Investing in Your People: The Foundation of Every Strong Team

Emily Thomas Kendrick, Arrow Exterminators 

As we enter spring, many pest management companies face their busiest season with teams stretched thin and new technicians learning on the fly. It’s tempting to focus solely on keeping up with demand, but the most successful companies recognize that sustainable growth requires intentional investment in their people—not just during orientation, but throughout every stage of their careers. 

This issue examines team development through three essential lenses. Our first feature explores how to transform your skilled technicians into effective trainers, addressing the urgent challenge of knowledge transfer as experienced workers approach retirement. You’ll discover practical approaches to identifying teaching potential and creating career pathways that reward mentorship. 

Of course, technical skills alone don’t make someone an effective leader. Understanding how to lead different people in different ways requires emotional intelligence—the ability to read team dynamics, avoid triggers that drive turnover, and create psychological safety that keeps people engaged. You’ll find strategies for adapting your management approach to individual personalities and work styles. 

Finally, we examine what happens after day one. As technology advances and pest pressures evolve, your training must evolve too. Discover how leading companies structure ongoing development programs that employees find engaging rather than obligatory, ensuring material retention while connecting daily tasks to the bigger picture of protecting public health. 

Throughout this issue, you’ll find NPMA resources designed to support your team development efforts. The prep course for the new NPMA Pro Certified credential provides a structured, 15-module curriculum you can build your internal training around. NPMA Hives offers nine-week networking cohorts where your team members connect with industry peers for mutual support. Our continually updated Online Learning Center and other technical resources keep your staff current on evolving best practices and regulations. 

Your team members are your most valuable asset. The time you invest in developing them today creates the leaders, trainers, and problem-solvers who will carry your company forward tomorrow.