Webinar Date: January 7, 2026
Speaker: Dr. Ron Harrison, Global Technical Director, Orkin/Rollins, Inc.
Moderator: Dan Suiter, Extension Entomologist, University of Georgia
Duration: 1:38:16 (98 minutes)
Series: Structural Pest Control
CEU Categories: TBD
VIEWING INSTRUCTIONS
This archived webinar is available for asynchronous CEU delivery. Participants should view the complete recording and submit documentation per your county’s standard CEU processing procedures.
CONTENT SUMMARY
Dr. Ron Harrison provides a comprehensive overview of the global pest control industry from his perspective as Orkin’s Global Technical Director with nearly thirty years of experience across 75 countries. The presentation is organized into four sections: (1) the value and economic significance of the pest control industry, (2) career opportunities across the field, (3) current operational challenges, and (4) the future outlook.
The presentation emphasizes the industry’s public health importance, covering the top global pests — houseflies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents, fire ants, and ticks — and their health impacts. Harrison addresses industry-wide challenges including technology adoption (AI identification tools, electronic service documentation), competition dynamics, labor market pressures, regulatory differences between U.S. and international markets, and invasive species management. Training and customer service skill development are discussed extensively, along with integrated pest management principles and their adoption challenges.
The Q&A session covers global termite distribution, housefly management and sanitation, and the practical limitations of robotics in pest control.
KEY TOPICS FOR CEU RELEVANCE
- Public health pests: mosquitoes, cockroaches (asthma), rodents, fire ants, ticks
- Termite management: chlordane history, modern treatment challenges, global distribution
- IPM principles: biological, cultural, physical, and chemical control hierarchy
- Label compliance and regulatory enforcement (U.S. vs. international)
- Technology: AI pest identification, electronic documentation, monitoring equipment economics
- Invasive species: marmorated stink bug, needle ant, bed bugs, lanternfly
- Professional standards and customer service in pest management
APPLICABLE AUDIENCE
This webinar is appropriate for licensed pest control operators, industry professionals seeking continuing education on business and professional development topics, and anyone interested in the global pest management landscape. The content is conversational and broadly accessible rather than deeply technical on any single species or product.
GTBOP Structural Pest Control Webinar Series | UGA Center for Urban Agriculture
For CEU processing: Submit sign-in sheets to gtbop@uga.edu