June 1, 2015 | PCT Magazine

In March, 150 people traveled to Grapevine, Texas, from as far away as Greece and Canada to spend two clays interacting with speakers at the first Bi-Annual Thermal Remediation Bed Bug National Conference. "The conference not only served as an educational event but also included multiple cocktail receptions, allowing for in-depth industry technology and treatment procedure discussions to take place," said Amanda Rahn, the firm's marketing manager. "We are already looking forward to our next conference which will take place in 2017."

Speakers included:

• Keynote Address: Bed Bugs, We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!, Dr. Austin M. Frishman, AMF Pest Management Consulting
• Using Pesticides to Optimize Heat Treatment Results, Joseph Barile, Bayer Environmental Science
• DNA-Based Bed Bug Detection, Ernest Colaizzi, president, Research Associates Laboratory
• Equipment Update: What You Need to Know About Thermal Remediation, Chris Strom, national sales manager, Thermal Remediation from TEMP-AIR
• The Perfect Fit: The Benefits of Encasement Products to Your Bed Bug Control Program & Pest Relief International Overview, Andrea Hancock vice president, Mattress Safe, Pest Relief International
• Bed Bugs and Public Health, Dr. Austin M. Frishman, AMF Pest Management Consulting
• Practical Tips for Successful Use of Canines, Brian Taggart, president, National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association
• Bed Bug Liabilities: What Today's Pest Pro Really Needs to Know, Daniel Whitney, managing partner, Whitney & Bogris
• Bed Bug Research Update, Dr. Stephen Kells, entomologist, University of Minnesota
• What's Working for Us, Jeffrey White, Cooper Pest Solutions
• Thermal Remediation: It's More Than Just Bed Bugs, Dr. Raj Hulasare, senior scientist, Thermal Remediation from TEMP-AIR
• New Technology to Remotely Control Heat Treatment Temperatures, Vasilis (Billy) Sotiroudas, AgroSpeCom
• The Walking Dead and Other Bed Bug Myths, By Dr. Roberto Pereira, Entomologist, University of Florida
• Bed Bugs: Lessons Learned From the Field, Paul Bello, industry consultant, PJB Pest Management Consulting