Governance: Board of Directors

For more information concerning the Entomological Foundation, please see our Bylaws .

Officers

Chairman and President, Board of Directors. Since 1975, Brad Vinson has been a professor of Entomology at Texas A&M University. His laboratories are involved in the isolation and identification of genes that allow the parasite to evade the host's immune response and that regulate the host growth and development. His labs are also involved in developing new approaches to management of the imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. His research involves physiology, behavior, genetics, and ecology, as well as developing and evaluating new products. Previously, he was an Associate Professor in Entomology at Texas A&M University and Mississippi State University. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Entomology from Mississippi State University and his B.S. degree from Ohio State University. Discover Entomology at Texas A&M University

Vice President| Thomas Anderson , Term 2008-2010

Vice President, Board of Directors and Chairman, Board of Counselors. Biography coming soon. FMC Corporation

Treasurer | Bruce Monke, Term 2008-2010

Treasurer, Board of Directors. Bruce Monke is currently Manager of Field Development and Technical Services for Bayer Environmental Science. He has more than 20 years experience in managing personnel as well as projects in diverse agricultural and urban pest management markets. Monke is an entomologist by training with master's and Ph.D. degrees in entomology from the University of Nebraska. Bayer CropScience

Secretary | Michelle Smith, Term 2007-2009

Secretary, Board of Directors. Michelle Smith is currently R&D Communications Leader for  Dow AgroSciences. She works closely with the Global R&D Leaders to develop R&D communication strategies and tactics; including content management, message development, outreach, and intranet stewardship. Michelle provides critical linkages from R&D to Dow AgroSciences and Dow R&D teams to ensure R&D voice and involvement in broader communications, including R&D content development for DowAgro.com She has 20 years of business and R&D experience in pest management and technology transfer. Michelle joined the company in 1990 as a Technical Service and Development specialist in Anaheim, California, and has held several technical specialist and technology transfer leadership roles within Pest Management. Prior to joining Dow AgroSciences, Michelle was a pesticide inspector for the District of Columbia - Consumer Affairs Department, and a Q/A auditor and training manager for Orkin Pest Control. Michelle received her B.S. degree from Hollins University and her Master's degree in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. DowAgroSciences

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     DIRECTORS

Elizabeth Brown, Term 2009-2011

Director of the Board. Wizzie Brown is an Extension Program Specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University.  She works with a variety of audiences, from pre-schoolers to the elderly, master gardeners to pest management professionals.  Wizzie conducts research on various structural and landscape pests as well as providing education to clientele on pest identification and management.  She received her B.S. in entomology from Ohio State University and her M.S. in entomology from Texas A&M University. Texas AgriLife Extension Service


Mary Rob Clarke, Term 2009-2011

Director of the Board. Biography coming soon. Clarke Mosquito Control

April Gower, Ex-Officio

Ex-Officio. April Gower serves as Executive Vice President of the Entomological Foundation. Serving 21 years in the nonprofit sector, her experience in management and administration includes program development and implementation in science and environmental education, marketing, and fundraising. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Education Initiatives Specialist, Development Manager, and Program Director for National 4-H Council; Marketing and Public Affairs Manager for the Entomological Society of America; and Program Coordinator for the Triangle Coalition. As Program Director for National 4-H Council, she provided leadership to the its Environmental Stewardship Program, a community-based youth education program designed to form partnerships among national youth education groups and improve their access to educational resources. Gower holds a B.S.from the University of Maryland and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland/University College.

Thomas Green, Term 2009-2011

Director of the Board, Thomas Green is President of the IPM Institute of North America, Inc., a non-profit organization he co-founded in 1998. The Institute’s mission is to leverage marketplace power to improve health, environment and economics in agriculture and communities through IPM. The Institute operates the IPM STAR program, evaluating and certifying schools nationwide for their pest management practices and impacting more than 2 million children since its inception in 2003. Clients and funders have included US Army, US EPA, USDA, SYSCO Corporation, Whole Foods Market, General Mills and the Universities of Wisconsin, Florida, Cornell and Rutgers. Dr. Green has been an apple grower, and founder and owner of an IPM supply business that is now part of GEMPLER’S. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Massachusetts. IPM Institute of North America

Frank Meek, Term 2009-2011

Director of the Board, Frank started his career with Orkin Inc. in 1986 as a termite service sales inspector. After several years of success in sales and service, he was promoted to the management ranks of Orkin. Since 1990 he has worked in branch, region, and division management positions. In 1999 he was moved into the technical services department as the Technical Manager for commercial pest control operations. During 2003 Frank was promoted to the position of Technical Director, where he was responsible for the product and equipment selection for all of Orkin’s pest control operations. He also provided research into new chemistries and concepts for potential use by the company. Additionally, he provided technical support for the more than 400 branches in North America and internationally. In 2008, Frank was promoted to the position of International Technical and Training Director. In this capacity, he provides technical resources and training for all international operations for Orkin, Inc. Frank is a regular speaker at NPMA and many international, state and regional pest control association meetings as well as non-pest control industry associations including the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES). He has published many articles for the pest control industry trade magazines as well as major media outlets including NY Times, CNN, and MSNBC. Frank has represented Orkin on national television with appearances on shows such as the NBC Today Show, CNN, and ABC News. In 2005, he co-authored the IPM Recommended Practice book for ASHES, which is the standard for providing pest management service to the healthcare industry. He was recognized by PCT magazine in 2003 as one of the Top 40 Under 40 for his contributions to the industry. He is a member of NPMA, Entomological Society of America, American Society of Parasitologist, Pi Chi Omega, a professional fraternity for the pest control industry and many other organizations.  In 2001 he earned his BCE recognition. Orkin, Inc.

Venkat Pedibhotla, Term 2009-20011

Director of the Board. Venkat Pedibhotla is a researcher with a solid track record of product development starting with ideation through product launch in a regulated industry. He has extensive leadership and management experience in all aspects of homeowner lawn and garden and crop protection operations including research, development, production and commercialization of products. Currently, Venkat is the Development Leader, Business Services of BASF Corporation. His duties include participating in cross-functional interactions with regulatory, legal, finance, and marketing teams at BASF. His past employment has included Biology Project Leader-Insecticides, BASF Corporation; Project Lead, Naturals & Innovation Team; Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Scientist; Ortho Team, The Scotts Company; Research Associate, Ohio State University; and Research Associate, Iowa State University.
BASF Corporation

Sharron Quisenberry, Term 2008-2010

Director of the Board. Sharron Quisenberry is the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Before becoming Dean at Virginia Teach, she had been Dean of Agriculture and Director of the Experiment Station at Montana State. Quisenberry has also headed the Department of Entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A Professor of Entomology as well as a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America, she taught at the University of Nebraska, University of Idaho, Louisiana State University, and Iowa State University. Quisenberry served on the National Academy of Sciences' Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources and on the Montana Governor's Economic Policy Advisory Committee. She was appointed by President Bush to serve on the Board for International Food and Agriculture Development. Quisenberry received a Ph.D. and MS degrees, both in entomology from the University of Missouri-Columbia; a MS in Environmental Biology from Hood College, and a BS Ed in Biology from Truman State University. Virginia Tech, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

David Stanley, Term 2009-2011

Director of the Board. Biography coming soon. USDA/ARS, University of Missouri

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