LOGO: NPMA

The National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) Executive Leadership Program (ELP) identifies and trains “aspiring association leaders to establish a pipeline of engaged members that represents NPMA’s diverse membership,” according to the Fairfax, Va.-based organization.

The NPMA selects 10 participants every year to go through ELP’s two-year curriculum, with monthly conference calls that prepares them for association leadership. In return, participants are “expected to attend NPMA board meetings, participate in committees, take advantage of networking and learning activities, work with a mentor and be an ambassador for NPMA throughout the industry.”

According to the website, “most of the program is self-study of the resources provided, which includes five books, a personality profile and watching presentations. Participants will be required to participate in monthly one-hour webinars with other participants and NPMA leaders. You will be assigned to a mentor – however, the frequency of your communication is up to you both. Additionally, each year you are expected to attend two out of three of the large NPMA meetings, including the NPMA Board Meeting and committee meetings if they take place before the conference.”

The NPMA takes care of registration fees, and if it’s an in-person event, the NPMA will fund transportation, hotel and incidentals.

Participants are chosen by a panel of judges from completed applications that include a completed survey, video and letters of recommendation. Candidates must be a member in good standing as defined in the NPMA bylaws.

The application process will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 22. Applicants will be notified at the end of December, and the program will commence in January. The application can be found online here.