Who will be the 100th ... who will be the first?

ACE is rapidly becoming the most desired certification to hold in the structural pest management industry. As of today there are 641 ACEs (including a few who have yet to renew for 2013 and are on the ragged edge of losing their certification).

I just did some interesting analysis of our ACEs and found that Florida leads the nation in total number of ACEs with Texas as a somewhat distant second place. In Florida we have 99 ACEs and I cannot help but wonder who will have the privilege of being #100 (It is worth noting that a lot of the Florida ACEs have come through the excellent ACE Prep Courses out of the University of Florida-Gainesville and were taught by Rebecca Baldwin, Wayne Walker (ACE), and others. See this link for more information on their next course).

We have ACEs in 43 of the 50 US states, but in some of the mid-western and western states we don't have any PMPs who have earned their ACE certification. There are currently 0 ACEs in the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Hawaii, and Alaska.  How about THAT for a marketing opportunity -- the benefit of telling your customers that you are the ONLY Associate Certified Entomologist in the state.

In four other states we have some who have just that opportunity. So here's a shout-out to those industry leaders who have gone out in front of the pack. Congrats to:

• Grady Jones of Western Exterminator - the only ACE in Nevada
• Kevin Elliott of JC Ehrlich - the only ACE in Delaware
• Brandon Hier of L/R Pest Elimination Services - the only ACE in Vermont
• Mike Spry of Precision Services Management - the only ACE in West Virginia

And congratulations to the rest of our ACEs as well -- for recognizing the benefit to their profession, their professionalism, and their career by becoming and maintaining their ACE certification.

Reality TV opportunity

Now I'm not usually a big fan of reality TV, but where it intersects with my profession, it can be pretty cool. I heard from a producer of Animal Planet’s TV show Infested!. 

They are currently looking for unique, challenging and ultimately resolved stories of pest infestation for their new series this year. Of course with a program such as this, they are after the most severe and problems to make for interesting stories for their viewers! The only true stipulation is that the critters have to have invaded the someone's home and the owners have to have struggled to rid themselves of the animal/insect.

If you have ever come across any particularly unique infestations in the past they would love to hear from you. Think big and think back on your experiences as a PMP. What kind of bed bugs, spiders, ants, bees, snakes, stink bugs, rodents (etc, etc) have you seen?  

From a marketing standpoint, it can be really good exposure for you to show how your firm has tackled crazy problems. 

If you're interested in submitting an idea, please contact mail@dsp.tv. Be sure to reference ‘Entomological Society of America’ so that we get some love too!

NEPMA ... a long overdue post

This is one of those posts that I meant to put up long ago and time just got away from me. So with advanced apologies for the timeliness, I wanted to give a huge shout out to the New England Pest Management Association (NEPMA). From what I have heard, they put together a fantastic ACE prep course on the 5th of April (taught by two long-time BCEs Mark Buffone and Kevin Moran). With over 30 people testing, the day ended with 20 new ACEs. Our congratulations to:


Mr. Ralph P. Blumenthal, ACE (Atlantic Pest Solutions), Kennebunkport, ME
Mr. Theodore W St. Amand, ACE (Atlantic Pest Solutions), Kennebunkport, ME
Mr. Rodney Dewey, ACE (Dewey Pest & Wildlife (Dewey Service Corp)), Hopedale, MA
Mr. Barry R McInnes, ACE (Eagle Environmental Pest Elimination, LLC), Dracut, MA
Mr. Eric J Polito, ACE (Eco Systems Pest Management), Hanover, MA
Mr. Jason Mosely, ACE (Ecologic Entomology LLC), Boston, MA
Mr. Thomas M Snow, ACE (Ecologic Entomology LLC), Boston, MA
Mr. Peter G. Wonson, Jr., ACE (General Environmental Services Inc), Malden, MA
Mr. Robert A. Leon, Jr., ACE (General Environmental Services Inc), Malden, MA
Mr. Edward Brayton, ACE (Griggs + Browne Pest Control), Abington, MA
Mr. Joseph P. Martin, ACE (Guardian Pest Control), Rumford, RI
Mr. Christopher Johnson, ACE (Guardian Pest Control), Deep River, CT
Mr. William King, ACE (King Pest Control), Springfield, MA
Mr. Lyndon N King, ACE (King's Pest and Lawn Services), Georgetown, TX
Mr. Robert C Gelineau, ACE (Pest-X, Inc), Seymour, CT
Mr. Guy L George, ACE (Premier Pest Control Inc), Granby, MA
Mr. Brian Michael Moran, ACE (R.K. Environmental Services), East Hartford, CT
Mr. Israel Rey Alvarez, ACE (The Steritech Group), Orange, CA
Mr. Michael J. Russell, ACE (Waltham Services, LLC), Weymouth, MA
Mr. Galvin C Murphy, ACE (Yankee Pest Control Inc), Malden, MA

And our thanks to the incredible organizational skills of NEPMA staff liaison, Matt Gatzke.

New ACEs and BCEs

Please help me in congratulating the latest professionals to earn their ACE or BCE. This is a rigorous undertaking and we're proud to recognize these folks as some of the best in the industry.


Mr. Mark Eden Myers, ACE -- Safari Versatile Services, LLC, (Louisville, KY  USA)
Mr. Douglas Wayne Wilson, ACE -- Ace Exterminating Co., Inc., (Joelton, TN  USA)
Mr. Brad Whitley, Sr., ACE -- Hometown Pest Services, (Mechanicsville, VA  USA)
Dr. Denise Thomas DeBusk, BCE -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command, (Norfolk, VA  USA)
Capt. Derek R. Monthei, BCE -- US Army, (Fort Bragg, NC  USA)

Congratulations folks!

19 new ACEs

Word is spreading ... the ACE program continues to grow at an incredible pace. Between Jan 1 and Feb 12, 19 pest management professionals sat for their ACE exam and passed. Please help us in congratulating these professionals on their achievement.


Mr. Jason Wick, ACE - (Guardian Pest Control, Inc.), Duluth, MN
Mr. David M. Pomfret, ACE - (Fahey Pest Managgment, Inc.), Sarasota, FL
Mr. Ruben Ardila-Trillos, ACE - (Zoro Pest Control, LLC), Houston, TX
Mr. Brad Weston Hackbart, ACE - (Phoenix Pest Solutions LLC), Tioga, TX
Mr. Steven T Sides, Sr., ACE - (Rottler Pest and Lawn Solutions), Saint Louis, MO
Mr. Brandon K Hier, ACE - (L/R Pest Elimination Services), Essex Junction, VT
Mr. Kevin WIlliam McClernon, ACE - (Chem-Wise Ecological Pest Management Inc.), Rolling Meadows, IL
Mr. Jeffrey D Wick, ACE - (Guardian Pest Solutions, Inc), Saint Paul, MN
Mr. Ronald Dean Mann, ACE - (Mann vs Pest Inc), San Diego, CA
Mr. Edward Carl Schnabel IV, ACE - (McCall Service, Inc), Ocala, FL
Mr. William Michael Edwards, ACE - (Frontier Pest Control), Durham, NC
Mr. Jackie Lee Thornton, ACE - (Alvin Pest Control), Alvin, TX
Mr. William Michael Weed, ACE - (Mike Weed's Termite and Pest Control Inc.), Cantonment, FL
Mr. Daniel Jesus Bradshaw, ACE - (Cats USA Pest Control, Inc.), North Hollywood, CA
Mr. Steve Chakos, ACE - (Western Exterminator Company), Anaheim, CA
Mr. Norman Ray Connolly, ACE - (Connolly Pest Management), Mesa, AZ
Mr. James P Miller, ACE - (JP Miller & Sons Services, Inc.), Deerfield Beach, FL
Mr. Harold Donald Snyder, ACE - (Snyder's Termite & Pest Control Inc), Riverside, CA
Mr. Stephen M Snow, ACE - (The Industrial Fumigant Company, LLC), Fairfield, CA

If you would like to test for your ACE, check out the ACE site to learn more about eligibility requirements.

Promoting ACE and BCE

Those of us who are involved in the ESA certification programs are continually asked "what can you tell me about certification"?  Here is a simple description of what it takes to become ACE and BCE certified:

Thanks for your interest in ESA’s certification programs. We offer two programs, ACE and BCE. Click through on some of these helpful links that will explain the difference.  Essentially, BCE is a certification program designed for those with an educational background in entomology. A minimum educational degree of a bachelor’s (in entomology or a related science) is required. For ACE, the applicant’s experience is likely to be more applied. No educational degree is required, but a person would need at least seven years’ verifiable experience in structural pest management and a current pesticide applicator’s license.

In both cases, the applicants who become certified do so because they want to do one or more of the following:

·         Advance in their career

·         Set a good example for their co-workers, employees, etc

·         Better position themselves to compete on bids where a certification is required

·         Promote the professionalism of their industry

·         Consult this page for more reasons why a person may want to become certified

Once a person decides that they want to take that important career step and become certified, the process is pretty simple. Here are the steps for both ACE and BCE:

1.       Applicant sends their application to ESA (applications are PDFs and are online here for ACE and here for BCE).

2.       Applications are reviewed by the Committee Chair for the program or his/her designee

·         If the application is accepted, the person is notified via email and has now officially entered the program and has one year to take their exam. This is the study period.

·         If the application is not accepted, the person is notified as to the reason. They are eligible to have ½ of the application fee returned or – in the case of a non-successful BCE application – the applicant could transfer the full amount to an ACE application, assuming they meet the qualifications.

3.       Once the applicant feels ready, they set a test date with a proctor and notify ESA of this fact (in some cases the applicants know their proctor and test date ahead of time and that information is communicated to ESA as a part of the application process).

·         A proctor is a person of high community standing who administers the exam – usually online. ESA’s preference for proctors is in this order: BCE, then ACE, then ESA member, then a trusted community member (such as a government official, college professor, etc). A proctor who has a direct conflict of interest with the applicant (e.g., immediate family member, employer/employee, should not be selected unless no other choice exists and the selected proctor is a BCE or ACE. In these cases, the proctor’s ethical agreement to abide by the BCE Code of Ethics or the ACE Code of Ethics supersedes the conflict).

·         Here are some suggestions for making initial contact witha proctor.

·         Consider using the BCE and ACE rosters to select a proctor that is geographically near you.

4.       Once the proctor is chosen and the test date is set, that information must be communicated to ESA’s Certification Department (admin@entocert.org)

5.       On or about the Friday prior to the exam, two emails are sent from ESA HQ. The BCE applicant usually takes at least two tests (one core and one specialty). The ACE applicant just takes one test.

·         An email with the exam details (including URL, username, and password) is sent to the proctor

·         An email confirming the exam is sent to the applicant

6.       Upon completion of the exam, a score flashes onto the computer screen which is unofficial. This will be confirmed or altered later by the Exam Chairman or his/her designee. If the exam was not successful, the applicant will be provided with a coaching report for their next attempt

7.       ESA HQ will send out a confirmation notification via email with a final score on the exam.

·         If successful, a newly-certified packet will arrive shortly in the mail and the applicant is now certified.

·         If unsuccessful, a coaching report will be sent. The applicant can retake the exam. A retake form is available online for both ACE and BCE. In each case, the applicant must wait at least 3 months but not more than one year in order to retest. After one year the application expires and a new application would be required for the certification process to continue.

If you want to get a sense of what the exam is like, consider taking the ACE Practice Exam. The URL is here. The username is “Sample ACE” and the password is “password”.

7 Reasons to Choose an ACE or a BCE for your pest management problems

1.     Experts
Many people don’t spend time thinking about pest control. They go about their life – swatting the occasional fly when needed – and only think of pest management when something gets beyond their control. In these emergent situations, the customer doesn’t always have time to fully vet a range of firms to find the most knowledgeable resource. They simply want someone to come in, find out what the problem is, and fix it. Associate and Board Certified Entomologists have proven that they are a cut above. Their credentials have been approved by the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and they have passed a rigorous test of their knowledge of urban entomology. In short, if they hire a certified entomologist, customers can have a high degree of confidence that the person walking through the door will be able to tell a termite problem from an ant problem – and they’ll know what to do about it.

2.     IPM
But simply identifying the problem is not enough. Pest management is an industry that has a history of heavy dependence on chemicals. But a chemical solution is not always the best solution. In some cases all that does is treat a symptom – and not always accurately at that. Instead, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a better course of action. Utilizing IPM principles, the pest management professional is much more of a detective. They assess the situation, look for clues on what is causing the infestation, and then determine the best course of action to solve the problem. The result can be as simple as figuring out and removing whatever the creatures are living in and feeding on (harborage sites) and may not involve spraying chemicals. This is important because fewer chemicals being applied in the home means less exposure for people and animals. A certified entomologist understands and follows IPM principles. Hiring an ACE means hiring someone who knows more than how to pull the trigger on a spray gun.

3.     At least seven years’ experience
To become ACE certified a person must show a documented level of dedication to the industry. For ACEs that is seven years in structural pest management. An advanced degree is not required to be ACE certified (though you do need at least a bachelor’s degree to become a BCE), but those who go through the program and attain their certification are those who are both book- and battle-tested in urban pest management.

4.     Code of Ethics
Every certified entomologist signs an agreement with ESA to continue to adhere to the Code of Ethics. Every year. This document assures that –under pain of revocation of certification– the ACE or BCE will always keep the customer’s interests at the forefront of their business dealings, act in an environmentally and socially responsible fashion, and seek to create a better world for all through their professional and personal actions. 

5.     Back-up
The certified entomologist may enter a structure alone, but they have over 6,000 professionals backing them up. The Entomological Society of America (ESA) is a 120-year old association of insect scientists. When an ACE or BCE finds themselves in a situation that they cannot solve on their own –be it a new insect they’ve not encountered before or a creature behaving in a way that they would not have expected it– they know that they can find a colleague and seek advice on solutions. In today’s increasingly globalized society, insects and other invasive species travel with surprising ease between areas that they would otherwise have never been able to approach. With members across the globe, the ESA may just be the most important tool in the bag of today’s pest management professional.

6.     Bed bugs
PMPs across the country report that an increasingly large amount of their time is spent on management of this pest. The latest research shows that many tools that a home owner or less-trained PMP may rely on are largely ineffective against bed bugs and may actually do more harm than good as the insects build up a resistance to a spray that does not kill them. Recently ESA published research that proves both room foggers and ultrasonic devices have little to no impact on bed bugs. Further, 70% of the time the bed bugs may not even be on the bed. Finding and controlling bed bugs takes persistence, knowledge, and skill. ACEs and BCEs have proven to be the pest management professionals who stay on top of the latest developments in control.

7.     Cost
And finally … what it all boils down to is cost, right?  Customers want to know that their PMP is going to solve their problems in the fastest, safest, and least expensive way possible. While a lesser-trained PMP might only be treating symptoms, a certified entomologist knows how to get to the source of the problem and seek ways to take care of it. This will result in lower callbacks and fewer times you’ll have to treat the same problem. For while we’re never get rid of all of the insects in our homes, restaurants, and other buildings – it only makes sense to use the best and the brightest to solve what we can. And that means calling an Associate (or Board!) Certified Entomologist.