Source: NCDA&CS, 3/1/21


Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler recently recognized 19 employees* with the department’s Excellence in Team Accomplishment Award. The employees work across two sections** of the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division. They are specifically either part of the Licensing, Certification and Outreach Unit or the field staff in the Pesticides Section.

Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division
During an online meeting, the Commissioner recognized the team members for ways they’ve stepped up and persevered through new challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. Their extra efforts kept farmers, pest control companies and many other types of applicators or dealers up-to-date on licenses and certifications, even when COVID-19 stopped all the traditional ways to do that.
John Feagans, the manager of the Licensing, Certification and Outreach Unit, said it was the speed with which the employees worked that stood out to him most. Training and testing has traditionally been done in-person in meeting venues across the state. When those places closed to the public last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, many pesticide applicators realized there could be a problem getting their proper certifications by the mid-summer deadline that applies to many of them.

“We were going to do everything we could to keep people in compliance,” Feagans said.

He said the team members came together to brainstorm ideas almost immediately.

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