09/03/2025

UPFDA Spring Conference | Fort Lauderdale | 2025

UPFDA 2025 Spring Conference Recap
The United Producers, Formulators and Distributors Association (UPFDA) brought together nearly 60 pest management industry partners for its 2025 Spring Conference, held April 22–23 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Under clear Florida skies and a spirit of connection, the conference lived up to UPFDA’s mission of empowering professional collaboration, development, growth, and success.

In his welcome to the conference, UPFDA’s President, Pat Lynch with Bell Labs, called attention to the focus of this conference, our industry’s greatest resource, its people. All our presentations and panels were conducted entirely by industry leaders and veterans with the goal of all attendees leaving the conference with the ability to see through the lens of how these industry leaders view the challenges and opportunities of our present and future.

A Gathering of Purpose

The conference opened with a board meeting where UPFDA leaders discussed strategies for growth, fiscal responsibility, and new opportunities for bringing value to UPFDA members.  We discussed regulatory pressures impacting the supplier segment of pest management, with some light at the end of the “pesticide preemption tunnel,” offering some hope for closing that issue.  

Attendees then shifted from strategy to socializing at the welcome reception on the Westin’s pool deck. This is where our members really add to the strength of their industry connections!

Industry Insight and Impact

Day two featured a series of engaging educational sessions, kicked off by keynote speaker Steve Good,

President of Good Strategies, LLC.  Good’s “State of the Pest Control Industry” address painted both a promising and realistic picture. While the structural pest control market continues its upward trajectory — growing nearly 8% last year with another 6% forecasted for 2025 — it faces

 significant headwinds. Good cited growing private equity influence, tariffs, historic inflation, and increasing regulatory hurdles among the major forces shaping the landscape.

Three in-depth panel discussions followed, featuring UPFDA members sharing their insights and opinions. Marty Whitford, PMP Magazine, moderated a panel of members with regulatory acumen, featuring Heather King-Alonso with Target Specialty Products, Megan Striegel-Thomas with NPMA’s Public Policy Team, and Andrej Branc with PelGar International and representing the Rodenticide Task Force. The panel had a lively discussion about national pesticide preemption, onerous laws and regulations that are bubbling up at the state and local level, the EPA’s interim decision on rodenticides, and how the new administration may affect that, and the future of 25b products.

Michael Kelly with PCT Magazine moderated a panel of manufacturers featuring David Arney with Envu, Lee Barrett with Nisus Corp., and Scott Riley with MGK.  This panel looked to the future to explore opportunities that manufacturers see today and the challenges they face as we all look to the future while making present-day decisions. The panel discussed the expanding role of technology at every level of the pest management business as it affects manufacturers and the challenges that come from the current political landscape, as well as the ongoing M&A activity at the PMP and supplier level.

Pat Lynch with Bell Labs, and President of UPFDA, led a discussion of distributors, including Tom Algeo with Target Specialty Products, Shane Dooley with FORSHAW, and Karl Kisner with Veseris. Titled The Evolution of Distribution, this panel provided a thought-provoking discussion of how they plan to lead their respective organizations through current market challenges and articulate their vision to capture future opportunities.

Community and Connection

Social time is always a highlight of the conference. The 2025 UPFDA Spring Conference concluded with a fun networking event, giving us all the opportunity to reflect with one another on our vital current partnerships and focus on growing meaningful new relationships. Loop 19, an indoor golf club in Ft Lauderdale, provided a perfect setting for drinks, dinner, and several rounds of golf at the world’s best golf courses – virtually! Members enjoyed shuffleboard and darts, as well as just hanging out in the conversation pit.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead

As the industry continues to evolve, UPFDA remains committed to uniting manufacturers, formulators, and distributors to address challenges collaboratively and advocate for solutions rooted in science and service. The 2025 Spring Conference highlighted not just the state of the industry but the strength of its people.