Bridging Gaps Between Pest Management and Public Health

Dan Killingsworth’s Commitment to Bridging Gaps Between Pest Management and Public Health

What sets Central Life Sciences apart? It's not just our commitment to innovation or our pioneering insect growth regulator (IGR) technology. It's also the value of having a dedicated technical services team available to provide expertise and guidance when our customers need it most. That team is comprised of experts with in-depth knowledge of pest biology, behavior, and control strategies, as well as extensive experience in the industry. Dan Killingsworth, our new Technical Services Specialist, Vector/PCO, is poised to build upon our excellent tech services capabilities, leveraging a strong background in both public health and pest control.

Growing up in Pensacola, Florida and in a family pest control business, Dan's interest in the world of insects was nurtured from a young age. As the former Director of Operations for his family business, Environmental Security Pest & Lawn, Dan’s pest control philosophy hinges on targeted treatments for specific pests.

“That’s the beauty of Central Life Sciences, a leader in targeted control for decades, with product lines rooted in juvenile hormone analogs” Dan says. “If we understand the biology and behavior of the insect, that goes a long way in providing us with a control plan to match the product to the situation.”

On the public health side, Dan’s journey began over twenty years ago, when he volunteered as a vector surveillance and mosquito identification technician at his local mosquito control district. That experience sparked a fascination with mosquito behavior and identification. As Chair of the Endangered Species Act Subcommittee for the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), Dan's work is characterized by a commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility. “I’ve been a beekeeper for over thirty years,” says Dan, “so I’m especially mindful of avoiding impacts to non-target organisms such as pollinators and other beneficial insects.”

A Vision for the Future of PCO and Vector

One of the many reasons Dan is excited about his new role at Central Life Sciences is the opportunity to work with a company that has innovatively approached targeted pest control for many years, with legacy products like the Precor^® and Gentrol^® lines. Noting Gentrol^® Point Source as a key example of using a legacy product in a new and more targeted way, Dan sees the power of innovation and continuous improvement behind Central Life Sciences.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in mosquito biology, Dan is no stranger to continuous improvement, and sees education as a necessary agent for growth. That personal drive to improve placed him at the intersection between public health and pest control management. Reflecting on the experience of bringing mosquito control into his family’s private pest control business, Dan said, “If we’re going to do mosquito work, we’ve got to do it like the public health professionals do it.” His public health background instilled in him the importance of pest identification and surveillance, which are critical to Integrated Mosquito Management programs and crucial tools in managing customer expectations and addressing licensing challenges.

Dan is optimistic about addressing challenges that exist in both the public health and the pest control management spaces. He notes that the possibilities for innovation are limitless, from field-testing new solutions to finding new and exciting ways to educate customers. For Dan, true innovation lies in collaboration with those eager to solve challenges and explore new territories.

The Value to Central Life Sciences Customers

Central Life Sciences customers can expect to benefit from Dan’s extensive knowledge on both sides of the PCO and Vector business. “Much of my work has been as a liaison between communities,” Dan says, “whether that’s between beekeepers and mosquito control districts, or between private pest control companies and public health officials.”

Dan sees the role of technical services at Central Life Sciences as nuanced, helping everyone to understand the extent to which a given product label can be utilized. On the public health side, that includes being available to help provide guidance and technical assistance with product demonstrations for mosquito control districts; and on the pest control side, shedding light on the value of new product offerings, helping to combat resistance with innovation and new ways of thinking.

“Going back to school at 50 has really taught me that it’s easy to get caught in an old paradigm. Education is so beneficial for people, regardless of age. Businesses are required to do that too, to bring in new ideas and fresh perspectives. Innovation happens when you get out of your comfort zone.”

Dan is primed to help the Central Life Sciences technical services team continually educate customers, to be a resource for any level of technical questions, from equipment usage to calibration, label interpretation, and everything in between. Dan lives in the common ground between public health and pest control, and sees that both sectors are primarily about problem-solving.

“The one thing I’m most excited about is working with professionals to find solutions, collaborating with people who are really seeking innovative answers.”

Stay tuned on more from Dan and his commitment to bridging gaps in an upcoming technical services blog series. His vision and leadership will help Central Life Sciences push the boundaries of what's possible.