Unveiling the Legacy

NPMA’s 90-Year Timeline Chronicles a Remarkable Journey in Pest Management 

Embark on a journey through time, tracing the footsteps of NPMA over the past 90 years.  From its humble beginnings in 1933 to becoming a leading authority in the pest management industry, NPMA’s rich history is a testament to resilience, innovation and unwavering commitment. Delve into key milestones, groundbreaking advancements and transformative initiatives that have shaped NPMA’s legacy. 

• As an effort to combat the economic downturn of the Great Depression, the National Recovery Act is passed on June 16th, 1933. Each trade was to develop a set of regulations, or have them imposed by the government. 

• William Buettner works to establish a national association as a united front for the industry. 

• National Association of Exterminators and Fumigators is officially formed October 2, 1933, in Washington, DC at the first annual convention, with 50 participants. 

• Buettner is named as the association’s first president, then named the association’s full-time executive secretary in 1946, a position he held until his death in 1953. 

• 1937: the association’s name is changed to National Pest Control Association. 

• The first Purdue Conference is held in 1937, providing essential technical information to PCOs. 

• Buettner and others were able to obtain fuel rationing allotments for PCOs during the war as an “essential” industry. 

• 1946-47: NPCA launches the Purdue scholarship and the first recipients, Bill Brehm and George Gilmore, invented the B&G sprayer. 

• 1947: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) becomes law. 

• 1949: Dr. Ralph Heal is named NPCA’s first technical director, and then executive secretary, retiring in 1972. 

• 1950s: NPCA publishes technical and management bulletins created by NPMA member committees to educate members on the professionalizing industry. 

• 1961: The Buettner Pest Control Foundation is established to fund scientific, literary and educational activities to encourage and foster research and study, provide scholarships in the field of pest control and elevate and promote the standards and achievements of the pest control industry. 

• 1962: Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is published, resulting in widespread concerns about pesticide use and pollution of the environment, leading to banning of DDT. 

• 1970: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is created. Before this, regulatory enforcement was handled at the state level, with differing approaches. 

• 1972: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is rewritten. 

• Mid-70s: NPCA headquarters moves from New Jersey to the Washington, DC area. 

• Late-70s: NPCA forms its own insurance company, PESCO. The NPCA board authorizes new a national headquarters building in the Washington, DC area. 

• 1978: Jefferson Keith is named executive vice president of NPCA. 

• 1980s: The demise of Chlordane, one of the most widely used pesticides in the industry’s history. 

• 1981: The board authorizes publication of an association magazine. 

• 1982: The NPCA headquarters opens in Dunn Loring, VA. 

• 1984: Harvey S. Gold is named executive vice president of NPCA. 

• 1988: NPCA holds the first Legislative Day, ushering in the start of more membership engagement in proactive government affairs activity. 

• 1991: “Guardians of the Environment” is established as the NPCA byline.  

• 1992: The first edition of NPCA Field Guide to Structural Pests is published, becoming the standard of field-friendly guides for the industry. 

• 1994-1995: The concept of joint state membership is developed under NPCA president Larry Treleven. 

• 1996: Robert F. Lederer is named executive vice president of NPCA. 

• 1996: The Leadership Development Group is launched (now known as the Leadership Networking Community). 

• 1997: The Industry Awareness Council is established, later becoming the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA). 

• 1998: NPCA becomes National Pest Management Association. 

• 2000: Bonnie Everts is named NPMA’s first woman president, immediately followed by Judy Dold in 2001. 

• 2000: Women in Pest Control joins NPMA and becomes the Professional Women in Pest Management. 

• 2004: The Industry Strategic Planning Summit is hosted in Scottsdale, AZ, which sets the stage for strategic initiatives like QualityPro. 

• 2004: QualityPro is established as an industry-led program that sets the standards of excellence for professional pest management companies and their employees through education, training and certification, so you can confidently choose a nationally accredited pest management company. 

• 2008: NPMA moves to its current headquarters in Fairfax, VA. 

• 2008: NPMA launches the Minorities in Pest Management (which later becomes the Diversity Council). 

• 2013: Bob Rosenberg is named the chief executive officer of NPMA. 

• 2016: Dominique Stumpf becomes NPMA’s first female CEO. 

• 2016: NPMA hosts the Industry Strategic Planning Summit, P3 (Purpose. Plan. Progress). 

• 2017: The Executive Leadership Program is launched—since inception, 43 have graduated. 

• 2017: NPMA’s current logo and tagline (Our Mission is Your Protection) is unveiled. 

• 2020: The Workforce Development Program is launched. 

• 2021: Buettner Foundation officially changes its name to Pest Management Foundation. 

• 2022: NPMA appoints an Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity (IDE) taskforce. 

• 2022: Federal bill HR-7266 is introduced into Congress that would provide federal preemption. 

• 2023: The inaugural class of Leader Launch is selected—providing for a deep bench of qualified, engaged volunteers for future leadership. 

• 2023: An Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Plan is underway. 

• 2023: NPMA Communications is expanding and evolving—PestWorld magazine is revamped in January 2023, and a new website is unveiled.