Speakers

	Dan Baldwin Hawx Service	Dan has over 24 years of expert technical, sales and operations history in the pest control industry. His client segment service expertise is in the areas of food service and food processing, hospitality, warehousing and distribution, and biopharmaceutical and traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing. He is a Board-Certified Entomologist. He Currently employed by Hawx Services as Vice President of Technical Services.
	Mike Bentley NPMA	Mike Bentley is the Vice President of Training and Technical Services with the National Pest Management Association. He is a board-certified entomologist who holds a Ph.D. in urban entomology from the University of Florida. His doctorate research focused on understanding environmental factors that influence the success of invasive ants in the southeastern US. Prior to earning his doctorate, Mike spent 5 years working in the pest management industry where he held multiple technical and operations roles for a nationwide pest control company. Mike also has a Master of Science degree in medical and veterinary entomology from the University of Florida where he studied the host-seeking behavior of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
	Bobby Corrigan RMC Consulting	Bobby Corrigan has been active in urban and industrial pest management for over 35 years and is owner of RMC Pest Management in Richmond, Indiana. He provides training and consulting services to the pest management and food industries. Prior to forming his company, Bobby was a teacher and researcher in urban and industrial pest management with the Department of Entomology at Purdue University. Bobby’s experience ranges from technician to author. Bobby holds an AAS degree in pest control from State University of New York, a B.S. degree in Urban and Industrial Entomology from Purdue, and Masters and Ph.D. also from Purdue. He is easily one of the most requested speakers to appear on the Purdue conference program.
	Ameya Gondhalekar Purdue University	Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar is a research associate professor in the Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management at Purdue University. He is originally from Mumbai, India where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Sciences and Entomology, respectively. His training in Urban Entomology began at the University of Florida, where he completed his PhD working with German cockroach toxicology and resistance management. After a brief 1-year post-doctoral training at Purdue University he was hired as a research faculty at Purdue’s Urban Entomology center. His research program focuses on basic biology (insect toxicology and physiology) and integrated management of urban insect pests. Although Dr. Gondhalekar has experience in working with biology and management of all major urban insect pests, he is currently working with cockroaches and bed bugs.
	Lee Green Indiana Dept. of Health
	Eric Ham FMC	Eric is the Key Customer Manager at FMC out of Florence, Kentucky. He holds a B.S. of Entomology from the University of Kentucky.
	Hardy Kern American Bird Conservancy	Hardy is the Director of Government Relations at the American Bird Conservancy in Columbus, Ohio. He is an experienced wildlife educator, animal keeper, science communicator, event planner, and non-profit board member, as well as an advocate for wildlife and professional development. He holds a B.S. in Zoology from The Ohio State University and an M.P.A. (Mater of Public Administration) from Kent State.
	Cassie Krejci Rentokil Initial	Dr. Cassie Krejci is the Head of Science & Innovation, North America at Rentokil Initial, where she works with a team of specialized scientists to drive the development of new technology for Rentokil teams around the world. Cassie received her Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science degree in Agriculture from Tarleton State University, an Executive Leadership Certificate from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and is a Preventative Controls Qualified Individual by the FSPCA. Cassie is a board-certified entomologist, and her specialties include integrated pest management, product development and insecticide formulations. Additionally, Cassie serves as immediate past president of Pi Chi Omega, the international fraternity for pest control professionals. Cassie recently moved to Dallas, Texas, to design and build the North American Science & Innovation Center for Rentokil Terminix, a 70,000 sq. ft. research and development facility that is set to open in early 2024. Above all, Cassie loves teaching others the science of pest management, both live and on social media as @CassieTheBugDoc.
	Jeff McGovern The Resource Shop	Jeff McGovern is nationally recognized in the pest control industry. In 1973, Jeff began working in the pest control industry and held various positions within several companies that allowed him travel throughout the US and SE Asia. Jeff developed a unique perspective with extraordinary examples of pest control options and a mission. Through his mission to improve conventional methods of IPM programs, he created an effective and comprehensive program that not only addresses the pests, but also the conditions of the site that lead to the problem. His “12 Key Factors” program is currently in use by professional pest control operators and clients around the world. Jeff’s mission continues to drive change in the pest control industry. Jeff, sometimes referred to as the “Pest Coach” for his abundant knowledge of pests, is known for his practical, down to earth style; Jeff’s engaging and humorous personality enable him to connect with his audience immediately and deliver content that they can utilize immediately in their daily working environment. He also understands the demands and expectations of government agencies and works to create a program that not only meets the needs and protects the brand of the client but assures the health, safety and property of the public as well. As a leading consultant and pest control expert, Jeff is a speaker at the annual Purdue University Pest Management and Interstate Pest Management (Baltimore, MD) conferences. His active relationships with professionals at the USDA and numerous others in the field keep his recommendations current and dynamic. He teaches recertification classes for pest control firms and state associations across the country. His articles regularly appear in Pest Management Professional (PMP) and Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazines and he was published in The Journal of Economic Entomology in 2000. He appears in several training videos and has been the voice over talent as well.
	Faith Oi Florida University	Dr. Faith Oi is Extension Professor and the Director of Pest Management University (https://pestmanagementuniversity.org/), an academy that provides state-of-the-art education and hands-on training for the industry. She works at a “grassroots-level” and does applied research to solve industry problems. She has published >250 Extension, refereed and technical journal articles. Led the development of 10 multiday curricula in structural pest management, and has given >350 presentations. She offers a graduate seminar titled Issues in Pest Management. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida and her M.S. and B.A. degrees from the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa.
	Pete Schopen Schopen Pest Control	Pete is a 2nd generation pest control operator and former sports broadcaster. While in college, Pete worked for his dad, Big Pete, at Mid Central Pest Control (Algonquin, Illinois). Pete met his future wife, Tami, at Elmhurst College, where he graduated with a degree in communications. Pete and Tami traveled around the country while Pete worked as a newscaster and play-by-play sports broadcaster. Pete called games for high school, college and pro sports in Nebraska, Missouri, Mississippi and North Carolina. When they started a family, Pete retired from broadcasting and rejoined his dad at Mid Central. A few years later, Pete decided to start Schopen Pest Solutions in McHenry, IL. While growing his business, the father of two started writing "Start-Up Diaries" for Pest Management Professional Magazine. The award-winning monthly article follows Pete's successes (and failures) in pest control.
	Dave Scott Office of the Indiana State Chemist	Dave is currently in the position of pesticide administrator the Office of the Indiana State Chemist. He has held the past positions of OISC Certification and Licensing Manager, OISC Pesticide Investigator and structural pest control service manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in general sciences and biology from Purdue University.
	Mark Sheperdigian Rose Pest Solutions	Known better simply as “Shep,” Mark Sheperdigian is an urban entomologist who serves as Vice President of Technical Services for Rose Pest Solutions of Troy, Michigan. He has become well-known both locally and nationally within the pest management industry. He graduated in 1982 from Michigan State University with a Bachelors in Entomology. Since April of 1983, Shep has been working in urban pest management and has held a variety of positions including service, sales, management and technical support. Among his many current duties are the oversight and support of the Rose Canine Division. He has served on working groups and committees at all levels to develop training programs and technical position papers. From 1987 until its dissolution in 2020, Shep was a member of the Copesan Technical Committee where he served two years as its chairman and now serves on the board of the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (UPMTC), a group consisting of technical staff from companies across North America. He is a columnist for Pest Management Professional Magazine and contributes expert opinion for articles in many trade journals and newspapers across the country. Shep is a regular invited speaker to many conferences, and training courses around the nation. He is a Board Certified Entomologist, and a PCT Crown Leadership Award recipient.
	Mark VanderWerp Rose Pest Solutions	Mark is the Manager of Education and Training for Rose Pest Solutions, the nation’s oldest pest management company, founded in 1860. He is based out of Rose’s Troy, MI corporate office where he heads up a variety of training initiatives, including new employee technical training, online initial and ongoing training, safety education, public outreach, and so much more! Mark learned a thing or two about pest management from his years in the field, having previously served as a supervisor and commercial technician in Rose’s Grand Rapids district office. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in entomology from Michigan State University in 2005. At MSU he had the opportunity lead tours for the Bughouse as well work in the lab of Dr. Rufus Isaacs with a variety of small fruit pests, primarily the grape berry moth (Tortricidae: Paralobesia viteana). Mark is a board-certified entomologist through the Entomological Society of America, on the board of the Michigan Entomological Society, and a member of the newly formed Urban Pest Management Technical Committee. He previously served as the chair of NPMA’s Technical Committee. In 2015 he was the first to collect and document a new invasive species in MI, the Elm Seed Bug (Lygaeidae: Arocatus melanocephalus). Finally, Mark is obsessed to an almost unhealthy degree with insect macro photography—his images have won photo contests and been used in a variety of entomological and pest management publications. He lives in Lathrup Village, MI with his wife, two young boys, Australian Shepherd, and lots of bugs!
	Morgan Wilson Virginia Tech	A Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech and Research Specialist at Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory, also at Virginia Tech where she studies development and effective methodologies to control bed bug eggs. She is a 2014 graduate from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science and a 2018 MS Graduate from Texas Tech. She is a licensed pesticide applicator and is also licensed in fumigation.
	Dr. Jody Green University of Nebraska – Lincoln	Jody Green is an Extension Educator for Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties, located in Omaha, NE. Her primary focus is developing educational programs related to structural and health-related arthropod pests for communities in Nebraska. She earned her master's and Ph.D. in Entomology from Purdue University and is ESA board certified with a specialty in Urban/Industrial Entomology. She received practical experience in the field of pest management through employment as a pesticide applicator, termite inspector, pest consultant, and trainer presenter for various urban IPM programs.
	Dale Hodgson Rose Pest Solutions	Dale Hodgson is the regional technical manager responsible for providing technical and quality assurance support to Rose's Ohio-based operations. He is based in the company's Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, office and has been with the company for 19 years. Hodgson is respected for his active presence in industry associations and published articles. Before joining Rose, he spent 14 years with the University of Michigan, developing and providing the school's pest management programs. A board certified entomologist and member of the Entomological Society of America since 1995, Hodgson has a varied background with experience in outdoor and structural pest management as well as nuisance wildlife management. He is also a member of the National Wildlife Control Operators of America and is a Certified Wildlife Control Professional. Hodgson is a respected technical resource person throughout the pest control industry. He has been interviewed by various TV stations regarding newly invasive insect species as well as current pest issues in the news. He has had several articles published in PCT and Facilities Management magazines. Hodgson is also noted for developing and presenting training talks for the Michigan Pest Control Association, the Ohio Pest Control Association and Purdue Pest Management Conference among others. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Pest Management Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Pest Management Association. His work has been recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for its contribution to the development Integrated Pest Management training programs. Hodgson holds degrees from Walsh University, North Canton, OH and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI. In his free time, he builds and flies both model and high-powered rockets, is an avid disc golfer and enjoys sport and tactical target shooting.
	Dr. Jay Tischendorf American Ecological Research Institute	Dr. Jay Tischendorf is a veterinarian and wildlife biologist with special interests ranging widely from anesthesia to zoonoses, and large carnivores to insects. The founder and director of the American Ecological Research Institute (--AERIE), Dr. Tischendorf has a BS degree in Zoology from Ohio University and a DVM degree from Colorado State. He has worked extensively with threatened and endangered species, and has been a research associate with the Craighead Institute since 1987, originally working with Lance Craighead and his father, Frank Craighead Jr, on raptor studies in Jackson Hole. With experience spanning field biology and scientific research, clinical veterinary practice, and service in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Jay has literally worked across the entire North American continent and in Central America and Canada as well. He is certified as an Expert Animal Cruelty Investigator and serves as scientific advisor and trainer with the National Animal Care and Control Association, the Law Enforcement Training Institute at the University of Missouri, and the National Wildlife Control Operators Association. Additionally he is Human-Animal Bond and Fear-Free Certified, as well as a member of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Zoonoses Committee. Jay previously served as adjunct faculty at the University of Great Falls in Montana and is a former wildland firefighter and US Marine. He has ongoing research projects involving large carnivores, raptors, and reptiles. He is also part of a team of scientists working with the National Aviary that recently rediscovered the supposedly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker. Dr. Tischendorf teaches courses on animal immobilization, has provided volunteer veterinary care for Native American Nations, and leads an annual tracking and winter survival course in the Rocky Mountains. He is a regular speaker at a number of veterinary medical and technical schools as well as conservation and ecological symposia and veterinary and human medical conferences.
	Lee Green Indiana State Department of Health	Lee Green has been a Vector-borne Epidemiologist/Medical Entomologist with the Indiana State Department of Health since 2006 where he serves as a subject matter expert in Northern Indiana. He is a board member of the Indiana Pesticide Review board, Indiana Vector Control Association, and the Indiana Environmental Health Association. During his career, he has collected and identified over 400,000 mosquitoes, 3,000 ticks, and has given over 250 talks across the state to help educate Hoosiers on insects and diseases that impact human health.