Speakers Bio and Abstract

Alphabetical Listing of Speakers.      H - N        O - Z

Speakers A - G
Bomier, Bruce BIO
Bruce Bomier is founder of the Minnesota Institute of Public Health (now a division of BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota), a nonprofit organization that provides public health information throughout 13 states. He is also founder and Board Chair of the Institute of Environmental Assessment, a corporation providing environmental engineering and public health guidelines for several thousand schools, hospitals, and other institutions. He has delivered public health and environmental commentaries for Minnesota and National Public Radio. Bruce is Board Chair of the Environmental Resource Council, a nonprofit group that is presently working under the direction of health plans and with financial support from the Bush Foundation to design a comprehensive medical, media, and applicator outreach effort addressing chronic, long-term disease and preventable pesticide exposure.

ABSTRACT -- Successful Outreach Partnerships: Addressing Chronic Disease
Information regarding long term health consequences -- cancer, birth defects, organ damage, hypersensitivities, immune system problems etc. -- and the relationship to preventable pesticide exposure has evolved to the point where, from a public health perspective, careful warnings of POSSIBLE chronic effects of preventable exposures make sense. This is a tough communication goal because a direct connection is not established, and also because it is important not to create overreaction, particularly to trace exposures. With support from several major organizations, including the medical, public health, and toxicology community, the Environmental Resource Council has established a team of experts to help create a curriculum support package that will blend with applicator training. The information should be consistent with the information used by private medical practitioners, public health outreach workers, and the media emphasizing the importance of using best practices to prevent not only acute/first aid type problems, but also the POSSIBILITY of chronic health consequences.
Boyd, Heather BIO
Heather is an evaluation specialist in the Program Development & Evaluation unit at UW-Madison. She and her colleagues assists employees and partners of Cooperative Extension in their efforts to evaluate local, state and federal programs that serve the people of Wisconsin. She also assists in evaluation training and works with faculty and staff in designing and conducting evaluations. Her areas of specialty are quantitative data analysis and study of the effects of social marketing. Heather brings several years experience in the area of social science research to her work as an evaluator. She has authored and co-authored several studies, the majority of which focus on topics in the areas of health, agriculture, and/or the environment. Heather’s education includes a B.S. in Agricultural Economics, University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign; M.S. in Agricultural Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Ph.D. in Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ABSTRACT -- Overview: Uses of and Alternative to Logic Models
 You've heard the term "logic model" but might wonder what it means. Join us for an overview of the purpose of logic models and different forms they take. We'll also discuss alternatives to logic models for articulating the purposes and intended outcomes or results of your program. The two follow up breakout sessions will be more specific in detail, and individually deal with either the certification program or the applicator training program.

ABSTRACT -- Evaluate Your Certification Program Outcomes
 Evaluation helps you learn whether you are getting the results you want from your certification program, and where your program can improve. This session will focus on the outcomes you desire, indicators of those outcomes, and how you can gather credible evidence. Your participation in the session will be crucial for making it relevant and useful for you.

ABSTRACT -- Evaluate Your Applicator Training Outcomes
 Evaluation helps you learn whether you are getting the results you want from your applicator training program, and where your program can improve. This session will focus on the outcomes you desire, indicators of those outcomes, and how you can gather credible evidence. Your participation in the session will be crucial for making it relevant and useful for you.
Burnett, Dale BIO
Dale Burnett graduated from Texas State University with a B.S. in Agriculture in May 1977. Dale worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture for 14 years and for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for nearly 10 years.  Most recently, he has served as the executive director of the Texas Structural Pest Control Board for the past 4 years. The work at each agency has included certification, permitting, licensing, and civil and criminal investigations. Besides 28 years in state government, Dale has also worked in the private sector for over 7 years in restaurant and pest control businesses.

ABSTRACT -- Talking to Legislators: A State Lead Agency Perspective
Interacting with legislators should be viewed as an “opportunity”, not as something that should be dreaded. Regardless of whether the contact is in the form of a phone call, correspondence, meeting, or public testimony, state employees should view the interaction as a means to share the story of the agency and to develop relationships. One should be prompt, brief, prepared, factual, and respectful during the interaction.

Crull, Frank BIO
Frank Crull is General Counsel, Texas Structural Pest Control Board. He has represented clients involved in litigation throughout the United States in various state and federal courts. He started in private practice doing plaintiffs and defendants work in both the civil and criminal fields. Frank went to Japan in 1994 and upon his return, worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety representing the state crime lab and Texas Rangers. Subsequently, he left he Department to work for the Texas Structural Pest Control Board in 1999. Areas of current practice include environmental law, employment law, administrative law and government law. Frank graduated from The University of Mississippi with a B.A. degree in 1982 and a J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 1987. Frank is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Travis County Bar Association, College of the State Bar and the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas and the Roppongi Bar Association (Tokyo, Japan).

ABSTRACT -- Online Licensing Services: in-house vs. private vendors
This presentation will look at the various issues that arise from online licensing services. The topic can be broken down into three areas: in-house, private contractors, and consolidated state systems. When considering an in-house system, an agency must exercise some degree of control over the project, establish whether anyone on its staff can meet the project needs, and whether it has the required hardware and software. If private contractors are considered, an agency has to consider what information it is sharing with the private contractor, does the contract reflect an agency’s ownership of the system, and can the contractor meet the agency’s deadlines. With a consolidated state system, an user agency may not have any control over the situation, share in its startup costs, and will have to find personnel to sit down and talk to the vendor about statutory needs and the software system – and worry when the product will be completed.
Davis, Gina BIO
 Gina M. Davis received her B.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University in 1984 and started her career with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) in 1987. Prior to Gina's current role as Deputy Director for MDA's Pesticide & Plant Pest Management Division (PPPM), she served eight years as Pesticide Certification Manager and was responsible for managing the state's certification and registered technician program. Gina has been actively involved with the Certification and Training Assessment Group (CTAG) for several years and is currently serving as past Co-Chair on the CTAG Board of Directors. She served as liaison between the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) and the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE) for several years and is currently a member of the State FIFRA Issues, Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) Pesticide Operations and Management Working Committee.

ABSTRACT -- C&T: State Regulatory Programs & Variations

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires applicators of restricted use pesticides to become certified. The Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 171, specifies the required components of State Plans for Certification. Although all State Certification programs are built from this foundation, there exists considerable variation between state programs. This presentation will briefly highlight some of the ways in which state certification programs vary and the challenges states face as a result.
Dewitt, Jerry BIO

ABSTRACT -- Talking to Legislators: A PSEP Perspective
Dictor, Kathy

BIO
Kathy Dictor is a Program Coordinator for the Certification, Licensing, Registration, and Training Section of the Office of Pesticide Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She coordinates the certification and training of pesticide applicators, including the introduction of new manuals and exams, the certification and training Web pages, and management of the Pesticide Knowledge Automated Testing System at DMV. She also has experience in pesticide registration and in pesticide enforcement as a case reviewer and Fact-finding Conference officer. She has worked in pesticide regulation since 1993, following 12 years in food safety work. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of William & Mary.

ABSTRACT -- Accountability Plans to Develop Program Sustainability
(see Herzfeld, Dean)
Douglah, Mohammad BIO
Mohammad Douglah is an evaluation specialist in the Program Development & Evaluation unit at UW-Madison. He works with the self-directed team for Land Use Planning, and evaluates the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, a premier outdoor agriculture technology show drawing nearly 100,000 visitors. He also presents professional development workshops on Focus Groups. Receiving a B.S. in Agronomy, M.S. in Ag Education, and a Ph.D. in Ag & Extension Education, Mohammad has 35 years experience in higher education, teaching, and researching, and conducting program development and evaluation in areas related to Extension and other adult education.

ABSTRACT -- Helping Adults Learn: Facilitating Learning
(see Gundermann, Dawn)
Felber, Hans BIO
 Since spring of 2000, Hans Felber does consultancy work for the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) in Brussels, Belgium. In this role, he serves as Task Force Manager for ECPA’s Operator Exposure Monitoring (EOEM) Task Force with the aim to fill data gaps in the European operator exposure model EUROPOEM, and as Project Manager for ECPA’s Safe Use Initiative in southern European countries. Before joining ECPA, Hans was 34 years with CIBA / CIBA-GEIGY and NOVARTIS in the crop protection business. Main worldwide activities included application technology, product stewardship, communication and training material, aerial and ground application training courses, formulation testing, and audits of GLP test facilities. Activities in more than 50 countries did mean extensive travelling, but also broadening the horizon and understanding cultural differences. Hans formal educational background is mechanical engineer. Hans is Swiss and lives in Basel, Switzerland. He is married for 35 years, and has a daughter and two grandchildren.

ABSTRACT -- Safe Use Initiative (SUI) in southern European countries
SUI is an industry approach by European Crop Protection Association (EPCA) in collaboration with main stakeholders. The SUI started mid 2002 as a pilot project in the Spanish greenhouse area Almería. The main objective of the SUI is to improve the label compliance during mixing/loading and application of crop protection products. To measure progress, success factors were defined, and a market research institute conducted a baseline survey in 2002 followed by a progress survey in spring 2005. All factors show a positive trend. In this presentation, measures taken to improve the safe use of crop protection products are explained: a) evaluation of suitable personal protective clothing in the laboratory and field, b) recommendation of specific clothing, c) implementation of novel application technology to reduce potential operator contamination, d) specific messages and photographs, e) awareness and communication campaign (billboard, web www.cosechavida.com, calendar, brochures, leaflets, poster, radio, video, exhibitions, press releases), f) collaboration with Spanish farmer training centres, and g) intensive networking with main stakeholders. Based on the positive Spanish experience, beginning in 2005 ECPA extended the SUI to Greece, Portugal, France, and Italy.
Fish, Gary BIO
Gary is program manager for the pesticide applicator certification and training program at the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. He has been involved with pesticide education and application since 1985. Gary works with many programs including: master gardeners, YardScaping, BayScaping, private and commercial pesticide education, school IPM, pesticide applicator licensing, and way too many other things. He is a member of AAPSE. Gary is married and has two children and spends most of his free time as a chauffeur and coach.

ABSTRACT -- Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs
In our breakout session, we will explore the many ways governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations have funded pesticide safety education. We hope to have a number of people tell their stories about innovative ways of funding programs.
Fitz, Nancy BIO
Nancy Fitz is a chemical engineer for the Office of Pesticide Programs in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She has worked on policies and regulations regarding pesticide containers, containment, disposal, storage, and transportation for 15 years. Nancy was the primary author of the Pesticide Container Report to Congress in 1992 and is the technical lead for the almost-final pesticide container regulations. She is a co-chair of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers committee that is actively developing a national consensus standard on pesticide container recycling. Nancy plays and coaches rugby and spends plenty of less-strenuous free time playing with her Labrador Retrievers.

ABSTRACT --Development of a National Pesticide Container Recycling Standard
Under the direction of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE), a committee has been formed to develop a national engineering standard that defines the steps, fundamentals, and best management practices for the storage, handling, and recycling of pesticide containers. In particular, the initial plan is for the standard to include nonrefillable, high-density polyethylene containers for EPA-registered agricultural pesticides and non-registered products such as crop oils, surfactants, and spreaders. This pesticide container recycling standard could play an important role in the development of federal recycling policy for one-way plastic pesticide containers. The committee, which consists of representatives from pesticide manufacturers and distributors, the Ag Container Recycling Council, industry trade groups, ASAE, pesticide extension programs, U.S. EPA, and state governments, is trying to finalize the national consensus standard on pesticide container recycling by December 2005.
Flashinski, Roger BIO
Roger Flashinski coordinates Wisconsin’s Pesticide Applicator Training program and is responsible for establishing program policies, direction, and priorities. He manages the program’s ongoing educational activities, coordinates training activities with state and county Extension staff, and is responsible for the program’s operational and budgetary functions. Roger received his M.S. degree in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his B.S. degree in Plant Science from UW-River Falls. He began his current position with the UW-Extension in 1984; prior to this he served 6 years as a county Agriculture Agent. Being a member of AAPSE since the association’s inception, Roger is currently serving as Chair of it’s ByLaws Committee. Roger hosted the North Central Regional meeting in Madison in 1996.
Foss, Carrie

BIO
Carrie R. Foss, Urban IPM Coordinator, manages the IPM Certification Program and the Pesticide Safety Education Program at Washington State University in Puyallup. Pesticide applicators are trained in plant problem diagnosis, integrated pest management, personal safety, and environmental protection through lectures and workshops. Carrie earned a B.S. degree in botany from the University of Washington and a M.S. degree in plant pathology from the University of Hawaii. Her background includes plant problem diagnosis, research on beneficial microorganisms, and management strategies for turf and ornamental diseases.

ABSTRACT -- Successful Outreach Partnerships: salmon safe -- peer-reviewed standards for the management of urban parks and natural areas
 The WSU Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education Program partnered with Salmon-Safe to conduct an assessment of Portland Parks and the Nike corporate campus.  The Salmon-Safe park and natural area standards are a system-wide approach that relies on a comprehensive evaluation of a land management agency's overall management policies and planning related to habitat and water quality protection. The system-wide evaluation is backed by rigorous assessment of individual sites to evaluate whether management is consistent with best management practices for avoiding harm to stream ecosystems.

ABSTRACT -- National/Regional Certification and Training Efforts: western region structural inspector & pest management training facility  
 The WSU Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education Program has received funding to construct a demonstration and research laboratory at the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center for structural pest management specialists. The facility will prove invaluable in the research and demonstration of innovative IPM technologies. The facility will allow SPIs and PCOs to directly obtain hands-on information and experience with the field identification of WDOs, their damage, and the conditions that are conducive for infestations. Structural and general PCOs will be shown effective IPM strategies, including the safe use of application tools, chemicals, and other IPM-related equipment. Ultimately, this indoor pest management facility will help protect the environment, improve human health, and decrease economic loss. This facility will improve control of hazardous pests, reduce potential exposure to pesticides and pesticide misapplications, and save money through a decrease in damage to structures and the reduction in unneeded pesticide applications.
Fults, Janet BIO
Janet Fults has been with the Oregon Department of Agriculture for over 14 years. Her position is multi-faceted as the Program Manager for Certification and Licensing, Pesticide Registrations, Water Quality, Endangered Species, and the Fertilizer Program. Janet is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California and spent three years with the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner's office as a pesticide investigator. A move to the Oregon Department of Agriculture in 1991 brought Janet to Salem, Oregon. Janet is involved in many national, regional, state, and local pesticide related working groups, committees, and associations.

ABSTRACT -- Tools/Tricks for Efficiency in Tracking CEUs
The Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticides Division has been recording and tracking the attendance of licensees' recertification hours electronically for almost 20 years. Although the process and efficiency of the system has improved significantly over the years, continual improvement is always the key to progress. ODA is currently undergoing a transition to a new system. However, the strengths and weakness of the assignment of credit hours to courses, tracking attendance, reporting credit hours to users, and how users access to recertification information through the web will be explained.

Gettle, Jeaneanne BIO

ABSTRACT -- C&T: Federal Statutes and Regulations
Green, Thomas BIO
Thomas Green is president of the IPM Institute of North America, Inc., a non-profit organization he co-founded to develop and support market incentives for adoption of Integrated Pest Management in agriculture and communities. He has been an apple grower, founder and owner of an IPM supply business and has authored more than 40 articles and presented at more than 50 trade and professional meetings. Dr. Green currently serves on the board of the National Foundation for IPM Education and co-chairs the steering committee for the Fifth National IPM Symposium and Workshop to be held in St. Louis in April of 2006. He holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Massachusetts.

ABSTRACT -- Successful Outreach Partnerships: IPM star certification -- reducing pests and pesticide risks in schools
There are as many definitions of IPM as there are colors in the rainbow! So how do you know if your school system is truly practicing IPM? The "IPM STAR" program defines IPM by setting a standard verified via an on-site audit by an IPM professional. IPM STAR was adapted from models that identify IPM performers in agriculture, with input from more than 40 school IPM experts nationwide. IPM STAR evaluation includes both minimum requirements and scored practices. "Must haves" include compliance with legal requirements, effective sanitation and exclusion, and no routine pesticide applications. Scored elements include IPM policies and planning, staff training, inspection, monitoring, sanitation, exclusion and "least-toxic" pesticides. Deficiencies identified and corrected as part of the certification process have included violations of laws, regulations or school policy; uncontrolled rodent and cockroach infestations; use of highly toxic pesticides when effective, less toxic options are available; and routine pesticide applications without regard to need. Certified schools are recognized with a press release, plaque and certificate presented at a local public meeting. Certification must be renewed every three years, ensuring IPM continuity through personnel and budget changes. Currently, more than 16 school systems have been certified, impacting more than 1.5 million students. Certifications are underway in more than 12 additional school systems, with evaluations being conducted by Cooperative Extension and other collaborators in five states.
Gripp, Sharon BIO
 Sharon has been the information specialist with Penn State Pesticide Education Program for the past 8 years. She received a B.S. in Mineral Economics and an M.S. in Policy Analysis from The Pennsylvania State University. Her major duties include writing and editing newsletters, fact sheets, and other publications; overseeing the web site content; helping create and format with PowerPoint presentations; and providing computer programming to analyze the Consumer Pest Management Survey.

ABSTRACT -- Challenges in Reaching Consumers with Pesticide Education
(See Hoffman-Richards, Kerry)
Guillebeau, Paul BIO
Dr. Guillebeau earned his Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Georgia in 1989. He accepted a position with the U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs and worked in Washington DC for three years. Guillebeau returned to Georgia and took a faculty post with the University of Georgia Department of Entomology in 1995. His primary responsibilities are the reduction of pesticide risks and integrated pest management.

ABSTRACT -- How to Put a Dollar Amount on Impacts
Although there is little doubt about the importance of pesticide education, it is difficult to objectively measure the impacts of safety education. This session will discuss some options for getting better empirical about the value of pesticide safety education.
Gundermann, Dawn BIO
Dawn Gundermann is a graduate student in the Continuing and Vocational Education program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her degree program emphasizes program evaluation and adult learning. Currently, she works for the Program Development and Evaluation unit at Cooperative Extension, UW-Madison.

ABSTRACT -- Helping Adults Learn: Facilitating Learning
This 40-minute session will focus on how adults learn and how educators can enhance and promote learning in their educational settings. Participants will share and discuss their teaching experiences and develop a framework to motivate adult learners.   

Speakers H - N            Return to top
Hansen, Rick BIO
Representative Rick Hansen grew up in rural Minnesota. He holds a M.S. degree in Soil Management from Iowa State University, and a B.S. in Biology from Upper Iowa University. Much of Hansen’s career has been with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. He began as a pesticide use surveyor, started a pesticide container recycling project, and then supervised pesticide certification and licensing. But Hansen’s resume is rich in local government service over the past 20 years. In 2004 Hansen was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving District 39A, Northern Dakota County. As a State Representative, he has continued to focus on water quality protection issues, early childhood learning issues, and giving workers the flexibility to care for aging parents. Hansen serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Regulated Industries Committee. Currently, Hansen is also an entrepreneur and small businessman. Three and a half years ago he started Harmony Cedar, Inc, a company that markets custom handcrafted Amish furniture over the Internet. Hansen owns an organic farm in Fillmore County and enjoys photography, hunting, gardening, and history. He is married, and he and his wife, Suzanne, have one child, Evan.

ABSTRACT -- Talking to Legislators: A Legislative Perspective
State Rep. Rick Hansen (Minnesota - 39A) will discuss the perspective of a legislator in having individuals and interest groups affect state legislation. As a former State Lead Agency member, we will discuss observations from "the other side of the desk." He will explain ways to enhance effectiveness and improve legislative efforts.
Herzfeld, Dean BIO
Dean Herzfeld is Coordinator of Pesticide Safety & Environmental Education programs in the University of Minnesota Extension Service. He provides statewide leadership and management for extension pesticide related educational programs since 1987. He has a B.S. in Integrated Pest Management, M.S. in Plant Pathology, and Ph.D. in Work, Community and Family Education and is currently AAPSE Treasurer. Dean grew up on a Minnesota dairy farm, has been a successful crop consultant, and worked in research on air pollution effects on crop plants. Along with considerable knowledge of pesticides, his academic background and professional expertise includes educational program and instructional design, public sector ethics of environmental education programs, environmental risk education, and public entrepreneurialism in the adaptation of private sector and other management tools for the public sector.

ABSTRACT -- Accountability Plans to Develop Program Sustainability
A group of EPA, SLA and CES individuals have come together through efforts by CTAG to develop an Accountability Planning approach designed to fit the needs of C&T programs. Based on the Logic Model as developed by the University of Wisconsin, much of it will seem familiar as it integrates into a practical and useful package the following items: educational and other types of program development, business and grants financial planning, and public entrepreneurialism. C&T Accountability Planning can help programs effectively leverage both existing and new funding to achieve goals in new and more efficient ways. It also provides a built in process for decision making that provides clear rationales as a basis for providing accountability to stakeholders, program participants, organizational administrators, and those who provide funding and other resources. At this session we will introduce the concepts and process and ask for your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions in the development of a future CTAG work efforts for educational programming for SLA and CES in C&T Accountability Planning.
Hoffman-Richards, Kerry BIO
Kerry graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences and teaching certification in Agricultural Education and General Science. After a brief stint as a crop consultant with the Centre County Crop Management Association, she spent five years as an instructor in Animal and Crop Science at Oxford High School in Chester County. Almost 16 years ago, Kerry joined Penn State’s Office of Pesticide Education. In addition to her responsibilities as Pesticide Education Coordinator, Kerry completed her MEd. and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural and Extension education. For most of her pesticide education career, her responsibilities included developing training materials for pesticide licensing exams, presenting update certification training programs, and consumer and youth education regarding pesticides and food safety. In 2002 she accepted the position of Director of the Pest Management Information Center. Her new responsibilities will focus more on pesticide use data collection and dissemination of regulatory decisions regarding pesticide use. Most recently she was appointed to the faculty of the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education as an affiliate associate professor.

ABSTRACT -- Challenges in Reaching Consumers with Pesticide Education
The survey of over 1,400 consumers was designed to identify areas where pesticide safety outreach education is needed the most. Specific areas addressed in the survey include: pest tolerance, sources of pest control information, IPM awareness, recognizing pesticide products, defining IPM and pesticides, what parts of the label are read, where and how pesticides are stored and disposed, who applies pesticides, and where and how people would choose a pest control company. Analysis of the survey data will not only focus on areas of need for outreach education regarding pesticide safety to protect humans and animals, but also to protect the environment. For example, preliminary analysis shows that many pesticides are not stored in locked areas and/or above five feet to prevent access to them by curious children. Based on comments people made when returning completed surveys, an unexpected outcome of just taking the survey is that they now feel they are more aware of what they may be doing wrong, such as improper storage or not reading the entire label.
Holt, Harvey BIO
 Harvey Holt is a Professor of Forestry in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University.  Harvey received his B.S. in Forest Management from Oklahoma State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from Oregon State University. After spending four years on the faculty at the University of Arkansas, he joined Purdue University in 1975. Present responsibilities include teaching, research, and extension. Teaching emphasizes individual tree care practices in the urban environment. Research activities focus on vegetation management on rights-of-way and industrial sites, and trees in the urban environment. The extension program emphasizes professional education and provides a natural means of presenting research results to users. Holt has been involved with commercial applicator training since the federal mandate began, with particular emphasis on rights-of-way and forestry.

ABSTRACT -- National/Regional Certification and Training Efforts: Railroad Weed Management
Most states have reciprocal agreements with adjacent states to facilitate the licensing of commercial applicators. While this works well for most applicators, railroad contractors are far ranging in the performance of their duties. A single applicator may work in a dozen or more states during the course of the spray season. Since there was a shortage of university and industry trainers for rights-of-way applicators, especially railroad right-of-way applicators, a program was established in 1979 at Purdue University, in cooperation with the National Railroad Contractors Association (NRCA), the Office of the Indiana State Chemist, and the Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, to assist railroad applicators. The annual program includes two days of training to prepare for an initial certification exam for new employees, and one day of continuing education training for previously licensed applicators. Exam content and the continuing education agenda are presented to the states for their acceptance; testing by proxy. The companies must still license and pay all appropriate fees to the state lead agency of each state involved. After 27 years, more than 40 states accept the test and the continuing education for railroad contactors. This is a group of well trained, knowledgeable, professional applicators managing the vegetation on the nation’s railroad rights-of-way.
Johnson, Rick BIO
Rick is a Consumer/Urban Extension Specialist with the Penn State Pesticide Education Program since 2000. Prior to his current role, he was a county Extension agent in Pennsylvania, and from 1982 to 1990, he worked for a private landscaping firm. He received his degrees in ornamental horticulture and landscape architect from Penn State. Besides being a member of AAPSE, Rick also is a member of the Philadelphia Flower Show, International Society of Arboriculture, and the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Conference Committee.

ABSTRACT -- Challenges in Reaching Consumers with Pesticide Education
(See Hoffman-Richards, Kerry)
Keaney, Kevin BIO
Chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Worker Safety Program, Kevin manages the implementation of the national agricultural worker protection program, the national pesticide applicator certification program, and an initiative to better prepare health care providers to recognize and manage pesticide poisonings. He has worked in a number of policy and management positions in EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs. Before working for EPA, he taught at universities in Pittsburgh and in Baltimore, and was a planner / economist for the Washington Metro subway development. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Economics and in English Literature, and has studied law.

ABSTRACT -- Working Together to Better C&T for the Future
Implementing program efficiencies is the best way to ensure continued program success and the best use of resources. Based on the findings of the Strategic Assessment of the Pesticide Safety Education Program and the National Assessment of the Pesticide Worker Safety Program, partnerships between state lead agencies and training providers will be more strongly encouraged.

ABSTRACT -- EPA Status on C&T Outputs vs. Outcomes
There is an increasing demand for accountability measures by the public, Congress, and the Administration. In order to defend the pesticide worker safety program, EPA is engaged in developing measures that are reasonable and acceptable to stakeholders, not overly burdensome, and implementable.

ABSTRACT -- EPA Evaluation of Health Incident Data
The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) provided funds for EPA to develop a strategy to better track occupational pesticide exposure incidents. Under the Tracking Incidents for Pesticide Safety (TIPS) project, the worker safety program is evaluating a wide array of available incident databases.
Kick-Raack, Joanne BIO
Ms. Joanne Kick-Raack is the State Coordinator for the Pesticide Education Program for the Ohio State University Extension and has been with the program since 1989. She is a charter member of  the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE) and is currently President-elect. In 1992 she served in Washington D.C. as Interim National Program Leader for the Pesticide Applicator Training program at the USDA. She also served on the Worker Protection committee for reviewing the WPS training materials and manuals when the regulation was finalized. She was in charge of the development of the six national core slide sets in the early 90’s to accompany the last edition of the national EPA core manual produced at Ohio State University. She holds a B.S. in Plant Pathology from Cornell University and an M.S. in Agricultural Education with an emphasis in IPM from the Ohio State University. Prior to her position as State Pesticide Coordinator, Joanne worked in various segments of the pesticide industry including: conducting nematicide testing with FMC Corporation; working with biological control products and IPM as a regional manager with Abbott Laboratories; and conducting technical training and plant diagnosis as Assistant Manager of the Plant Diagnostic Laboratory at Chemlawn Corporation. Joanne also served on the national exam committee for the Certified Crop Advisor Program, was chair of the Ohio CCA exam committee, and currently serves as an ex-officio member of the Ohio Certified Crop Advisor Board.

ABSTRACT -- C&T: Role of Pesticide Safety Education
A holistic, integrated pesticide risk mitigation program includes proper registration and labeling, enforcement, and education as key components to protect the public and the environment. However, the role of education is viewed by some as changing behavior and attitudes to get compliance. Others feel education should develop the skills of individuals to make sound decisions. Some see it as a means to get a job or be promoted. What is crucial in the context of pesticide training is that certification and training is the mechanism to reach every licensed applicator. It is key to individuals reaching competency, increasing competency and staying current. As a result, education plays a key role in influencing human decisions in the real world and reaching human and environmental protection goals.
Klemme, Richard BIO
Richard Klemme is the Associate Dean and Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension, a joint position between UW-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Cooperative Extension, UW-Extension. Associate Dean Klemme oversees Extension programming in agriculture and natural resources statewide, and provides personnel and budget support for College extension specialists. Dr. Klemme obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a B.S. in Economics and Mathematics from Illinois State University. He has been at UW-Madison since 1980, starting as a farm management specialist in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Klemme was named founding Director of the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems in 1989, a position he held until he became the Associate Dean on January 1, 2000.
Lang, Mary Beth BIO
Mary Beth Lang has been with the Washington State Department of Agriculture since 1986, serving as an Assistant to the Director for the past 11 years responsible for coordinating the agency's legislative activities. She served eight years as WSDA's communications director and also has worked as a 4-H Agent, an Extension Specialist, and a farm broadcaster in Wisconsin.
Some of her more memorable legislative work has dealt with pesticide use in schools, livestock nutrients, heavy metals in fertilizer, and the funding of various agency programs.

ABSTRACT -- Talking to Legislators: A Legislative Liaison Perspective
A legislative liaison works in partnership with agency programs to develop, advocate, implement, and respond to legislative initiatives. Providing accurate, timely information is essential to helping legislators make reasoned decisions about issues that affect your program. Learn the strategies and tools one state uses in its work with its state legislature.
Lee, Nancy BIO
Nancy Lee, President of Social Marketing Services since 1993, has more than 20 years of professional marketing experience, with special expertise in Social Marketing, Strategic Marketing Planning, Marketing Research, and Marketing Communications. She received her Masters Degree in Business with a major in marketing from the University of Puget Sound and her B.S. in Education from the University of Illinois. She is an adjunct faculty member, teaching social marketing and marketing planning at the University of Washington, University of Puget Sound, and Seattle University; she is a visiting faculty for the University of South Florida, the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and for the Health Promotion Board in Singapore. Nancy has consulted with more than 100 non-profit organizations and has participated in the development of more than 50 social marketing campaign strategies for public sector agencies. She has co-authored two books: Social Marketing: Improving the Quality of Life, published in 2003 by Sage Publishing, and Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing the Most Good for Your Company and Your Cause, published in 2004 by Wiley & Sons.

ABSTRACT -- Overview: Social Marketing -- Influencing Public Behaviors
Social marketing is the use of marketing principles and techniques to influence a target audience to voluntarily accept, reject, modify, or abandon a behavior for the benefit of individuals, groups, or society as a whole.” It is used to influence specific behaviors that will improve health, prevent injuries, protect the environment and contribute to communities. Major issues that social marketing can benefit include: health, injury prevention, environmental protection, and community involvement. In this presentation, we’ll look at the definition of social marketing, applications, and principles needed for success.

ABSTRACT -- Social Marketing: Interactive Discussion and Exercises
As a follow up to the Overview on Social Marketing, participants in this session will have an opportunity to participate in interactive exercises designed to increase understanding of how to select a target audience, choose desired behaviors, identify barriers to behaviors and examine the 4 marketing tools available to reduce barriers and increase benefits. There will also be opportunities for Q&A relative to the Overview Session.
Liemandt, Paul BIO
Paul Liemandt manages the MDA Environmental Response & Enforcement Section, which includes the Agricultural Chemical Investigation Unit, the Incident Response Unit, the Enforcement Unit, and the Information & Certification Unit. Other responsibilities include the Waste Pesticide Collection and Pesticide Container Collection Programs. Mr. Liemandt is currently serving as President of the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO). He is past Chair of the national "SFIREG" Committee (States-FIFRA Issues, Research & Evaluation Group), the official forum for discussion and resolution of federal-state pesticide regulatory and enforcement issues. Mr. Liemandt previously worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as an aquatic biologist, fish and wildlife pathologist, and staff pesticide specialist. Mr. Liemandt is a native Minnesotan and has education and training from Saint John's University, the Universities of Minnesota, Arizona, California at Davis, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. He is an annual invited instructor at the Hamline and U of MN Law Schools and at UC Davis on the topics of agricultural chemical law and pesticide regulatory program management. In February 1998, Mr. Liemandt, by invitation of US EPA and the US Department of State, offered a series of seminars on pesticide regulatory strategies and enforcement in Kiev, Ukraine to environmental protection and agricultural regulatory officials from several former Soviet bloc countries.

ABSTRACT -- Online Licensing Services: electronic applicator license renewal system
The Minnesota Pesticide Control Law authorizes and requires annual licensing of pesticide applicators.   License renewals are predicated on a showing of continuing competency (certification via attendance at workshops, re-testing, or correspondence studies), financial responsibility, and payment of fees. The Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture directed staff to provide an expedited, customer friendly, and department efficient “online” re-licensing process, including the opportunity to pay required fees by credit card. In 2005, the department implemented an electronic, web-based license renewal opportunity (“eRenewal”), enabling thousands of MN Licensed Commercial, Non-commercial, Structural, and Aquatic Pesticide Applicators to renew online. Challenges to the development of such a system included: existing department business practices, statutory requirement to offer “proof” of financial responsibility and workers compensation coverage for licensed employees, interfacing of the departments licensing and certification data bases, protection of private data, and web and credit card security issues.
Lorenz, Eric BIO
Eric is the Pesticide Education Program Coordinator at The Penn State University. He coordinates the development of and reviews current test preparation materials, presents update training seminars for extension educators, and provides pesticide safety training programs for certification and recertification. Eric holds a B.S. in Animal Science and a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Penn State. Past positions include 13 years as Beef Cattle herdsman and 9 years as a Research Associate in Poultry Science.

ABSTRACT -- Train Trainers: Respirators & Respirator Training
A presentation you can take home with you on a CD to demonstrate the differences in respirators and their levels of protection. Included is a video clip on respirator types, function, and performance. An additional video clip illustrates how to don a respirator and how to perform a fit test.
Martin, Drew BIO
Andrew Martin is a training specialist with Purdue Pesticide Programs in West Lafayette, IN. He is responsible for management of Indiana’s commercial pesticide applicator training program. Andrew holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction with research interests in job analysis and licensure test construction.

ABSTRACT -- Streamlined Job Analysis for Exam & Manual Development
When it comes to developing pesticide applicator certification exams, do we always have to do things the same way? If the methods that we select are to accommodate our needs and the idiosyncrasies of those occupations under our regulatory authority, then test construction cannot be viewed in terms of a one-size-fits-all approach. This presentation examines a job analysis method developed for the National Railroad Contractors Association. It involved a minimal number of workers and their supervisors in a process that yielded sufficient job information on which to develop a certification exam. The method is efficient and it lends itself to an orderly means of creating a test plan. Possibilities for its application (in part or in whole) to other pesticide-related occupations and training program development are examined also.
Nissen, Scott BIO
Dr. Scott Nissen received his Ph.D. in Crop Science with a minor in Biochemistry from Montana State University in 1986. He was on the faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1989 to 1995 before accepting a faculty position with the Colorado State University in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management. His primary responsibilities include integrated weed management in crop and non-crop environments. Dr. Nissen has taught a graduate level herbicide mode of action class since 1989 and became interested in on-line module development in 2001. He has collaborated with other weed scientists and distance education specialists to develop on-line modules and animations dealing with herbicide absorption, translocation, degradation, modes of action, and the basics of understanding and managing herbicide resistant weeds.

ABSTRACT -- Online Training Lessons Show and Tell: weed management training modules
Being that most land grant universities have de-emphasized training in herbicide physiology over the past two decades, a grant from the American Distance Education Consortium provided the resources to develop Internet-based modules dealing with applied and advanced biochemical information on herbicide mode of action. The modules were designed for credit and non-credit offerings, as well as for classroom or outreach educations. A total to ten lessons are in various stages of development and when completed these will cover 1) herbicide absorption, translocation, and metabolism, 2) herbicide modes of action, and 3) herbicide resistance. In addition to providing text, figures, and animations, a quiz feature has also been developed so that learners and educators can evaluate information transfer. In more formal classroom or distance education settings, quizzes can track student progress and validate performance. In the future, this technology could be used to provide credits for continuing education for pesticide applicators. Development of these online modules has been a collaborative effort between several universities with some educational materials being provided by BASF. Modules are currently being hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at http://croptechnology.unl.edu; however, the WSWS has provided funding to support a mirrored site at www.wsweedscience.org.

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Peterson, Jack BIO
Jack Peterson is the Associate Director of the Environmental Services Division with the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Jack grew up in MN working on his parents and uncle’s farm. He received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from the North Dakota State University. For about 10 years, Jack was employed in North Dakota with the Extension Service, as a pesticide inspector, and then as the Director of the Pesticide Division. In 1994, he moved to Arizona to start his current career where he is involved in all aspects of pesticide regulation as well as feed, fertilizer and seed, agency licensing, and criminal investigations.

ABSTRACT -- C&T Stakeholders: Relationships, Roles, Current Leadership
This session will cover the various organizations involved in the worker safety program, their roles, how they are organized, and who is in the current leadership positions. This will hopefully lead to more understanding and more interest in being involved in the various organizations.

ABSTRACT -- Non-traditional Funding for Certification Programs
This session will cover responses on a survey of funding levels and unique ways that states are dealing with funding. There will be a discussion of the results and some brainstorming of additional ways that funding can be found or stretched through program changes.
Rabe, Bonnie BIO

ABSTRACT -- Mosquito Misting – C&T and Compliance Concerns
Ramsay, Carol

BIO
Carol Ramsay is the Pesticide Education Specialist at Washington State University. She has worked in Pesticide Safety Education since 1987. Carol is responsible for the Pesticide Education Program in Washington, serving both pre-license and recertification aspects. Carol is a founding member of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators and the PNW Integrated Vegetation Management Association. Carol serves at the Co-Chair for the national pesticide Certification and Training Assessment Group. Carol is an avid bird hunter and thoroughly enjoys her time in the field with Gina Go Girl.

ABSTRACT -- C&T: Partners and Their Roles
Much of the C&T program stems from federal and state/tribal regulations and they are the key partners involved in reaching C&T goals. This presentation introduces the other three main partners in C& Programs: USDA, Tribes, and Federal Programs. The USDA provides the base structure and outreach network through the Cooperative Extension Service in each state to educate farmers on the safe use of pesticides. In the mid 1960’s, USDA initiated a Pesticide Safety Program which evolved into Pesticide Applicator Training in the mid 1970’s, and in 2002 was renamed the Pesticide Safety Education Program. Another key partner are the Tribal Indian Nations. Some tribes have EPA-approved C&T plans and others coordinate their programs in cooperation with state lead agencies. The final partner in C&T includes those federal agencies that have EPA-approved C&T plans; these include the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (APHIS,
FS), Interior (BLM, BIA, NPS), and Energy (BPA).

ABSTRACT -- Online Training Lessons Show and Tell: WSU Online Pesticide Pre-license and Recertification.
During 2004 and 2005, WSU used Macromedia Breeze® to author PowerPoint® based training modules that included voice narration and scripted notes. Using an Interchange® shopping cart platform, applicators could purchase and access Breeze® training modules over the Internet (http://pep.wsu.edu). Computer reports are generated quarterly and sent to participating states for recertification credits. Purchased pre-license modules are available for review at any time during a single calendar year. This session shows and discusses the Interchange® shopping cart, Breeze audio/slide editing, and recertification reporting systems.  An example of a pre-license course can be accessed here: http://breeze.wsu.edu/p76471940/?access-key=8muuw4fnfp5qbkof
Rew, Carl BIO
Carl has a B.S. in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He was employed as an Employee Relations Supervisor for 10 years. He worked in Personnel, Union Relations, Training and Development, Safety, Security, and Recruiting. He worked with a corporate psychologist to validate employment and maintenance employee specialist exams. Carl became a manger for a large nursery and landscape operation in Indiana during the mid 1970’s. He also served on the Board of Directors during the 1980’s and was President of the Indiana Nursery Association in 1987. Carl began his employment with the Office of Indiana State Chemist Office in 1988 and been in his current position as Certification and Licensing Manager. He has served on the CTAG committee and conducted two three-day test validation seminars for EPA. Carl is married, has three children, and six grandchildren.

ABSTRACT -- National/Regional Certification &Training Efforts: Region 5 Structural Exam
Carl will discuss the EPA Region 5 attempt to develop a regional General Pest Control category exam for use in the EPA region 5 states. An EPA grant was used to fund the expenses for this exam validation effort conducted during 2002-2004. Learn about the pros and cons of this project. From finding common grounds to identifying major differences between the states involved with this project.
Rock, Charles BIO
Charles began his career with the VA Department of Agriculture serving as a Pesticide Control Official for 10 years subsequently joining the Ag division of CIBA-GEIGY. After retiring from Novartis Crop Protection (formerly CIBA Crop Protection) as Director of Government Affairs, Charles joined KRS where he is currently serving as its Chief Operating Officer. Since assuming the leadership role in KRS, the Company has experienced significant growth in providing web-based solutions to state regulatory agencies, their clients, and the consuming public. The Covington, GA based company currently hosts nearly 40 sites for state department of agriculture and other state agencies under www.kellysolutions.com. Charles earned both a B.S. and M.S. from VA Tech and is a veteran of the US Army. He is also President of RIM Consulting, Heathsville, VA.

ABSTRACT -- Tools/Tricks for Efficiency in Tracking CEUs
 KRS of Covington, GA has created a role for mobile and web-based technologies designed to track and verify individual attendance at approved training programs for continuing education or recertification credits. This paperless technology is driven by unique state identifiers coupled with KRS’ rapid scan devices that capture individual identification, actual time in training session(s), and interfaces with state data bases of certified applicator or registered technician profiles for providing credits through www.kellysolutions.com. The Kelly Course Attendance Tracking System (KCatracs) provides for recertification reminders to applicators, access to individual profiles within state policies, and web based training verification submission to state lead agency by Extension/University/private entities holding approved training programs. KCatracs accommodates multi-state access to a centralized training verification data base enabling local credit for out-of-state training.
Ruiz, Alfredo BIO
Mr. Alfredo Ruiz is an agricultural engineer from the Colombian National University, with business training from Indiana University. He has broad experience in the Plant Science Industry – an industry that invents, manufactures, and sells products and services designed to improve the global production of food, feed, and fiber and other useful products in a sustainable way. Mr. Ruiz worked 5 years as a scientist for the Colombia Agricultural Research Institute –ICA – prior to joining the Dow Chemical Company in research in 1969. He later moved into marketing and General Management working in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and the USA. In 1991 he returned to Colombia, his native country, as President and General Manager of the Dow AgroSciences Andean Countries operation. Very active in the industry trade associations in the four countries under his responsibility, Mr. Ruiz served as President of the Colombia National Crop Protection Association – ANDI; President of the Industry Andean Countries Association – FESANDINA; Vice President of the Colombian Council of American Companies; and Chairman of the Board of Directors of CropLife Latin America. In February 2000. Mr. Ruiz became the President of CropLife Latin America based in Miami, Florida.

ABSTRACT -- International Efforts in Sharing PSEP Resources: A Safe Working Place for the Honduras Farmers and Rural Workers
From discussions that began in February of 2003 regarding ongoing educational programs in Latin America, US EPA and CropLife Latin America reached an agreement to develop and fund a self-sustaining Train-the-Trainer program in Honduras. A coalition was formed that included representatives from government, academia, industry, agro exporters, regional and international organizations, NGO’s, and Peace Corps. The coalition selected CropLife Honduras to lead the steering committee which developed a strategic plan, timeline, and budget. The first Train-the-Trainer session was held in Comayagua in June 2004 with 22 participants from a range of organizations. Several trainings sessions have since been held and a substantial number of trainers, and thousands of farmers and field workers, have benefited from this program.

Schulze, Larry BIO
Larry Schulze is a Pesticide Education Specialist and Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska with the responsibility of administration, development, and conduct of the Pesticide Safety Education Programs. Larry and his staff, 60 Extension colleagues, and multiple trade organizations reach nearly 24,000 private and 8,700 commercial / non-commercial applicators using multiple distance education avenues, such as the world's first Pesticide Education Resources web site that came online in 1994, DVDs, video, PowerPoint, and Internet video streaming. Larry has created a variety of internationally recognized pesticide education program materials that have been adopted by several universities and regulatory agencies across the U.S. He serves on the Canadian Working Group on Pesticide Education, Training, and Certification. He is currently a North Central Region Director and a past Secretary of AAPSE. Larry presents a diversity of pesticide education programs for Master Gardener volunteers, Poison Center specialists, and utility company personnel, plus coordinates Nebraska's pesticide container recycling program and the University's involvement in Husker Harvest Days, an annual agricultural trade show. His "Label" newsletter was the University's first newsletter on the Internet. His youth programming includes the "Wild World of Pest Management," a highly interactive program for elementary-aged students that has reached more than 18,000 youth since 1992. Hobbies include running and windsurfing.

ABSTRACT -- Benefits of Cooperation Between SLA and PSEP Programs: Setting the Compass for PestEd and PestReg
Enhancing pesticide education and certification is the goal for the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The success between our two organizations is strongly influenced by a single, very important activity. We have monthly noon lunch meetings, compliments of the University's Pesticide Education Office. As a result of these regularly scheduled meetings, an increased level of communication, coordination, and commitment occurs between our organizations and programs. All communications between us are enhanced: telephone calls, email, personal visits, newsletters, respective web sites, and more. Staff from both offices know each other by first name.  Increased coordination between us creates dividends for our common clientele. Applicators subsequently hold a pesticide license that is based on a higher quality educational experience. Our commitment to each other's respective roles as a university and as a state regulatory agency is another positive outcome. Our respective programs are more successful and have greater impact because of the regular contact and communications. Several examples of enhanced programs include the advance planning of PSEP sessions in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture as well as establishment of speakers and agendas; coordination of personnel in the production of university DVDs, videos, and publications; participation at PSEP in-service for Extension Educators; statewide waste pesticide disposal; container recycling; and more.

ABSTRACT --Development of a National Pesticide Container Recycling Standard
 (See Fitz, Nancy)
Scott, Dave BIO
Dave Scott currently serves Pennsylvania as the Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Certification and Education Specialist. From his roots on the family dairy farm, Dave has been involved in agriculture nearly his entire life. Dave earned his B.S. in Biology from East Stroudsburg University. For the past 27 years, he has worked for the PA Department of Agriculture, including 9 years as a pesticide inspector, and the last 7 years in charge of the pesticide certification, education and licensing programs. Dave has received honors as the “EPA Region III Outstanding Inspector of the Year”, and was also named as “Employee of the Year “ for the Department of Agriculture. He married Patty 30 years ago and they have two daughters, one in college and one starting high school in the fall.

ABSTRACT -- Benefits of Cooperation Between SLA and PSEP Programs
From the state perspective, what are the benefits of working closely with the university pesticide education program? The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Penn State University have worked together to provide top quality services to the pesticide application industry. I'll highlight what having university resources working for you can do to enhance your SLA programs.
Servant, Vivianne BIO
Vivianne Servant has been the Pesticide Certification Specialist with Alberta Environment for 13 years. She has a B.S. Degree and a Teaching Certificate for Adult and Continuing Education both from the University of Alberta. She monitors and approves pesticide applicator and dispenser training, certification, and recertification programs in Alberta. She’s been a long time member of the National Working Group establishing pesticide education and certification standards in Canada and is also an AAPSE member. Previous to that, she was a pesticide inspector and investigator with Alberta Environment for 6 years. Prior to joining the Department of Environment, she worked for 8 years installing and maintaining landscapes and managing a tree farm.

ABSTRACT -- Canadian Partners: C&T in Canada
A brief overview of the co-operative nature of  the development of certification and training in Canada.

ABSTRACT -- International Efforts in Sharing PSEP Resources
When considering how to adequately fund education programs, both costs and sources of funding should be analyzed. Emerging technologies, partnerships with industry, and sharing/collaborating to develop regional and/or national training materials can significantly reduce overall costs. Non-traditional sources of funding will be discussed including industry and government grants, creative sentencing, cost recovery, dedicated development funds, etc. Individuals should come prepared to interact with other participants and share both cost cutting measures and alternate sources of funding.
Sheldon, Linda BIO

ABSTRACT -- Agricultural Health Study: Results of EPA On-Farm Exposure Study
Storm, Julia BIO
Since 1994, Julia Storm has served as the Agromedicine Information Specialist in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at North Carolina State University. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Mars Hill College in North Carolina and a M.S. in Public Health from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining Cooperative Extension at NC State University, Julia worked as an Environmental Chemist with private industry and state government. Julia enjoys hiking, canoeing, and singing. Should Extension ever fail her, her alternative job choice would be as a TV sitcom writer.

ABSTRACT -- Educational Resources on the Agricultural Health Study
Extension educators and others conducting pesticide safety education programs will be interested in this session on a new series of educational resources called Understanding the Agricultural Health Study. This presentation will demonstrate these resources and provide attendees the opportunity to ask questions about their usefulness and relevance and about how to access the resources. These resources were designed to be used by Extension and other educators with agricultural audiences. Resources utilized visual and graphic means to communicate scientific concepts and information, as well as using lay language. In addition, a continuing education course designed for rural health providers will be introduced.

Thostenson, Andrew BIO
Andrew is responsible for administering the training and certification of private and commercial pesticide applicators across North Dakota. He has both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Plant Sciences from the University of Idaho, and has four years of experience as a county extension agent in Washington State and North Dakota. He owned and operated a seed and crop management consulting company in the Pacific Northwestern United States for ten years prior to his current position with NDSU the past eight years. He served as the AAPSE Representative from the North Central Region for four years and is currently the Vice Chair of CTAG. Andrew and his wife just celebrated 23 years of marriage. He has an 11 year old son and an eight year old daughter.

ABSTRACT -- Non-traditional Funding for Safety Education Programs
 Obtaining adequate funding to conduct an effective pesticide safety education program is a constant challenge. Further, into today’s federal and state funding environment, this situation probably will not change anytime soon. Therefore, it is essential that those of us who are engaged in this area take matters, as best we can, into our own hands. We need to make hard assessments of what we can and cannot afford to do, and we need to develop allies and supporters to help us accomplish our goals. This panel discussion will explore both traditional and novel approaches to funding a pesticide education program. This will include fees for training, testing, and materials; as well as charging for services like spray pattern testing, safety audits, consulting, and certified crop advisors credits. It will also consider various cost recover mechanisms as well as obtaining resources from commodity groups, endowments, and government entities.

Tucker, Margaret BIO
 Margaret graduated from Virginia Tech in 1983 with a B.S. in Horticulture. She began working for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) in February 1985 as a pesticide investigator out of the Yakima office.  Margaret has worked out of the Pesticide Management Division's Olympia office since November of 1985 where she has performed a variety of duties associated with the Compliance, Registration, and Certification programs. Margaret has been the Branch Manager of WSDA's Certification & Training section since 1989. This section consists of Pesticide Licensing and Recertification and the Farmworker Education program. Margaret is involved in the training aspects associated with the Worker Protection Standard and is the department's representative on the Blueberry Commission. She is a graduate of the state’s Career Executive Program and is currently an agency Internal Quality Consultant.

ABSTRACT -- Cholinesterase Monitoring: a Case Study in Personal Hygiene and PPE
In 2004, Washington state enacted rules requiring agricultural employers to monitor cholinesterase levels in employees who handle Category 1 and 2 organophosphate and N-methyl carbamate pesticides. This presentation will highlight:
 ·       the results of the first year of testing, which saw cholinesterase depressions in 20% of those receiving a periodic test,
 ·       what on-site evaluations by field inspectors revealed, and
·       the training needs for personal hygiene and decontamination that are to be emphasized to reduce exposures in the future. 
Weaver, Mike BIO
Mike Weaver is the Director of Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs and Professor in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech. He has served Virginia Cooperative Extension as a project leader and extension pesticide coordinator for over 25 years. Weaver's training includes a B.S. in biology and secondary education from Edinboro University (PA), an M.S. in plant pathology from West Virginia University (WVU), and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Virginia Tech. He has authored more than 300 research and extension publications, has served as principal investigator and cooperator on over 100 grants and contract projects totaling over 4 million dollars, and has spoken to numerous international, national, regional and local audiences. Prior to his appointment at Virginia Tech he worked with WVU Extension where he helped initiate the pesticide applicator training program there from 1975-1977. Much of his work has involved the application of electronic communication technology to enhance the deliver of the PSE curriculum. He has served as the AAPSE and JPSE webmasters since the inception of those websites. He also manages the AAPSE listserv and five different program web sites at Virginia Tech. He and his co-workers have developed both CD-based and on-line instruction including the first interactive video disk program for pesticide applicators, an educational CD for the federal pesticide recordkeeping program, several PSE support sites including the national pesticide image database, and on-line courses in pesticide safety education and train-the-trainer for two regional PSECs and his own programs. He has also worked as a teacher, steelworker, photographer, store manager, and basset hound wrangler.

ABSTRACT -- Online Training Lessons Show and Tell: Pesticide Safety Education Center (PSEC) Preparatory Courses
Since 2001, Virginia Tech has sponsored a preparatory on-line course in cooperation with the Southern Region Pesticide Safety Education Center (PSEC) at North Carolina State University. PSEC focuses on trainer and regulatory inspector training in pesticide safety education. The on-line course provides PSEC participants with the means to reach a uniform competency level in the core curriculum prior to attending a three day PSEC workshop in Raleigh. It consists of a series of self-paced modules along with pre- and post-tests presented through a Blackboard course management system. There are 15 modules in the course that correlate with the core curriculum. These have been refined from their original form as PowerPoint presentations to a more sophisticated format with enhanced imaging, animation, video, and audio. The modules will continue to be used by the SR-PSEC for future programs, and Penn State University has agreed to adopt the on-line course for its use with the Northeast Region PSEC due to start in the fall of 2005. This session shows and discusses the development and use of the modules with the PSEC and their future use. An example of several of the modules will be accessible at URL: http://vtpp.org after the revision is completed.
Whitford, Fred

BIO
Fred Whitford is the coordinator of Purdue Pesticide Programs of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. He received a
B.S. in wildlife management from Louisiana Tech University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in entomology from Iowa State University. He has authored more than 200 research, extension, and regulatory publications, and has delivered over 2000 presentations to a wide array of audiences. He has written two books: The complete book on pesticide management: science, regulation, stewardship, and communication, published in 2002 by Wiley & Sons, and The complete federal and state compliance guide for Hoosier businesses, published in 2001 by Purdue University Press. He is currently working on a biography of William Carroll Latta who was Professor of Agriculture at Purdue University from 1882-1935. Dr. Whitford’s prior professional activities include lab and field research, extension outreach, regulatory work, and commercial pesticide application.

ABSTRACT -- Certification and Training: A Great Career
We sometimes forget what we're all about. It seems countless phone calls, numerous meetings, and writing reports seem to be our lot in life. However, ask yourself what stories and events would I remember if I were to retire today? I'm sure it would be an impact statement or committee chairperson, wouldn't it? For me, my career is measured by the following letter that I received from a fifth grader who had listened to my program on what it was like to be a farmer. "Thank you for teaching us a lot. I learned that farmers are important in the world. I am a farmer but I never knew that I was important. I also learned that it is hard to see through those windows on the big machinery. I had a lot of fun!" I am always reminded by his remarks that we in Extension do make a difference -- one person at a time.

ABSTRACT -- Educating Farmers: Approaches That Work and Don't Work
Providing pesticide information to farmers is always a difficult proposition. Educators must be aware that advanced degrees, position at the university, and expertise has little meaning to growers. Growers have to first develop a trust and confidence in your abilities and the advice you provide. Once established, education strategies can be used to gain their attention, and to get your points across to farmers.
Wilson, Jim BIO
Jim Wilson is just an old country boy who still believes that dinner is what you have at noon, supper is what you have at night, and lunch is brought out to the field around 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Jim matriculated at South Dakota State University receiving a B.S. in 1978 – Mech. Ag. (Ag. Systems Technology), a M.S. in 1992 - The Effect of Foxtail (setaria spp.)Interference on Spring Wheat, and a Ph.D. in 2003 -  A Participatory Study of Site Specific Response of Yield to Levels of Phosphorus as a Training Method for Extension Educators in South Dakota. He has taken an active role in drift management education, West Nile Virus and mosquito control issues, and using emerging technologies such as interactive video to expand the reach of Extension programming. Jim began his Extension career as an Extension Agent from 1980 – 1989, before moving into his current position as Extension Pesticide Education Coordinator at South Dakota State University. He has been employed by the Cooperative Extension Service for over 25 years. Jim is a charter member of AAPSE.

ABSTRACT -- Tools to Train Trainers:  Selecting Appropriate Nozzles
We know that choice of nozzles and how you operate them can make a significant difference in the amount of pesticide drift leaving the field, but how do you communicate that to applicators? The most important consideration when planning drift education for ag producers is to make sure it is applicable, useful, and presented within a context that the individual is familiar with. In other words, we need to think like an applicator. To paraphrase Seaman Knapp, if farmers not only hear, but also see and physically experience the education, they are much more likely to adopt it. We will address some tools and educational approaches to help applicators understand and relate to the differences among nozzles and real-life drift management issues. Time will be set aside for discussion to facilitate learning from each others’ experiences.