Pestworld Magazine Focusing on the Business of Pest Management
Academy 2020 shifts to a virtual interactive experience with flexible participation options
“Innovate. Collaborate. Motivate.” This has been the tagline for the National Pest Management Association’s annual Academy event, and as COVID-19 continues to change the way we connect with others, this tagline is more important than ever. As we innovate and adapt to the current conditions, NPMA and the premiere sponsor of Academy, Corteva, have decided to shift this year’s event to a completely virtual platform.
“After polling our past participants on their thoughts, it was clear that we had to proceed with hosting Academy 2020 in some format,” said Dominique Stumpf, NPMA CEO. “Academy has always been an important event where industry connections are made and leadership skills are gained, and we are excited to deliver the same experience virtually this year.”
NPMA’s Leadership Networking Community (LNC), the group that hosts Academy, has a mission to cultivate professional development and networking opportunities throughout the year. NPMA’s LNC and Corteva are working to create an Academy program that will not only engage our past participants, but also open the door to pest management professionals who have not had the opportunity to attend this unique event in the past.
“With the online format this year, we are able to have flexible registration options so attendees can choose how they want to experience this event,” stated Aric Schroeder, Chair of NPMA’s Leadership Networking Community. “Participants will have the option to be placed on a team, similar to the original face-to-face format, or they can sign up a la carte for specific sessions that appeal to them and fit their schedules.”
Academy 2020 will take place virtually beginning in mid-July and run every-other week through early October. Each session will be approximately 90-minutes long and will include a variety of keynote presentations, interactive team building tasks, and Learning Lab breakouts focused on business management. On October 13-16, Academy participants will be encouraged to join in-person for PestWorld 2020 in Nashville where the Academy champions will be celebrated and an exclusive Academy meet-up will take place facilitating continued engagement and networking.
More information and registration will be available soon at academy.npmapestworld.org.
About the National Pest Management Association: The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a non-profit organization with nearly 5,000 members from around the world, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property. This commitment is reflected both in the continuing education of pest management professionals and the dissemination of timely information to homeowners and businesses. Learn more at www.npmapestworld.org.
