02/11/2026
UPFDA at PestWorld Recap
During PestWorld 2025 at the Orlando Marriott World Center, UPFDA brought our members together for a late afternoon and evening midweek. PestWorld, as you know, takes an extraordinary amount of energy, social energy and brain energy, not to mention walking a marathon over the week. The UPFDA events on Wednesday are designed to be a buffer from the customer-facing work we do all week. The UPFDA events, including a cocktail reception, serve as a mid-week respite for our vendor community.
At this year's PestWorld, we resurrected the board meeting that had been held in the past at the national conference. In addition to the usual business conducted at a board meeting, the UPFDA Board took up an important item of new business. The idea of creating a Charitable Partner Program was initially discussed by an ad-hoc committee created at the April 2025 Board Meeting, that was charged with developing additional value propositions for UPFDA members.
This committee developed the tenets of the Charitable Partner Program, as well as the application and selection guidelines that were presented to members after the board’s planning meeting in August. After an introduction of each of the 4 applications received, the Board conducted an anonymous vote and selected P.E.S.T. Relief International as the inaugural Charitable Partner. Please visit UPFDA.org/charitable to learn more about this program, and P.E.S.T. Relief International.
At the Annual UPFDA Membership Meeting following the board meeting, more than 50 members and guests in attendance enjoyed updates about the year’s activities, a review of the finances, an introduction to our new Charitable Partner Program, and voted to elect the Association’s Executive Board and Directors.
Immediate Past President Cisse Spragins, PhD reviewed the UPFDA election cycle, terms of office, and the required balance of manufacturer/formulator and distributor representation before presenting the slate of Executive Board nominees:
- President: Patrick Lynch, Bell Labs, Inc.
- Vice President: Tom Algeo, Target Specialty Products
- Secretary/Treasurer: Casey Prewitt, Neogen
In accordance with UPFDA bylaws—which require annual approval of Executive Board members despite traditional two-year terms—the slate was approved by acclamation.
Members also voted to fill four Director positions from a competitive field of candidates. Following candidate introductions and member voting, Jacqueline Angulo (Superior Angran) David Arney (Envu), Ryan Klein (Bayer Crop Science), and Susan Masciarelli (Web-Cote) were elected to serve as Directors for three year terms.
President Pat Lynch appointed Andrea Hancock (Mattress Safe) to serve as Chair of the Charitable Partnership Program strengthening UPFDA’s new philanthropic initiative.
Congratulations to our newly installed Board and leaders. We look forward to their service and leadership in the year ahead.
Pat also took a moment to recognize the tremendous years of service that three long-standing board members have provided to UPFDA. Berry Cothern, Tommy Reeves, and Scott Riley were each recognized for their tireless dedication.
The evening culminated in a relaxed reception, complete with passed hors d’oeuvres, music by a local musician, and a room buzzing with gregarious conversation.