10 Questions with a Pro (AKA: Getting control)

We are back with the “Ten Questions with a Pro” series! Every other month, I interview a “pro” to find out what they do, how they do it, and how it helps pest control efforts. Today, we are talking with the amazing Dr. Brittany Campbell from Control Solutions Inc.

1. Give us the quick version of what you do?

   I’m a Technical Service Manager at CSI. My role is unique, where I provide training to PMPs but also am on the product development team. So, I teach people how to use products correctly and safely, while also on the team that creates and registers our new, innovative products.

Chelle - Unique is always good!

2. What got you into this, how did you get into pest control?

   I fell into it like almost everyone else. I almost went to school to be a pharmacist, but I worked at CVS and was dreadfully bored. Then I learned about entomology and I thought that I wanted to be a forest entomologist. I had this dream of wandering around forests and saving trees from pests that spread fungus and kill them. I was about to start school at Virginia Tech in the forest entomology program and they lost their funding for a student. Guess which program had money? The urban entomology program and I decided to study bed bugs – the rest is history.

It always amazing to me how many of us got here accidentally. And we stayed!

3. What’s one thing you wish people would know or understand better when it comes to pest control?

   I wish the general public understood more the important role we have to protect public health, property, and our food supply. Pest control is still deemed mostly as a “dirty job” but it’s incredibly essential to all of our well being. Every PMP out there deserves mad respect.

Preach it! They don’t want us until they need us.

4. What do you think the biggest challenge for pest control companies is right now?

   I’m a technical expert, so my mind is almost always focused on pest biology and products. To that end, the regulatory pressure we face on our products is a huge challenge as we continue to lose active ingredients or have more restricted use patterns.

So many people are against any pesticide use, not realizing that it is part of the plan and typically used in small quantities to target the pests. That biology is so important to learn where they are and how they work.

5. What changes do you predict in the next 5-10 years.

   I think we are going to see a more continued push for “green” services. Again, regulatory pressure and the shift in public perception of pesticide use will drive the demand for these types of services.

I’ll check back in with you then!

6. You work with pesticides and specifically aerosols, explain that like you would to a five year old.

   I work for a company that makes products to kill bugs and one product that is super easy to use is called an aerosol. Aerosols are pesticides that are put into a can and are ready to use right away. You just take the can, face it in the direction you want the product to go, and then press the button.

You are good at this!

7. What do you think people get wrong about aerosols?

   A lot of people think they may not be cost effective. Like every product, training on the correct amount and places to use the product are essential. If used correctly, they can be extremely effective and also help reduce your overall pesticide load for very targeted treatments.

Personally, I like aerosols for really small areas that are hard to get other products to.

8. Pest control is affected by how you do it. What are your tips for effective aerosol use?

   Really focus your aerosol applications into cracks and crevices. Use the straw/injection tip to get the product into the places where the pests are hiding and breeding.

Totally agree.

9. What new “stuff” are you working on that we can look forward to? 

   We have been working on a 25b product specifically for vector control, called Vector Kleer. It will be launching this quarter and has mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and ticks on the label.

Oh, that’s exciting! Can’t wait!

10. If you were any of our pest species, what would you be and why?

    Hmmm, maybe a spotted lanternfly? We both like trees a lot. They obviously like to travel to new places and enjoy the outdoors – two of my favorite things. They are certainly a flashy bug and I’m not quite on their fashion level, but I do like a splash of color.   

I can see that, I like it!

11. Any last words?

    Good luck to everyone out there as we get started in 2025!

I think we are going to need it! 

If you want to learn more about Dr. Brittany Campbell, follow her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-campbell-14943571/

Who’s going to be next on our “10 Questions with a Pro” series? You are just going to have to keep reading to find out. You know that we send a newsletter every week so you can get the blog post and more great info delivered to your inbox, right? You can reach me anytime (well, maybe not anytime) to help with your pest problems.