PROGRAM



88th Annual Purdue University

Pest Management Conference

The Leading Conference for Innovative IPM


The below information is in regards to the 2024 On Site Conference and is for informational purposes only. The 2025 Program will appear here in late summer to early fall of this year.

Monday, January 8, 2024

9:00 am – 10:00 am Safety in Small Spaces Jeff McGovern, The Resource Shop

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8 & RT

Staying safe in confined spaces including attics and crawlspaces, topic will include heat, PPE, asbestos awareness, animal droppings, respirators and more.
10:30 am – 11:00 am Opening Ceremonies and 2023 Review Carrie Campbell, Hatfield Pest Control & Mark VanderWerp, Rose Pest Solutions
11:00 am – 12:00 pm KEYNOTE: One Health Dr. Faith Oi, University of Florida

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Where the pest control industry fits into the one health initiative by protecting health and property.
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm Monitoring for German Cockroaches Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, Rose Pest Solutions

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Proper use of insect monitors for cockroaches.
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Cockroach Panel Mike Bentley, NPMA; Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar, Purdue University; Mark Sheperdigian, Rose Pest Solutions; Morgan Wilson, Virginia Tech. Moderated by Pete Schopen, RV There Yet Pest Consulting

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

A panel of cockroach experts will discuss recent developments in research and application.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm New Technologies Jeff McGovern, The Resource Shop

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

What’s new and useful for the PMP? Jeff will present information on various technologies that are now available.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am Doing the Math Dr. Cassie Krejci, Rentokil Initial

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

Calculating for chemicals, how to prepare your solutions according to label directions.
9:00 am – 10:00 am Truck Equipment Eric Ham, FMC

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

What should be on your truck? Eric will inform the group on how to outfit your rig for the best service.
10:30 am – 12:00 pm WDO Deep Dive Alan Feuer, Preventive Pest

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7B, 12 & RT

Alan will present a 90-minute interactive activity highlighting ways of identifying WDOs for technicians.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm





2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
CONCURRENT 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Building Biology & Termite Entry Points Dr. Faith Oi, University of Florida

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7B, 12 & RT

Faith will update the group on biology and behavior of termites plus how to identify and eliminate entry points.

Fumigation Labels and Regulatory Updates Tim McPherson, Douglas Products

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7D & RT

Tim will update the group on the latest in fumigation label and regulatory issues plus discuss aspects of F&P including fumigation for bed bugs.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm





3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
CONCURRENT 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm 4x4 Ants Mark VanderWerp, Rose Pest Solutions

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A, 7B & RT

Four key midwestern species to know and four less common species that are challenging to control.

Fumigation: Clearance & Monitoring Devices TBD, Cardinal Professional Products

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7D & RT

An update on devices for clearance and monitoring including wireless high-range monitoring.
4:25 pm – 5:25 pm
5:40pm – 6:40pm
Urban Labs & Bug Barn Tours G. Buczkowski, A. Gondhalekar, W. Sun, & C. Wirth

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

Students will lead groups through four locations in Smith Hall, 1.) bed bugs & cockroach lab, 2.) ant lab, 3.) molecular/resistance lab, and 4.) The Entomology Bug Barn. Each location will have a small presentation with demonstrations and specimens pertaining to the work done in each lab as well as a chance to observe live insects and spiders.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

8:00 am – 10:00 am Rodenticides, EPA & ESA Hardy Kern, ABC Birds & Bobby Corrigan, RMC Consulting

Indiana CCHs: 2 each in 7A & RT

A two-hour presentation covering ESA and rodenticides, how the EPA reaches those decisions and how to comply with ESA concerns when using rodenticides.

10:15 am – 11:15 am






10:15 am – 11:15 am
CONCURRENT 10:15 am – 11:15 am Protecting Public Health Dan Baldwin, Hawx Services

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A, 8 & RT

Dan will discuss public health in relation to food plant/stored product pests. This talk will cover the “usual suspects,” pheromones, food courts and more.

Birds in Structures Rolie Calzadilla, Pest Wildlife Pro

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Pigeons and nuisance bird control, identification, behavior, habitat modification, permits for other birds, etc.

11:15 am – 12:15 pm







11:15 am – 12:15 pm
CONCURRENT 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Audit Standards Dan Collins, Independent Pest Management Consulting

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Preparing for an inspection in food plants.

Birds & Public Health Ray Olschewski, Bird Barrier

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Biology and behavior of birds and how their management impacts public health aspects.
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm Regulatory Update Dave Scott, Office of the Indiana State Chemist

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

Dave will update the group on latest developments on the regulatory front.
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm Estimating Bed Bug Populations & Multi-Unit Housing Morgan Wilson, Virginia Tech

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

How to and case studies on managing bed bugs in multi-unit housing.

Monday, March 18, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am KEYNOTE: One Health Dr. Faith Oi, University of Florida

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Where the pest control industry fits into the one health initiative by protecting health and property.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Live Q & A with Dr. Faith Oi
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Rodenticides, EPA & ESA Hardy Kern, ABC Birds & Dr. Bobby Corrigan, RMC Consulting

Indiana CCHs: 2 each in 7A & RT

A two-hour presentation covering ESA and rodenticides, how the EPA reaches those decisions and how to comply with ESA concerns when using rodenticides.
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Live Q & A with Dr. Bobby Corrigan & Hardy Kern
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm New Technologies Jeff McGovern, The Resource Shop

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

What’s new and useful for the PMP? Jeff will present information on various technologies that are now available.
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm Live Q & A with Jeff McGovern

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am Doing the Math Dr. Cassie Krejci, Terminix

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

Calculating for chemicals, how to prepare your solutions according to label directions.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Live Q & A with Dr. Cassie Krejci
10:00 am – 11:00 am Truck Equipment Eric Ham, FMC

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

What should be on your truck? Eric will inform the group on how to outfit your rig for the best service.
11:00 am – 11:30 am Live Q & A with Eric Ham
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Drones Dale Hodgson, Rose Pest Solutions

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Using drones for inspections and surveys including coverage of FFA and licensing issues.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Live Q & A with Dale Hodgson
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Protecting Public Health Dan Baldwin, Hawx Services

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A, 8 & RT

Dan will discuss public health in relation to food plant/stored product pests. This talk will cover the “usual suspects,” pheromones, food courts and more.
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Live Q & A with Dan Baldwin

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am Monitoring for German Cockroaches Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, Rose Pest Solutions

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Proper use of insect monitors for cockroaches.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Live Q & A with Shep Sheperdigian
10:00 am – 11:00 am Cockroach Panel Mike Bentley, NPMA; Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar, Purdue University; Morgan Wilson, Virginia Tech; and Mark Sheperdigian, Rose Pest Solutions. Moderated by Pete Schopen, Schopen Pest Management

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

A panel of cockroach experts will discuss recent developments in research and application.
11:00 am – 11:30 am Live Q & A with Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar, Morgan Wilson and Mark Sheperdigian
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 4x4 Ants Mark VanderWerp, Rose Pest Solutions

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A, 7B & RT

Four key midwestern species to know and four less common species that are challenging to control.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Live Q & A with Mark VanderWerp
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Building Biology & Termite Entry Points Dr. Faith Oi, University of Florida

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7B, 12 & RT

Faith will update the group on biology and behavior of termites plus how to identify and eliminate entry points.
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Live Q & A with Dr. Faith Oi

Thursday, March 21, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am Safety in Small Spaces Jeff McGovern, The Resource Shop

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8 & RT

Staying safe in confined spaces including attics and crawlspaces, topic will include heat, PPE, asbestos awareness, animal droppings, respirators and more.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Live Q & A with Jeff McGovern
10:00 am – 11:00 am Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens Lee Green, Indiana Department of Health

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Updates on the latest developments in ticks and tick-borne pathogen surveillance across the US with specific findings for Indiana.
11:00 am – 11:30 am Live Q & A with Lee Green
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm How to Solve the Big Problem of Small Flies Dr. Jody Green, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

In this presentation Jody will talk about the big challenge of small flies, which include fruit flies, drain flies, phorid flies, and fungus gnats. She will start off with how to easily identify each fly in order to determine and eliminate the breeding site. Breaking the life cycle is very important for small fly management in homes, businesses and especially in food service.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Live Q & A with Dr. Jody Green

Friday, March 22, 2024

8:00 am – 9:00 am Zoonotics Diseases Jay Tischendorph, American Ecological Research Institute

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A, 8 & RT

A broad overview of infectious and zoonotic diseases, key risks and dangers associated with the species and groups with which pest control professionals typically interact.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Live Q & A with Dr. Jay Tischendorf
10:00 am – 11:00 am Top Five Invasive Pests Mike Bentley, NPMA

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 7A & RT

Mike will discuss the most recent offenders including the spotted lantern fly.
11:00 am – 11:30 am Live Q & A with Mike Bentley
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Regulatory Update Dave Scott, Office of the Indiana State Chemist

Indiana CCHs: 1 each in 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7D, 8, 12 & RT

Dave will update the group on latest developments on the regulatory front.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Live Q & A with Dave Scott