About Green Shield Certified
Green Shield Certified is an independent, non-profit certification program that promotes practitioners of effective, prevention-based pest control while minimizing the need to use pesticides. Because our approach addresses the underlying cause of pest problems, it is more effective than conventional spray-intensive services. Green Shield Certification is available to qualifying pest control professionals and to buildings and facilities where our standards are attained.
Green Shield Certified and IPM STAR®
Green Shield Certified is based on IPM STAR, an established, award-winning IPM certification program for schools that has been operating since 2003. More than 20 school districts around the country have been certified under IPM STAR, benefiting more than 2 million school children!
IPM Institute of North America
Green Shield Certified is operated by the IPM Institute of North America, a nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its expertise and accomplishments in promoting integrated pest management. The IPM Institute's Board of Directors includes experts from land-grant universities and environmental organizations. The Board makes all final decisions regarding Green Shield Certified standards and is advised by the Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of university professors, non profit experts, consultants and industry leaders.
Technical Advisory Committee
Mr. Luis Agurto, Sr. is Founder and CEO of Pestec, a family-owned pest control business serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area since 1986. Mr. Agurto has used his innovated prevention-based practices to provide effect pest control while reducing pesticide use and risk. Pestec, with its award-winning and nationally recognized IPM program, was the first pest management provider to become Green Shield Certified, a national certification with stringent IPM performance standards as well as the first to receive EcoWise certification, an IPM certification operated by the Association of Bay Area Governments. Mr. Agurto was appointed to the California Structural Pest Control Board by Governor Schwarzenegger.
Dr. Thomas A. Green is President of the IPM Institute of North America, a non-profit organization that promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM), practices that reduce pesticide use and exposure in both agriculture and community settings. Tom is also President of IPM Works in Madison, WI , which provides consulting services to businesses and non-profit organizations on broadening adoption of IPM and other conservation-enhancing practices. He holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Massachusetts and is a Certified Crop Advisor and Technical Service Provider and chief scientist for the Eco Apple eco-label program.
Dr. Dawn H. Gouge is an Associate Professor and Associate Specialist in the Department of Urban Entomologist at the University of Arizona, teaching courses on Urban IPM, Arthropod Pest Diagnosis and Forensic Entomology. Dawn directs the Arizona Children's Environmental Health Coalition efforts which includes implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools and child care facilities, and coordinates the Western Regional IPM in Schools Working Group. She has won a number of awards for her work with schools and the IPM Institute's IPM STAR program. She holds a Ph.D. in entomology and nematology from the University Reading in Berkshire, UK.
Mr. Jonathan Kaplan is a Senior Policy Specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) where he coordinates NRDC's efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and alternatives to pesticide use. Mr. Kaplan advocates for state and federal policy reforms to promote Integrated Pest Management and coordinates market-based initiatives to reward environmentally friendly pest control services and products in commerce. Prior to joining NRDC, Jonathan was the Program Director for WaterKeepers Northern California and the Director of the Toxics Program for the California Public Interest Research Group, where he helped win state legislation to reduce pesticide use in schools. He is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a master's degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Mr. Jack Marlowe is President and Owner of Eden Advanced Pest Technologies, a pest management company located in Olympia, WA. Eden has been involved with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) work for the past 18 years, participating in many IPM committees, including the IPM in Schools Working Group in Washington State, as well as the Western Region and National Strategic IPM working groups. Mr. Marlowe has served as an IPM consultant for many municipalities, school districts, and commercial properties, and has been an active proponent of IPM within the pest control industry.
