Program Staff
Dr. John Ayers
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John is the Director of the Pesticide Education Program and a Professor of Plant Pathology. He coordinates pesticide education programs for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including training programs for pesticide users and handlers, health personnel, farm workers and their families, students, and consumers. John is also the Director of the Northeastern Pest Management Center and Grants Manager for the Northeastern Region Integrated Pest Management Competitive Grants Program. |
Dr. Kerry Hoffman-Richards
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Kerry, the Pesticide Education Program's former coordinator, is now the of Manager of the Pest Management Information Center. Her responsibilities now include promoting informed pesticide regulatory decisions by the federal government and keeping Pennsylvania stakeholders abreast of regulatory changes. Kerry works with USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service to survey PA farm managers on pest management techniques. She then reports the economic impact of these techniques to the USDA and EPA as necessary. Kerry will continue her youth education work by developing IPM and pesticide safety curriculums for high school science and agriculture programs. |
Rick Johnson
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Rick brings landscape/green industry knowledge to our program. His position as urban initiative specialist works to promote the safe use of pesticides and alternatives to pesticides to the urban population. His continued work with the Philadelphia Flower Show has provided additional exposure of our Program. |
Eric Lorenz
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Eric is the Pesticide Education Program's coordinator. He coordinates the development of test preparation materials, provides pesticide safety training for certification, and develops and presents update training seminars for pesticide applicators. Eric will also organize pesticide safety in-service trainings for technical service employees, faculty, and extension agents. |
Sharon Gripp
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Sharon is the database administrator/webmaster. She provides writing support such as editing of the joint pesticide newsletter with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, maintains the content on the web site, and provides programming and statistical support for the Pest Management Information Center. Sharon also has also become the program's West Nile Virus contact person. |
Julie Watson
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Julie is the program's Administrative Assistant. She assists with word processing, graphics, updating the web page, maintaining calendars, and other relevant tasks. She also assists Dr. Ayers with the Northeastern Region Integrated Pest Management Competitive Grants Program. |
James Gingerich
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Jimi is the program's Information Technology Specialist. He designs and develops applications for our web sites and intranet such as the Recertification Meeting Finder, Recertification Credit Information and Pesticide Peril. |
Brandi Snook
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Brandi is the Staff Assistant for Pesticide Education and is the main contact for the Program. She is also responsible for helping with budgets, supporting the staff in the office, and managing the office supplies. |