Georgia Grown Profile: Georgia Pest Control Association

Originally published in the April 30, 2014, issue

 

Members do far more than killing bugs

By Erica Lummus, spring intern

 

Killing bugs, inspecting for bad things under houses, working with chemicals; sometimes it’s all that folks think about when they hear about the members of the Georgia Pest Control Association, former Executive Director Valera Jessee said. 

 

Aside from the obvious, GPCA also deals with food safety, protecting the structural integrity of a structure and ensuring the health and wellbeing of Georgia’s citizens.

 

GPCA was established in 1950 and has been around for 64 years. Because GPCA works with pesticides and remedies for infestations, each of its members is licensed, regulated and educated. The company not only educates its own members, but also the general public about the industry and how important its services are to the health and wellbeing of the community. 

 

The association has 1,000 members that attend training about the biology, identification and management of every possible home-invading critter. 

 

“From lady bugs, who by the way are just a big nuisance, to bed bugs, who are a serious problem, there are products, methods and solutions that will protect your home, health and food,” Jessee said.   

 

The University of Georgia established one of the largest urban entomology departments in the nation with the help of GPCA. The association has three committed researchers and professors who are well-respected as leaders in urban pest management. 

 

“So, next time you wonder if your house will get termites – likely it will – or if you can get rid of those persistent ants yourself – very challenging – think about calling in a professional. We do good work, we give guarantees and we offer peace of mind,” Jessee said.