The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) will welcome Garey Fox, Dean of the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), as its Keynote Speaker for the 2027 Pest Control Technician’s (PCT) School.
Dean Fox’s keynote address on Tuesday, Jan. 26 will kick off training, networking and education during the PCT School which has grown to be the largest state gathering of pest management professionals in the country.
“We are honored and thrilled to welcome Dean Garey Fox to the 2027 PCT School in Durham. Our industry has a unique, decades-long relationship with North Carolina State University beginning with our first Pest Control Operators School which was hosted at NC State University in the 1950s,” said Thomas Cheek, President of the NCPMA. “We’re excited to continue honoring that special relationship by hosting Dean Fox as our keynote speaker and hear about how the university is preparing for the future.”
Dr. Fox became dean of CALS in 2023 after previously serving as a professor and head of the NC State University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He brings more than 30 years of administrative, research and academic experience with research focused on surface water and groundwater interaction, including stream bank erosion, sediment transport and riparian buffer design. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and earned recognition from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, including its Gilley Academic Leadership Award. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University and a doctorate from Colorado State University.
The 2027 PCT School will be held January 25-28 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center in Durham, N.C. This will be the 77th PCT School hosted by NCPMA.
The PCT School is North Carolina’s premier training and professional development event for pest management professionals. The school offers four full days of continuing education, hands-on training, and networking opportunities designed to equip technicians, managers, and industry leaders with the latest knowledge, techniques, and tools to excel in the field. Attendees can participate in specialized courses, learn from nationally known speakers, and gain insights into the latest pest management technologies and regulatory updates.