IMAGE: CHEMOTECNICA
Andy Linares, founder and president of Bug Off Pest Control Center, New York, N.Y., spoke with Pest Management Professional about his upcoming presentation for the 2020 edition of Jornadas Técnicas para Empresas de Control de Plagas. Again sponsored by South American pest control product formulator and distributor Chemotecnica, the event will still take place Aug. 19-20, but online instead of in-person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chemotecnica has actually been engaging with pest management professionals (PMPs) throughout the summer, Linares notes, through its bi-weekly presentations online on a variety of topics. Linares himself did an “Ask Me Anything” type of presentation where South American PMPs were able to quiz him about what pest control was like in New York City. Those presentations (except for Linares’, as there were technical difficulties!) are archived on YouTube.
As he reported for PMP last year, Linares was one of three U.S. speakers at the 2019 event. This year, it is just him and New Mexico State University Associate Professor Dr. Alvaro Romero representing the U.S. Linares will present online at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Aug. 19 on German cockroaches. Dr. Romero will present online about bed bugs on Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Linares tells PMP he was able to get a sneak peek at the online platform, and is very impressed by the interface.
The speaker panel at the 2019 event included Andy Linares, pictured second from right. PHOTO: CHEMOTECNICA
“It’s very clever,” he says. “Attendees will watch the presentations in a ‘virtual auditorium,’ where there’s a big screen for the PowerPoint presentations.”
Raffle giveaways have long been a tradition at the event, and this year will be no different, Linares says. “When they have a break in the schedule, a virtual wheel spins with the names of all the registrants. The wheel will pull a name at random to win a prize.”
The presentations are in Spanish, but registration is free for PMPs curious to see what it is like. South American PMPs can receive continuing education units (CEUs) and certificates of completion if the record shows they were logged on for the presentations.
“It’s one of the biggest industry events in Latin America,” Linares says. “In person last year, there were well over 1,000 people. The organizers expect close to 2,000 attendees worldwide, logging in and out as their schedules permit.”
Find updates about other industry events impacted by COVID-19: Pandemic affects status of industry events
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