2017 was a year for the books! The National Pest Management Association reported that 3,700 pest management professionals attended this year’s convention and exposition. That makes it the largest PestWorld in NPMA’s history. Along with a booth presence, Dow AgroSciences sponsored the opening general session speaker, Doc Hendley.

Because the show was in “B’More” this year, the theme was “B’Inspired. B’Connected. B’Informed.” And with so many in attendance, there’s no way you couldn’t make more connections in the industry.

Jeremy Adamson, a sales representative for Sentricon^® in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, shares his top five tips for getting the most out of PestWorld.

This was my third PestWorld, and while each has been different with regards to location and speakers, I have gained some insights that I feel any attendee can benefit from to help maximize their time to have an awesome experience!

1. Download the NPMA Events app and/or read through the NPMA PestWorld calendar of events and speakers ahead of the meeting. Highlight and add speakers, workshops and events that you want to attend to your calendar to help keep you on schedule.
2. Get a lay of the land. There are lots of exhibitors, all wanting to engage and show you their current and new product offerings. Look ahead at the exhibitor list for the booth location(s) of companies that you’ve been wanting to visit and start with those first.
3. Network, network, network! Every moment at PestWorld is an opportunity to meet and build new relationships, as well as maintaining and furthering those from years past.
4. Rest and refuel. Days at PestWorld can be long and grueling. Make it a point to drink water throughout the day and try to eat a balanced diet. While coffee can help and is readily available throughout, try to cut off drinking coffee by 1 p.m. to avoid disruption with sleep. You’ll want that energy as you’re keeping up with the event and making connections.
5. Don’t forget the art of the follow-up. Remember all those cards you picked up? Within one to three days, follow up with all the folks you’ve met and include discussion points during the conversation to remind them of your encounter. The sooner the better for this, otherwise we forget and the cards and conversations go into the desk to be lost forever!

Here’s to another record-breaker next year in Orlando!