Attending the OPCA High Desert Seminar in Redmond, Oregon
This year I had the opportunity to attend the OPCA High Desert Seminar in Redmond, Oregon, and it was a great experience. As someone who has spent many years in the pest control industry, I always value opportunities to learn, connect with other professionals, and stay current on the future of pest management in Oregon.
The High Desert Seminar, hosted by the Oregon Pest Control Association, brought together pest management professionals from across the region for education, business development, networking, and industry updates. The event included multiple technical sessions for CEU credits, along with business breakout sessions focused on topics that directly impact pest control companies today.
Continuing Education and Industry Training
One of the biggest benefits of attending OPCA events is the opportunity to earn continuing education credits while learning from experienced speakers. This year’s seminar included several technical topics covering important areas of pest control, including pest management innovation, rodent management, small flies, 25(b) products, and the history of pest control.
These types of sessions are valuable because pest control is always changing. Products, regulations, customer expectations, technology, and best practices continue to evolve. Attending events like the OPCA High Desert Seminar helps pest control professionals stay sharp and better prepared to serve their customers.
Business Breakouts Focused on the Future
In addition to the technical training, the seminar also featured three business breakout topics. These were especially helpful for owners, managers, and anyone interested in growing a stronger pest control business.
One of the highlights was a session from Mat Rogers with Lizard Marketing, who spoke about the future of digital marketing and how artificial intelligence is already changing the way customers find and choose local service companies. AI, search engines, paid ads, websites, and online reputation are all changing quickly, and pest control companies need to pay attention to how these changes will affect lead generation in the near future.
For a local pest control company like H3 Pest Control, this kind of information is extremely valuable. Customers are not always finding companies the same way they did five or ten years ago. Staying ahead of those changes helps us continue to serve homeowners and businesses throughout the Willamette Valley.
Great Speakers From Across the Industry
The OPCA High Desert Seminar featured speakers from both near and far, bringing a wide range of experience to the event. Some of the speakers included:
- Mat Rogers with Lizard Marketing
- Nick Grisafe with Syngenta
- Dr. Cassie Krejci with FORSHAW
- Joe Hayman with HY-C
Each speaker brought knowledge and perspective from a different part of the pest control industry. From technical training to business strategy, these sessions helped make the seminar useful for both technicians and business owners.
I was told by several people that Joe Hayman’s presentation was especially well received, and many attendees would like to see more from him at future events.
Networking, Golf, and Industry Connection
Another great part of the High Desert Seminar was the chance to see both familiar and new faces in the industry. Events like this are not just about sitting in a classroom. They are also about building relationships, sharing ideas, and strengthening the pest control community in Oregon.
We were blessed with great weather in Redmond, and the golf was a fun part of the event as well. Getting people together outside of the normal workday creates opportunities for better conversations and stronger relationships across the industry.
Why More Pest Control Professionals Should Attend OPCA Events
I would encourage more pest control professionals in Oregon to attend future OPCA events. Whether you are a technician, business owner, manager, vendor, or someone new to the industry, these events are a great way to keep learning and stay connected.
The Oregon Pest Control Association provides opportunities for education, networking, continuing education credits, and industry involvement. Supporting these events also helps strengthen the association and the pest control industry as a whole.
You can view future OPCA events here:
Upcoming OPCA events are a great opportunity to continue learning, meet other professionals, and stay involved in the future of pest control in Oregon.
Final Thoughts
Overall, attending the OPCA High Desert Seminar in Redmond was a very positive experience. The education was valuable, the business breakout topics were relevant, and it was great to connect with other pest control professionals from around the region.
I am excited for the future of the Oregon Pest Control Association and look forward to seeing continued growth, participation, and strong attendance at future events.
