Arrow Exterminator’s Shay Runion Receives the National Pest Management Association’s 2016 Women of Excellence Award

Atlanta based Arrow Exterminators is proud to announce that Shay Runion, Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President of Professional Development was awarded with the National Pest Management Association’s 2016 Women of Excellence Award at the industry’s annual convention in Seattle, Washington on October 19th, 2016.  

The National Pest Management Association's (NPMA's) Women of Excellence Award recognizes women who advance the pest management industry every day, in every way.  The international honor is open to women across the pest management industry who demonstrate outstanding leadership and have made notable contributions to the development and growth of the profession, their business, and other women in the industry.  “Shay is one of the finest leaders I've ever encountered.” Stated Emily Thomas Kendrick, President and CEO for Arrow Exterminators.  “She makes me and everyone around her want to do more and reach for excellence. You will not find a person with a harder work ethic than Shay Runion. She literally touches everything at our company and makes it better. It's an honor to nominate her for this award.”

“I am honored to have received the 2016 NPMA Women of Excellence award.  It is very humbling to know that the teams that I work with every day nominated me for this recognition.  Each day, I have a responsibility to be an ambassador for the women in our industry and I take great pride in this.  For the past 16 years, industry members (both female and male) have taught, mentored and encouraged me in my career.  

There are many talented women here at Arrow Exterminator in leadership roles.  The common denominator between each of them is a strong work ethic, passion and determination.  I am thankful that our company recognizes these qualities in ALL of our team members and provides countless opportunities to our team of 1700+.

Thank you to Target Specialty Products and their sponsorship of this award.  This platform has already provided me the opportunity to collaborate with other women in our industry, sharing ideas and resources.  Having the opportunity to discuss the day to day balancing act of being our best at work and home (as a mother and a wife) with a friend in the industry and receive encouraging words makes us better!”  said Runion.

Shay's Industry contributions have been vast.  Most of her focus has been at the state level in the State of Georgia as well as the NPMA contributions that she has been associated with through Arrow Exterminators. Shay is currently the Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Pest Control Association and served last year as the President (2^nd female to serve as an officer in the history of the 66-year-old Association).  Shay was instrumental in helping to create the Professional Women of GPCA and took it upon herself to organize and present a seminar for the group and other members called "Leading from the Front" that had over 25 participants.  She is an approved speaker for the GA Department of Agriculture providing CEU’s for team members, a past Leadership chairman and also past Education Committee chairman for several years for the state association. 

When she is not working, Shay is a member of the Board of Visitors for Truett McConnell College in Georgia.  In addition, she mentors members through the intern program at Arrow Exterminators, works with students at numerous elementary and high schools in the county she lives in and has served as a mentor for two Entomology/Pest Control based Senior Projects at River Ridge High School.  In her free time, Shay and her family are extremely active in their church where she enjoys singing.   Shay spends the majority of time at a baseball field or basketball court with her two active boys and her husband who is a high school baseball pitching coach.  Runion resides in Canton, Georgia with her husband Jeff and two boys, Zeb (9) and Eason (7 ½).