02/04/2026

This Is Our Moment

President's Message

Written by Steve Wittig, WSPMA President

I am honored to serve as the 2026 President of the Washington Pest Management Association (WSPMA), and I want to speak directly to you—our members—because this is our moment to lead.

Our industry is facing a defining challenge. House Bill 2516, which seeks to ban anticoagulant rodenticides, threatens one of the most effective tools we have to protect public health. In the Pacific Northwest, rodent pressure is real, persistent, and unforgiving. We know that responsible, label-directed use works—and we know that taking tools away does not eliminate the problem. It shifts the risk.

The reality is this: the opposition is organized, well funded, and loud. They showed up in force. We must do the same.

Right now, only 20% of Washington pest control companies are WSPMA members. That means the burden of advocacy falls on too few shoulders. If we want WSPMA to remain a strong, credible voice at the table, engaged members—not just dues—are essential.

This association is more than CEUs. It is connection. It is shared experience. It is learning from peers who understand the pressures of this business. It is business coaching, leadership development, and preparing the next generation of professionals. But none of that works unless we show up.

This is the call:
✔ Get involved on a committee
✔ Attend events and bring your team
✔ Speak up, engage, and help shape our future

WSPMA is only as strong as the members behind it. Now is the time to stand together, protect our profession, and make our voice impossible to ignore.

Let’s lead. Let’s engage. Let’s win—together.