Hill Day Reflections

Every March, when I visit Washington, D.C., for NPMA Legislative Day, I’m always awestruck by the size of the Capitol building and nearby congressional offices. Walking around the city, I can understand why many people might feel somewhat insignificant in the shadows of these structures. They may ask themselves: How can I really affect change? One of the reasons I love Legislative Day is because it is a great example of, to quote Abraham Lincoln, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” When my colleagues from Ohio and I visited our congressional representatives, we did so not as career lobbyists, but as advocates for an industry often misunderstood yet vitally important.

Thanks to great planning by Ohio leaders Kurt Scherzinger and A.J. Alonso, our group was able to cover all the offices that represent Ohio. My colleague PCT Digital Editor Patrick Rhonemus and I visited the offices of Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) and Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), where we asked both to consider the pest control industry’s position on the need for a state-level pesticide pre-emption provision to be included in the Farm Bill (see page 22).

The National Pest Management Association — in particular Senior Director of Public Policy Megan Striegel and Public Policy Manager J.T. Mann — also should be commended for coordinating Hill visits, breaking down complex issues into easy-to-explain position papers and providing guidance on how to best conduct Hill visits.

Standout speaker. One of my favorite parts of NPMA Legislative Day is hearing high- profile speakers, and this year’s highlight for me was a talk sponsored by Control Solutions, Inc., from Rear Admiral Scott Moore. Drawing on his military leadership, Moore boiled down his experience into five simple principles: Commit, Communicate, Care, Connect and Coach.

Moore said commitment is the heart of leadership. Teams don’t expect perfection, but they do expect leaders who are fully invested. He shared a story from Afghanistan where persistence led to critical intelligence, showing how dedication inspires teams to give their best.

Communication is just as important, he said. Moore urged leaders to go beyond occasional updates and engage consistently, making sure everyone, including those behind the scenes, understands the mission and their role.

Care and connection are about trust. Leaders build loyalty by showing they genuinely care, remembering personal details and creating open, supportive environments.

Coaching combines accountability and growth. Strong leaders set clear expectations, provide honest feedback, and lead by example, helping people become their best selves. Moore’s Five C’s create a simple framework grounded in trust. His message was simple: leadership isn’t about rank or expertise. It’s about showing up, being consistent and investing in people.

Technicians honored. On a personal note, at Legislative Day PCT was honored to celebrate Technicians of the Year Thomas Detwyler (Massey Services), Samuel Dominguez Valle (Rottler Pest Solutions) and Dennis Kounnas (Green Pest Solutions). PCT and our sponsor BASF also had the pleasure of taking them out for a dinner, where we learned more about them and their families. It quickly became clear why Thomas, Samuel and Dennis are so highly regarded by their customers and colleagues. And speaking of the PCT/BASF Technician of the Year Awards program, nominations for this year’s award are now being accepted. The nomination form is on pages 97-98, or you can nominated them online at www.pctonline.com/form/techyear2026.

The author is editor PCT magazine and can be contacted at bharbison@gie.net.