mather, director of business development.

⦁ CenterOak Partners, a Dallas, Texasbased private equity firm, completed a majority recapitalization of Palmetto Exterminators. The transaction was facilitated by LR Tullius.

⦁ Orlando, Fla.-based Massey Services bought Insight Pest Solutions of Knoxville, Tenn. The company now has service centers in Chattanooga, Cleveland, Athens and Knoxville, Tenn. Pictured above from left are Ed Dougherty, executive VP and COO of Massey Services; Adam Villareal, owner of Insight Pest Solutions; Zachary McKinley, owner and operator of Insight Pest Solutions; Tony Massey, president and CEO of Massey Services; and Milo Leakehe, owner and operator of Insight Pest Solutions.

⦁ Greenville, S.C.-based Rockit Pest purchased local company Hired Killers Pest Control. Pictured below from left are Patrick Settle, senior VP at Rockit Pest, and Ross Woodall III, owner of Hired Killers Pest Control.

⦁ Birmingham, Ala.-based Waynes Pest Control, an Anticimex company, acquired Vestavia Hills, Ala.-based American Pest Control, which was represented by The Potomac Co. Pictured below from left are Shawn Hollis, president of Waynes Pest Control, and Steve Mote, president of American Pest Control.

IN MEMORIAM: Gene White, BCE

The Pest Management Professional (PMP) magazine staff is saddened to report the loss of entomologist and frequent photography and article collaborator Gene White, BCE. White, 64, died Sept. 20 while attending an industry conference in Hawaii.

White was the global director of vector management for Rentokil. A talented photographer, White was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. Preceded in death by a daughter, White leaves behind his wife, Janet, five children and 10 grandchildren.

On Oct. 11, after Pi Chi Omega’s official membership meeting adjourned at PestWorld 2022 in Boston, Mass., a touching memorial video for White was shown.

Dr. Cassie Krejci, BCE, president of Pi Chi Omega and director of technical services for Rentokil Terminix, introduced the video by saying, “Gene was my friend. That is how I have started the conversation any time Gene has come up over the last couple of weeks, and I believe that statement was one everyone who knew him could say. Gene’s role as our friend was one he extended to his position as a longtime member of Pi Chi Omega and our board of directors, most recently serving as Pi Chi Omega secretary. Gene honestly loved this industry, and it was evident in the way he taught others, the way he communicated, and the way he supported his fellow pest management colleagues. I think I speak for everyone when I say that Gene’s presence, his passion for this industry, and his love for people will be missed deeply.”