Cisse W. Spragins, Ph.D. Rockwell Labs Ltd
IgrewupinTennesseeandhadanearlyinterestinscience andaloveofhorses Igotintothepestcontrolindustryby chancewhenImetthefounderofBellLabs(MalcolmStack) throughridinghorses,whileIwasingradschoolatUWMadison.Ihadamastersinchemistryandwasworkingonmy PhDinphysics.IstartedworkinginthechemistrylabatBell parttimeasaresearcherin1989,whenBellhadbeenin businessfor15years.IhadthoughtIwantedtogointo academicresearch,butafterworkingatBellfortwoyearsin whatwasstillaveryentrepreneurialenvironmentatthattime, IfoundthatIreallyenjoyedwhatIwasdoingandseemedto haveatalentforit.WhenIfinishedmyPhD,Bellneededa TechnicalDirector.Insteadoflookingforajobinphysics,I endeduptakingtheopportunityatBell.
Bell did not have much international business at that time, but as the company had grown, we began getting a pretty steady stream of inquiries. Many of these inquiries came to my desk first, as registrations were normally needed. Over time, I started managing these opportunities more proactively and by 1994, I had pretty much worked my way into a second full time job. I gave my boss a proposal to set up a European company that I would own part of and he declined after his lawyers told him everything that might go wrong! I told him that absent that sort of opportunity, I would likely leave at some point. And that I was going to move to Europe to set up an office and logistics warehouse for Bell as it would be good for his business. I moved to the UK in 1995 and spent the next 3 years getting registrations and setting up distributors in Europe and a number of other countries.
by Fire
Itwasagreatopportunityandtrialbyfire atthesametime.Myresponsibilities includedthechemandbiologylabs, qualitycontrol,activeingredient manufacturingandregulatory.Wehad somemajorregulatoryandbusiness challengesatthetimeandnooneonmy teamhadanypriorexperienceandwe wereallunder30.Wedidn’tknowwhatwe couldn’tdo,sowedidit.IlearnedthatI thrivedinthatenvironment.
Trial
Cisse W. Spragins, Ph.D. Rockwell Labs Ltd
Beingawomaninthisrolewasdefinitelynotthenorm.I wasalsoprettyaggressiveandcompetitivewhichwas unusualinastaidEuropeanmarketthathadbeen dominatedbyafewincumbentsformanyyears.We shookthingsupanditwasanawesome(and exhausting)experience.
By 1998, it got to be time to leave. I don’t think I could have lived with myself if I didn’t try to do it on my own. I moved to Minneapolis in August of 1998 and incorporated Rockwell. In some ways what I had done at Bell was great experience, and I learned a great many lessons working for the founder In other ways, nothing could have really prepared me The implicit security of a great company like Bell was something that you could easily take for granted, until it isn’t there And then you’re alone, and quite frankly, important to no one
IhadsavedmoneyforthreeyearssinceIintendedtoleave. AndwasfortunatethatBellpaidmetorepresentthemonthe RodenticideTaskForcethatwasformedwithother manufacturerstoaddresstheconcernsfromEPA’srodenticide reregistrationactivitiesforthefirstseveralyearsafterIleft This alsobenefittedBellbyextendingmynon-compete Iwasable tobootstrapRockwellwithoutanyoutsideinvestors,whichis unusualforamanufacturingcompany.I’vealwayssaidthat frugalityisthepatronsaintofentrepreneurship;)!Learning howtodopesticideregistrationworkatBelldefinitelyhelped, asmanycompaniesspendalotonconsultants,andmaynot getthebestresultseither.
Ihadanon-competeandagoodrelationshipwithBell,soI decidedtofocusoninsectcontrol,withoutknowinganything aboutinsects!IPMwascomingintotheforeandIknewabout baitsandbaitstationsandthelike,soIfoundedRockwellto focusonIPMprinciples Overthelast25years,thathas evolvedintoourleadershipingreenproducts,stillwithafocus rootedinIPM Ispentthefirstyeartryingtocomeupwith someproductsandourofficialpubliclaunchwasatPestworld inOctober1999.Ihadoneproduct(theD-SectIPMstation) actuallyreadytosellatthebeginningof2000.2000wasthe sameyearalittleproductcalledTermidorcametothe market,soofcourseeveryonewantedtohearaboutanIPM insectstationandsomelures(not!).Thefirstcoupleofyears werereallydifficult.Webegantogetsometractionin2002 whenwecameoutwithInTiceSweetAntGel,andInTice GranularBaitattheendof2002,andIhiredmyfirstemployee, Anne,whoisstillwithustoday.Theseproductshavesince beenreplacedbyourpatentedInTiceGelanimo,andInTice10 PerimeterBait.
Since that time, it’s been putting one foot in front of the other When I was working in international business for Bell, I was often asked what the secret was to their success, and my answer would be that it wasn’t anything earth-shattering, we just did most things right every day. That’s what I’ve tried to do with Rockwell, and it’s easier said than done a lot of times. There is an endless stream of problems that come up. I’ve been through a lot of things that weren’t exactly on my “bucket list”, but that’s the reality of it and I have tried to shift the focus to feeling good about solving problems and coming out on the other side.
Ilovemanufacturingandtryingtofigureouthowtoproduce qualityproductsefficiently,andIenjoysalesandmarketing. Butmyfirstloveisproductdevelopment,asitencompasses allofthosethings,aswellasthetechnical/formulation developmentside Westartedwithstationsandlures,and thenmovedontoarangeofbaitsunderourInTiceandInVict brands,andthengotintobiosanitation(InVaderange)and smallflycontrolwithourfocusonIPM.Wethenmovedto dusts–BorActinandCimeXa,andstarteddevelopingthe EcoViabotanicalrangein2012.
Manyideascomefromgettingoutinthemarketandtalkingtopeopleandseeingwherepainpoints are,aswellaslookingatadvancesinformulationtechnology,ingredientsandregulations,aswellas markettrends.WhatI’mdoingallowsmetotouchalotofdifferentareas,whichisawesome.Thepest controlindustryisagreatindustryandI’mtrulygratefulforeverythingithasgivenme.Ifeltreally honoredtobeinductedintothePMPHallofFamein2018.I’msurethatbeinganentrepreneuriswhatI wascutoutfor.Ilovescience,butdon’thaveenoughpatiencetobeapureresearcher,andIliketosee thingsputtopracticaluse.
Apestcontrolservicebusinessisverydifferentfrommanufacturing,butI’msuremanyofthebusiness basicsarethesame.Keepingpromisesandperformingqualitywork,whileunderstandingit’sabusiness andyouneedtoknowwhereyourcostsare.Yourtimeissomethingyoucan’tmakemoreof,soit’s importanttolookcriticallyatwhatyou’redoingeachdaytomakesureyouarespendingitinareasthat willgiveyoutheresultsyouarelookingfor Youcan“ownajob”andhaveasmallbusinesswithloyal customersandmaybeacoupleofemployees,whereyouareabletobeveryhandsonwiththequality youaredeliveringandthatcanbeveryrewarding Ifyouwanttogrowaggressivelyandexpandto15or 20ormoreemployees,thatbeginstobeaverydifferentbusiness Whatyoudoeverydaywillchangea lot,aswillsomeoftheconsiderationsandsacrificesforsuccess It’simportanttoknowwhatyouwant andwhatyourgoalsare,andthatcanchangeovertimeaswell.
I’vefoundmyselfinmanyinterestingandsomeunfortunatecircumstancesovertheyears,beinga womaninmale-dominatedindustriesfromsciencetopestcontroltomanufacturing.Mostofthetime, youjustneedtorollwithit.Gettingtoocaughtupinnegativitydoesn’thelpyouemotionally.I’ve personallyfoundmotivationfromprovingwrongthepeoplewhobetagainstme!
CisseSpragins,PhD
SusanMasciarelli: Woman-OwnedSuccess atWeb-CoteIndustries
HowSusanGotStartedinPestControl
Susan’sjourneyinthepestcontrolindustrybegan in2008whenshejoinedWeb-CoteIndustries.With abackgroundinmanufacturingandoperations, shequicklyadaptedtotheuniquechallengesof producingglueproductsforpestcontrol.Growing uparoundmanufacturing,Susangained invaluableexperienceworkingalongsideher father,whowasanexecutiveinthefield.From safetyandtrainingtoprocessdevelopmentand qualitycontrol,theseearlylessonsprovidedher withasolidfoundationforsuccessatWeb-Cote.
2024markedamonumentalyearfor SusanMasciarelliandWeb-Cote Industries,asSusanbecamethe proudownerofthecompanyshehas dedicatedherselftoforover16years. HeracquisitionofWeb-Cote representsnotonlyapersonal achievementbutalsoasignificant milestoneforwomenin manufacturing,whereonly2%of companiesnationwidearewomanowned
When she joined the company, Susan’s role focused on documenting key operational processes during a leadership transition Her natural ability to lead and innovate quickly positioned her as an indispensable part of the team Rising to Vice President and General Manager, Susan developed a comprehensive understanding of the industry, paving the way for her eventual ownership
Throughout her career, Susan has had the opportunity to travel and connect with professionals across the globe, including attending industry events like PestWorld "One of my favorite parts of the annual PestWorld convention," Susan shared, "is meeting others in the industry and seeing the enthusiasm for new ideas It’s always motivating to connect with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers to share trends and innovative solutions." These experiences have inspired Susan to continuously explore opportunities for WebCote’s growth and innovation.
Challenges She’s Faced
Owning and leading Web-Cote has not been without its challenges. As one of the few woman-owned manufacturers in pest control, Susan has had to navigate two traditionally maledominated industries: manufacturing and pest control
Balancing operational demands with her vision for the company’s future has required resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to growth
“Every challenge has been an opportunity to learn and grow,” Susan noted “I’ve faced tough decisions, but the support of my team and my belief in Web-Cote’s mission have always guided me forward. It’s the strength of those connections and a shared sense of purpose that keep us moving ahead.”
AdviceforWomeninPestControl
Susanhasawealthofadviceforwomenlookingtobreak intothepestcontrolbusinessorsimilarfields.Herinsights, shapedbyyearsofexperience,include:
Confidence:
“Believeyoucan,andyouwill.Evenifyou’relearning,act confident itwillhelpyouseizeopportunitieswhenthey arise”
ShowUp:
“Makeyourselfvisiblebyattendingtradeshows,networking events,andtrainingsessions Beingpresentbuilds connectionsandcredibility”
KnowWhatYouDon’tKnow:
“Don’tbeafraidtoadmitwhensomethingisoutsideyour expertise.Seekoutknowledgeorcollaboratewiththosewho havetheskillsyouneed.”
BeProactive:
“Don’twaitforopportunitiestocometoyou tellotherswhat youwant,asktobeincludedinkeymeetings,andbuildyour network.”
Susanemphasizestheimportanceofbeingagood corporatecitizen,advocatingforeducation,training,and industry-widecollaboration.“Asawomanwhohas managedtoachieveleadershiprolesintwomaledominatedindustries,Ifeelstronglyaboutliftingothersup andsharingthelessonsI’velearned”
professional pest control operators, distributors, wholesalers with nationally recognized brands, agricultural retailers, and government entities Proudly made in the USA, their products play a crucial role in protecting public health, food safety, and property
Visit Web-Cote Industries at web-cote.com or connect with them on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn more and celebrate this exciting new chapter under Susan Masciarelli’s leadership.
Being Busy With Wizzie
Wizzie Brown’s Backyard Bug Hunt
Fungusgnats
Wizzie Brown is an Senior Extension Program Specialist- IPM with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in entomology from Ohio State University and a Master’s of Science in entomology from Texas A&M University. After leaving Texas A&M, Wizzie worked in structural pest control before taking a job with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Austin. She is a Board Certified Entomologist with a specialty in Urban Entomology and holds a non-commercial license from the Texas Structural Pest Control Service. Her research interests include red imported fire ants, bed bugs, and termites. Find her on Facebook “Wizzie Brown Backyard Bug Hunt”
If you have potted plants coming inside to stay away from the cold you may have these little creaters tagging along. They like moist soil so to make sure they stay away, water your plants less.
Do Giraffes Eat Insects?
They feed by browsing, which typically means they eat continuously throughout the day. A male is able to eat 75 pounds of food in a single day. Giraffe use their sense of smell to locate the leaves they want. They ingest everything on the branch when eating, including insects, bark, and thorns.
www.womeninpestcontrol.com
KELLY LONG MEMBER HIGHLIGHT
HOW I GOT STARTED
August of 1998 I was working as a file clerk at a pest control company. During this time i was being taught and learning about pest from Greg holly, a very well known and respected C.O. In October of 2001 I was laid off.
I was going from business to business filling out applications when I stopped at Ace Exterminating. They hired me on the spot as a technician solely because I was female The owners daughter was a field tech until she had to take over running the company At that time I was one of only 8 women in Georgia that was a field tech and not a sales rep
WOMEN IN PEST CONTROL:
Although people tend to discriminate bugs & pest do not Have you ever seen a 6ft 350lb man run from a mouse or spider? I have Women have been given the label of being "afraid" of bugs but that is not always the case! The pest control industry is not very female friendly You may experience harassment and discrimination This is the hardest part of our job. Do not let employers, co-worker or even customers push you out or make you feel as if you are not capable. You have to stand your ground and let them know that you can do your job as a technician just as good as anyone if not better!
Yes, cockroaches can hide inside televisions, especially in the small spaces behind the screen or around the connections where they are attracted to the warmth generated by the electronics; they can even lay eggs in these areas.
BestoftheBest
Peacock Pest Prevention
Cypress , TX
Lisa Botts- Owner
Best of Woodlands Girls Night Out Best Pest Control Guardian Tick & Mosquito Control
Shippensburg, PA, United States, Pennsylvania Suann Lehman - Owner Best of the Tristate 2024
Last Call Pest Control
Quinte West, Ontario, Canada
Rachel Mendes, Owner/Operator
BellevilleCommunityVotes2024
Evans Termite & Pest Control
Nicole Gorman Georgia
Best of Gergia
Creepy crawly Dirt Cake with Worms
whips up in a flash and is always a big hit with the kids. It’s disgustingly delicious!
Dirt Cake with Worms is essentially a chocolate pudding mixture with crushed Oreo cookie crumbs and garnished with gummy worms candy! It comes together in minutes and is always a big hit with the kids.
Glow Worms Book Club
Upcoming Dates:
February 25th 2025: “Profit First ” by Mike Michaelowicz
March 25th: “Traction” by Gino Wickman
You’re Invited to the
GlowWorms
Book Club!
To become a part of a thriving community of professionals dedicated to growth and success.
Are you looking for a way to prioritize your professional development while connecting with fellow female peers from across the nation? Then the WIPC GlowWorms Book Club may be right for you! We are a group of pest control professionals working in a variety of capacities in the industry. With a new book to discuss each month, we meet virtually at 7pm EST on the fourth Tuesday (Some variation based on holidays and industry events)
Complete the Google Form at the link on the right, grab your copy of next month’s book, and get ready for an enriching discussion with new friends and colleagues. Let’s read, learn, and “glow up” together!
We’re looking for ladies who want to be an advocate for each state. And other countries. We need ladies in the following states yet: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North and South Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming All Countries except Canada and Papa New Guinea Anyone interested in being involved please feel free to contact me directly. by email or call Bobbie Terry at (512) 468-9027 or Nanette Rota by email or (910) 990-9379
This is a great opportunity to develop your leadership skills and gain valuable experience, but remember it is a voluntary role and you will be required to put some time and effort in. We currently have an amazing team of inspirational women on the committee who all work hard in making WIPC successful and are passionate about making positive changes to the industry.”
10 Fascinating Cockroach Facts according to Pest world.org
1.)ACockroachCanLiveforWeekWithoutItsHead Duetotheiropencirculatorysystem,andthefactthattheybreathethrough littleholesineachoftheirbodysegments,theyarenotdependentonthe mouthorheadtobreathe.Theroachonlydiesbecausewithoutamouth,itcan't drinkwateranddiesofthirst.
2.)ACockroachCanHoldItsBreathfor40Minutes Thesepestscanevensurvivebeingsubmergedunderwaterforhalfanhour. Theyholdtheirbreathoftentohelpregulatetheirlossofwater.
3.)TheyCanRunUptoThreeMilesinanHour Whilethismayseemlikeanimpressiveathleticability,whatitreallymeansis thattheycanspreadgermsandbacteriathroughoutahomeveryquickly.
4.)NewbornGermanCockroachesBecomeAdultsinasLittleas36Days Infact,theGermancockroachisthemostcommonofthecockroachesandhas beenimplicatedinoutbreaksofillnessandallergicreactionsinmanypeople.
5.)AOne-Day-OldBabyCockroachCanRunAlmostasFastasItsParents Forreference,thesebabiesareaboutthesizeofaspeckofdust!So,notonly aretheyfast,buttheyarealsoelusive,whichisadangerouscombinationfora pestknowntotransmitvariousdiseases.
6.)TheAmericanCockroachHasShownanAttractiontoAlcohol Similartootherpests,thiscockroachspeciesisdrawntosomealcoholicbeverages, especiallybeer.Theyaremostlikelyattractedbythehopsandsugarpresentinthe drink.
7.)TheWorld'sLargestRoachisSixInchesLong OnlyfoundinSouthAmerica,thisspeciesalsohasaone-footwingspan.Forcontext, averagecockroachescanvaryinsizefrom½"-2"long.
8.)CockroachesareReallyOld Itisbelievedthatcockroachesoriginatedmorethan280millionyearsagointhe Carboniferousera.
9.)ThereareMoreThan4,000DifferentCockroachSpeciesWorldwide ThemostcommonspeciesistheGermancockroach.Othercockroachesfoundin Americaincludethebrown-bandedcockroach,Americancockroachandoriental cockroach.
10.)CockroachesCanLiveWithoutFoodforOneMonth
A little bit of knowledge goes a long way and can be very profitable
Red-eyed fruit fly larvae feed on yeast found in fermenting fruit, including banana peels, onions, tomatoes and just about any perishable produce. Larvae can also breed in food or drink-soaked cloth items, like mop heads and dish rags. In restaurants they use sugar sources like soda fountains and beer taps.
Education is the key to gaining and keeping customers. Sanitation is the big key in managing fruit fly infestations and there are a lot of products you can add to your tool box giving you sales opportunites that lead to happy customers.
SHOUT OUT
My Pest Super Hero is Kim Cobb. She is owner and operator of Scram Pest Control in Locust Grove Ga. I am a second generation pest control operator myself, with my Dad getting me in the business. My dad introduced me to Kim, and what a gift that was. It was nice as a young girl in the industry to have someone like Kim to look up to. She started at Terminix prior to starting her own company and she is a bad ass! She is the most honest and caring woman in Pest control I know. She is fair, but is stern and stands her ground, and watching her be that way in a male dominated field and gain respect over 10 years ago when I met her, I was amazed. She gave me the motivation I needed to succeed in this industry, which I have been apart of my whole life. She is there to answer any question no matter how stupid it may be lol . Kim has a soft spot for animals and people, and I have watched her countless times go above and beyond for her clients and friends to do what's right and never asks for anything in return. She is an inspiration to me and anyone that knows her.
Nominated by: Nicole Gorman
My Super Hero is Marty Keane with Nisus Corporation. I met Marty at our first conference in 2019. We instantly became friends. Because she had so much knowledge about manufacturing representative, I reached out to her for help, and she never hesitated to help.
She is my Hero and Mentor giving me knowledge on a side of the industry I knew nothing about, Thank you my friend for your continued support.
Nominated by: Bobbie Terry
Kim Cobb
Once a pest of the past, bedbugs now infest every state in the U.S.. Cimex lectularius—small, flattened insects that feed solely on mammalian and avian blood—have been living with humans since ancient times. Abundant in the U.S. prior to World War II, bedbugs all but vanished during the 1940s and '50s thanks to improvements in hygiene and the use of pesticides. In the past 10 years, however, the pests have staged a comeback worldwide—an outbreak after the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney was a harbinger of things to come. This revival may be the worst yet, experts say, due to densely populated urban areas, global travel and increasing pesticide resistance—something to consider as the summer travel season gets underway.
DOUBLE C PEST CONTROL MAKING MOVES
BOLDMOVES
WIPC was on site for the Relocation ceremony and Re-Grand Opening for Double C Pest Control. In a bold move that marks a new era ofgrowthandexpansion,DoubleCPestControl has announced its relocation from Weimer, Texas to La Grange, Texas! This exciting development comes after a remarkable 49% surge in business over the past year, solidifying thecompany'sreputationasaleadingprovider of professional pest management solutions acrossSouthCentralTexas
"We'rethrilledtobewritingthenextchapterinour story,"saidGabbyCash,CEOofDoubleCPest Control."LaGrangehasbeenanincredible communitypartner,andwe'rehonoredtodeepen ourrootsherewhilecontinuingtoprioritizesafety, innovation,andreliability"
Bobbie Terry Founder & CEO
Nanette Rota COO