Registration for Summit 2026 Coming Late Summer

Customize your team's registration - pick and choose from the packages below.
Get Early Bird Rates through October 15th!
Pre-registration ends on November 3rd - After that prices increase by $25

Pre-Conference: Category 8 Prep Course & Exam

Simplifying Cat 8 Certification
November 10, 2026, 12:00 pm - 5:15 pm 
Omni Richmond Hotel

The Category 8 Prep Course prepares attendees to sit for the Category 8 exam by providing classroom instruction, vocabulary review, quizzes, and a Q&A session. VDACS will be on-site to proctor the actual exam at the conclusion of the Prep Course. Those who have secured an authorization to test letter from VDACS will be able to take the exam immediately after the course. Self-study materials will be provided to registrants to begin preparing for the exam shortly after registration.

Be sure to apply to take the Category 8 exam early so you will have your VDACS issued testing approval letter in hand on the day of the event. You can use this Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Application, but the fastest way to secure approval is through the VDACS online portal. If you need assistance gaining access to your account on the portal, please email office@vpmaonline.com and provide us with your name, birthdate, the last 4 of your social, and your certification number. 

Virginia Pest Management Summit Agenda from 2025 - the 2026 agenda is nearing completion!

An Agenda Built to Innovate, Educate, and Elevate Your Team! Take a look at last year's agenda to get an idea of the types of sessions offered...
Tuesday, November 10th - Pre-Conference Events
9:30AM - 11:00AM	VPMA Board Meeting - guests are welcome to attend	Potomac Room
11:00AM - 6:00PM	Registration	James River Foyer
11:00AM - 4:30PM	Sponsor & Exhibitor Set-Up	James River Foyer & Ballroom
12:00PM - 5:15 PM	Category 8 Prep Course and Exam	Meeting Room TBD
6:00PM - 8:00PM	Dine Around Richmond - small group dinner reservations at some of Richmond's finest restaurants. Sign up required.
Wednesday, November 11th - Management Day Schedule
7:30AM - 8:15AM	Registration, Breakfast & Exhibits	Top of the Grand, James River Foyer/Salons AB
8:15AM - 8:45AM	Welcome and Sponsor Introductions	James River Ballroom	Shannon Harlow-Ellis, VPMA President
8:45AM - 9:45AM	Keynote: Leading Through the Biggest Change in Customer Behavior Since the Internet: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Way Customers Find, Choose, and Trust Your Business	James River Ballroom	Jeff Davis, CEO, Coalmarch
9:45AM - 10:05AM	Break & Exhibits	James River Ballroom/Foyer
10:10AM - 11:05AM	Session: The Decision Line: A Practical Guide to Coaching, Corrective Action, and Separation	James River Ballroom	Marci Larouech, CEO, Seay HR
11:05AM - 12:10PM	Panel: Building the Pest Management Workforce: Attracting, Selecting, and Onboarding Today’s Candidates	James River Ballroom	James Butler, Medical Entomologist, US Army Public Health Command Dani Collinson, Senske (invited), Marci Larouech, CEO, Seay HR
12:10PM - 1:10PM	Lunch	Potomac Room
1:10PM - 1:35PM	VPMA Annual Meeting	Potomac Room
1:35PM - 2:00PM	Dessert in the Exhibit Hall	James River Ballroom
2:00PM - 2:55 PM	Session: Your Numbers Are Trying to Tell You Something. AI Helps You Hear It	James River Ballroom	Ed Gandia, President, Cormorant Advisory Group
2:55PM - 4:05PM	Panel: Looking Behind the Curtain of M & A	James River Ballroom	Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers, Matt Mendelsohn, President, American Pest, Bob Williamson, Cetane
4:05PM - 5:00PM	Session: Verbal Jiu-Jitsu: The Conversations That Decide Whether Customers Stay and Techs Don't Quit	James River Ballroom	Nhat Pham, Chief Strategist, SUCCESSWERKS
6:00PM - 6:45PM	President's Reception - Cocktails, social time and pre-gaming in the exhibit hall	James River Foyer & Ballroom
6:45PM- 10:00PM	PestFest & Casino Night - Dinner, awards ceremony, and casino gaming including River City Racing, Black Jack, Craps and Roulette!	Potomac Room & Top of the Grand Foyer
Thursday, November 12th - Technical Day Schedule
Recertification Credits Available on the Technical Day:  Recertification Credits have been applied for in VA in categories 7a– General Pest,  7b – Wood-Destroying Pests, 8 – Public Health Pests, and 60 – Registered Tech in Virginia, and the corresponding categories in MD, WV, DC, NC, TN, PA, and KY.
7:15AM - 8:15AM	Registration, Breakfast & Exhibits	Top of the Grand, James River Foyer/Salons AB
8:15AM - 8:30AM	Welcome & Introductions	James River Salon CD	Shannon Harlow-Ellis, VPMA President
8:30AM - 9:25AM	Keynote: From Truck to Report: How AI Can Help Techs Work Smarter, Not Harder & Deliver Better Results	James River Ballroom	Brett Lieberman, CEO, My Pest Pros
9:25AM - 9:50AM	General Session: VDACS Regulatory Update, part 1	James River Ballroom	Eric Pratt, Regional Supervisor - North, VDACS
9:50AM - 10:20AM	Break and Exhibits	Top of the Grand, James River Foyer/Salons AB
10:20AM - 11:10AM	Concurrent Session 1
	Trends in Termite Control and Research	James River Ballroom	Jason Meyers, PhD, BASF Professional & Specialty Solutions
	Staying Ahead of Resistance in German Cockroaches: Why Virginia Needs a Statewide Monitoring Program	Shenandoah	Warren Booth, PhD, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech
11:20AM - 12:10PM	Concurrent Session 2
	Elevate Your Barrier Treatments in Mosquito Programs	James River Ballroom	Brittany Campbell, PhD, Innovation Lead, Rollins
	Exclusion 101: Whole-Home Basics for Pest & Wildlife Operations	Shenandoah	Joe Hayman, Sales + Training, Hy-C
12:10AM - 1:15PM	Lunch	Potomac Room
1:20PM - 2:10PM	Concurrent Session 3
	Rodents & Rodenticides: Resistance, Rejection & Receptiveness	James River Ballroom	Harald Brown, Consultant/Subject Matter Expert
	The Next Invader: Emerging Pest Threats in the Southeast	Shenandoah	Shannon Harlow-Ellis, ACE, Technical Services Manager, Mosquito Joe Franchising LLC
2:20PM - 3:10PM	Concurrent Session 4
	CSI: Fly Scene Investigation	James River Ballroom	Harry Bryan, Vice President of Business Development, Nisus Corp.
	What does it take to kill bed bugs eggs?	Shenandoah	Dini Miller, PhD, Professor, Virginia Tech
3:10PM - 3:30PM	Break	James River Ballroom
3:30PM -  4:00PM	General Session: VPMA Highlights - Association in Action	James River Ballroom	VPMA Board & Staff
4:00PM - 5:00pm	General Session: VDACS Regulatory Update, part 2 Compliance Gap - What technicians are missing in the field	James River Ballroom	Nikita Higgins, VDACS, Michael Ivey, Syngenta, Debbie Perisastry, Accel Termite & Pest, Eric Pratt, VDACS

Hotel

Conference Site and Accommodations

Home to the Virginia Pest Management Summit!

Omni Richmond Hotel
100 S 12th St,
Richmond, VA 23219

This hotel provides us with ample space for learning, networking, and socializing. A block of rooms have been set aside for conference attendees at the rate of $178+ tax and fees for Single or Double rooms. The discounted rate will be honored through October 20, 2026 at 5:00 pm., or until the block sells out. Book early!

VPMA Reservation Booking Link

Reservation Guarantees and Changes: Attendees can guarantee reservations with a valid major credit card, which will be supplied at the time of reservation. Any guaranteed reservation that is cancelled less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival will be subject to one (1) night guestroom plus tax cancellation fee. In the event an Attendee within the Room Block checks out prior to the Attendee's reserved checkout date, Hotel will add an early departure fee in the amount equal to one night guestroom and tax to that Attendee's individual account.

Virginia Pest Management Summit

An Exciting Vendor Opportunity to Exhibit & Connect with Virginia PMPs

Dates: November 10 - 12, 2026
Omni Richmond Hotel, 100 South 12th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

VPMA is proud to present the 21st Annual Virginia Pest Management Summit — a meeting designed to create meaningful connections between industry suppliers and Virginia’s pest management leaders.

Here’s what makes this event worth your investment:

• Connect with the Decision Makers – Day One is focused on business management and draws company owners, managers and other key decision makers from across Virginia.
• Reach the Entire Team – Day Two adds technicians and field professionals for a full day of technical education, expanding your opportunity to connect with attendees at every level of the company.
• Quality Access — Not Just a Bigger Crowd – With attendance reaching approximately 220 PMPs, the Summit offers an environment where vendors can have real conversations, strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones.
• Be Part of PestFest & Casino Night! – One of the Summit’s most popular networking events is back! Casino Night returns during Pest Fest, giving vendors and PMPs a fun, relaxed setting to connect after the educational program. The Exhibit Hall is open for the President's Reception prior to PestFest & Casino Night. Premium Sponsors receive prominent signage on the gaming tables.
• More Time to Build Relationships – Exhibits, receptions, breaks and social events are intentionally designed to keep vendors and attendees together throughout the Summit.
• Elevate Your Visibility – Premier and Gold Sponsorships provide added recognition before, during and beyond the Summit. Premium opportunities are limited, so secure your sponsorship early.

Now that you know what makes the Summit special, how will YOU participate?

Whether you choose a sponsorship or an exhibit package, VPMA is committed to helping you make meaningful connections with Virginia’s pest management professionals.

• Sponsors receive added visibility, on-site recognition and promotional benefits that extend beyond the conference.
• Exhibitors receive a budget-friendly way to put their company in front of owners, managers, technicians and other industry professionals throughout the Summit.
• Every vendor matters to the success of the Virginia Pest Management Summit, and we work hard to create an exhibit experience that gives you real opportunities to connect.

Explore the packages below and choose the level that best fits your goals and budget.

Follow these links for additional information:

Conference Site & Accommodations

Exhibitor Events & Timeline

Important Exhibitor Information

By registering to be an exhibitor or sponsor at the 2026 Virginia Pest Management Summit, each company and all of their representatives present agree to the following:

• The exhibitor assumes the entire responsibility and liability for losses, damages, and claims arising out of the exhibitor’s activities on the Omni Richmond Hotel premises and will indemnify, defend and hold harmless VPMA, the the Omni, their agents, servants and employees from any and all such losses, damages and claims.
• Each exhibitor agrees to represent his/her booth throughout the Virginia Pest Management Summit, beginning Wednesday, November 11th at 5:00 pm through 10:05 am (exhibitors) or Noon (sponsors) on Thursday, November 12th. 
• Each table-top exhibit space will include a table and one chair (upon request). Please be considerate of traffic flow and other exhibitors’ visibility. VPMA reserves the right to request that any materials causing an obstruction be removed.
• VPMA and the Omni Richmond Hotel cannot ensure the security of items left unattended in the exhibit areas. Please be sure to remove all valuables from your booth when it is unattended.
• Allied members who wish to market and promote their company’s services should register as a Sponsor or Exhibitor. Attendee registration is intended for PMP companies and staff only.
• The vendor agrees to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner at all times during the conference.