Building on What We've Built: NPMA's Next Chapter in Culture and Engagement

NPMA is proud to announce an exciting evolution in how it advances a culture of inclusion, community, and belonging across the pest management industry. After years of meaningful progress driven by two dedicated volunteer bodies, NPMA is transitioning to a new, unified Culture and Engagement Committee. This reflects just how deeply these values have taken root within our organization.

From Initiative to Identity

Great associations don't just adopt values. They build them into everything they do. That is exactly what NPMA's IDEA Steering Committee and Communities + Diversity Council have accomplished.

The IDEA Steering Committee built on the foundation laid by the original IDE Task Force, advancing that work through concrete initiatives, implementation oversight, and ongoing monitoring across NPMA's programs and governance. The Communities + Diversity Council worked in parallel, developing programs and fostering a sense of community across the membership. Together, they delivered on the charge they were given.

Today, the principles they championed are no longer programs to be managed. They are part of the culture. They live in NPMA's governance structures, its volunteer leadership, its professional development offerings, and the everyday decisions of staff and members alike.

"This transition is something we should all be proud of. When we launched the IDEA Steering Committee, the goal was never to maintain a separate initiative indefinitely. It was to build these values so deeply into NPMA that they no longer needed their own committee to survive. We have done that, and now we are building the next chapter with the same intentionality that got us here,” said Dominique Stumpf, CEO of NPMA.

A Celebration of Accomplishments

The work of both the IDEA Steering Committee and the Communities + Diversity Council has left a lasting mark on this association and this industry. Among the highlights:

• NPMA Executive Leadership Program: The original concept came from the Communities + Diversity Council, and the program now develops the industry's next generation of officers and volunteer leaders.
• Leader Launch: A structured pipeline that opened volunteer leadership opportunities to a broader base of NPMA members.
• NPMA Hives: 152 members from 91 companies engaged across three programs, creating meaningful community connections across the membership.
• PestVet: 15 State Units across the U.S. and growing, honoring and integrating veteran members into the fabric of the industry.
• MANRRS Partnership: A concrete bridge to the profession for underrepresented students and early-career professionals through Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.
• Open Call for Speakers: Giving more member voices a platform at NPMA events and expanding the range of perspectives heard across the industry.
• Transparent, accessible nominations opened participation in committees, councils, and the Board of Directors to more diverse members. IDEA Ambassadors helped onboard and mentor new committee members, and a commitment to IDEA is now required of all volunteer leaders.
• Governance and Culture: Diversity statements added to all committee charters, IDEA metrics built into annual planning, a Code of Conduct adopted to keep NPMA spaces welcoming, and voluntary demographic data collection launched to track progress.
• Broader Reach: More than 30 PWIPM Local Networks globally, a digital recruitment strategy to engage new audiences, and ongoing training and resources to support industry education.

“Serving on the IDEA Steering Committee has been one of the most rewarding parts of my volunteer work,” said Cleveland Dixon, chair of the IDEA Steering Committee and owner of Holiday Termite & Pest Control. “We accomplished meaningful progress, and that progress deserves recognition. But the real measure of success was never the committee itself, it’s whether our industry becomes more inclusive, more accessible, and more equitable for everyone who works in it. That responsibility doesn’t end here. The Culture and Engagement Committee is the next step in continuing that effort and building on the foundation we’ve created.”

What Comes Next

This evolution creates a new, unified Culture and Engagement Committee, a volunteer body designed for where NPMA is headed. This committee will carry forward the spirit and work of its predecessors with a refreshed mission, clearer objectives, and stronger strategic alignment with NPMA's goals.

NPMA is taking the time to get this right. Rather than launching a committee without clear direction, NPMA will host a dedicated planning group at the June Executive Leadership Forum to develop the new committee's formal charge and structure. Following that process, the NPMA President will appoint the new committee.

"The Communities + Diversity Council has always believed that the best way to build an inclusive industry is to make inclusion part of how we do everything, not a separate track running alongside the real work. The programs we developed and the partnerships we built reflect that belief. I am proud of what this community has created together, and I look forward to seeing the Culture and Engagement Committee carry it forward," said Joe Campbell, chair of the Communities+ Diversity Council, and Senior Vice President, ABC Home & Commercial Services of DFW.

Get Involved

NPMA invites members who are passionate about culture, community, and the future of this industry to get involved. Information about how to participate in the planning process and the new committee will be shared following the June Executive Leadership Forum.