09/02/2026

Who Will Be VPMA’s Next Industry Stewardship Award Recipient?

Recognize Someone Who Has Made a Lasting Impact

Every other year, VPMA pauses to recognize someone whose contributions have helped shape not only the Association, but the pest management industry across Virginia. And 2026 is an award year!

The VPMA Lifetime Industry Stewardship Award is one of the Association’s most meaningful honors. Presented only in even-numbered years, the award recognizes an individual whose outstanding service, dedication and leadership have created a lasting impact on VPMA and the profession.

What makes this award special is the idea of stewardship. Past recipients have not simply enjoyed successful careers. They have shared their knowledge, strengthened the profession, mentored others, supported their colleagues and helped build organizations and programs that will continue long after their own involvement ends.

That spirit is reflected in past honorees. When Jack Horsley, Jr. received the award posthumously in 2024, colleagues remembered someone who freely shared his technical knowledge, trained and encouraged others, and believed in “raising all boats” by making the entire industry more professional. Similarly, 2022 recipients Beth and Craig Duncan reflected on the many industry professionals who had helped them throughout their careers and their own responsibility to be good stewards of what they had learned by paying it forward to others.

Now VPMA is asking members to help identify the 2026 recipient.

Who has left a legacy on Virginia pest management?

Think about the people who have influenced your career or your company. Who has volunteered their time, shared their expertise, mentored the next generation, strengthened VPMA or helped elevate the professionalism of our industry? Whose contributions will continue to make a difference years from now?

Nominations should describe:

• The nominee’s contributions to the pest management industry and the positive impact of those efforts.
• The personal impact the nominee has made on others, VPMA and/or the industry.
• The legacy the nominee has created within their organization, VPMA or the pest management profession.

Nominations may be submitted by past Stewardship Award recipients and current VPMA Active or Allied members in good standing.

Nominations are due September 14, 2026

Make a Nomination

The list of VPMA Stewardship Award recipients represents decades of experience, leadership, passion, and service to Virginia’s pest management community.

Previous award recipients

David Boose (1998)
Joe Wilson (1999)
Joe Lupini (2000)
Dick Whitman (2001)
Bert Dodson, Jr. (2002)
Bobby Houchins (2003)
Charlie Church (2004)
John James (2005)
Dr. Eric Smith (2006)
Kevin Kordek (2007)
David McCormick (2008)
Brian Delaney (2009)
Ron Chaney (2010)
Jeff Johnson (2011)
Jerry McLawhorn (2012)
Andre Perdue (2013)
Dr. Dini Miller (2014)
Jack Broome (2016)
Gena Lupini (2018)
Jim Lincoln (2020)
Beth and Craig Duncan (2022)
Jack Horsley, Jr. (2024)

Who do you know who deserves to join them?

Help VPMA recognize the individual whose lifetime of service has made our Association and our industry stronger.