Who We Are
The Hands United Foundation was created to aid members of the pest management community that may experience hardship or tragedy sometime during their life. The founders of this unique organization identified this need after experiencing their own challenges and recognizing that there were few resources available within the pest management industry to help folks during their time of need.
Initiated in 2017, the Hands United Foundation began working with different pest management organizations, including the Georgia Pest Control Association, and Certified Pest Control Operators of Georgia with the goal of expanding our reach to provide as much support to as many people as possible.
During our short time as a foundation, Hands United has had the privilege of providing financial assistance to either members of or family members of, those that serve within the pest management industry.
With the support of the Georgia Pest Control Association and through their various fundraising events, the Hands United Foundation has been able to slowly increase the level of funds available to all those that apply for financial assistance. As our reach grows, the Hands United Foundation will continue to partner with other organizations, including the Certified Pest Control Operators of Georgia. Please see below for any events upcoming events supporting the Hands United Foundation.
For more information on becoming a Corporate Sponsor click here.
For those seeking assistance through the Hands United Foundation, please complete the attached forms for submission to the Hands United Foundation Selection Committee.
Additional information and a copy of the organization’s by-laws.
Our Leadership Team
Wally Holden
Ambassador Advisor
Kim Kelly-Tunis
Ambassador Advisor
Van Wagner
Past President
Johnny Jury
President
Julie Fogg
Vice President
Marty Roberts
Secretary
Connie Rogers
Treasurer, At large Selection Committee
Brandon Sartain
Selection Committee Chair
Ron Combs
At Large Selection Committee
Melissa Manns
At Large Selection Committee and Legal Advisor
Connie Rogers
I have served the pest management industry for 31+ years. I began my industry career working for the Georgia Pest Control Association as the office receptionist and retired last year as the Executive Director. I quickly found out the retirement wasn’t my thing and I currently serve as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Pest Control Association and the Alabama Pest Control Association in addition to serving as the Executive Director for the Hands United Foundation. Over the past 31+ years I have been fortunate to build friendships with 100’s of industry professionals on a business and personal level. This foundation is special to me in that I know we are there to help all my extended industry family through times of need.
Faye Golden
I serve as Director of Governmental Affairs for Cook’s Pest Control with headquarters in Decatur, AL. Prior to joining Cook’s in 2013, I worked for more than 15 years in the Pesticide Management Section of the Alabama Department of Agriculture. I am active in several national and state associations:
National Pest Management Association (NPMA)
- Board of Directors, Treasurer
- NPMA Diversity Committee, Immediate-Past Chair
- Public Policy Committee
- Professional Women in Pest Management Committee
American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE)o Board of Directors, Immediate Past-President
- By-Laws Committee
Georgia Pest Control Association Public Relations Committee
- Education Committee
Georgia Pest Control Association Public Relations Committee
- Education Committee
- Government/Legislative Committee
Mississippi Pest Control Association
- NPMA Vice- State Policy Affairs Representative (former)
Tennessee Pest Control Association
- Vision Committee, Chair (former)
My participation in these associations provides me an opportunity to connect with members and build lasting friendships. I get to celebrate personal and professional awards and milestones, and I am also there when a member is faced with challenges in their life. For those reasons, I am a member of Hands United Foundation (HUF). HUF provides support across the pest management community in Alabama and Georgia to meet the needs of pest control operators and/or their family when facing life-changing and catastrophic event.
I am the proud mom of an amazing son, Kerry Tuck. I live in my hometown of Wetumpka, AL.
Kim Kelly-Tunis
I began my career in pest management as a 19 year old college student in Indiana. It wasn’t my first choice in a career, but one that I have never regretted. Along the way, I have met a number of people working in this industry that I have been lucky to learn from. Even though I may have worked for a competitor, everyone I have met has always found the time to share best practices, training materials, ideas, and even tips from their own personal experiences. Over time, those acquaintances turned into friendships, where conversations quickly turn from discussions about business to discussions about family. It was these friendships that I relied on to help me get through one of the most difficult times of my life.
I don’t remember much after I was told that he was unresponsive. How could this happen, he was only 47 and in good health? All I could think about were my 13 and 15-year old children! It was January 21st and I had become a widow and a single mother in a heartbeat. I had just relocated to Atlanta less than three years earlier and the closest family member lived at least 4 hours away.
That’s when my friends in the Pest Control Industry stepped in! They immediately mobilized, working to get me the help I needed, working to bring my family into Atlanta where they could assist with my children and arrangements, and providing both physical and emotional support when I needed it most! My children and I could not be more grateful for everything that they did and continue to do.
Hands United is my opportunity to give back to an industry that has given me so much! I know that I am not the first person to find myself in this situation, and I won’t be the last. The Hands United Foundation was developed to help those who may find themselves in a similar situation and are struggling to find a way out of the lowest point in their life. As an industry, we work every day to serve our customers and help make their lives better. Through the Hands United Foundation, we can help to make the lives of our pest management family better.
Melisa Manns
Melisa has spent her career advocating on behalf of highly regulated, service provider organizations. Moving from the private security industry into pest control, she has worked to grow companies by assessing and minimizing legal and regulatory risks, building strategic relationships, and facilitating transactions. She gained extensive experience of the pest industry while previously serving 18 years with Terminix. She joined the company as Corporate Counsel and was promoted through various levels of leadership, including her work as Chief Ethics Officer and Vice President, General Counsel most recently focusing on government and industry affairs.
Melisa is a passionate advocate for the pest industry seeking to leverage relationships and policy to positively impact the companies providing these services. She firmly believes in the industry’s mission of being an essential service in maintaining public health.
Melisa also eagerly builds networks promoting the opportunities that a career in pest management provides particularly for underrepresented communities and entrepreneurs. She was the founding chairperson for the women’s network at each of her companies and currently mentors emerging talent helping them find their voices and grow their executive leadership skills. Considering its purpose and mission, serving as a director with the Hands United Foundation is a seamless match for Melisa’s dedication to helping others and public service.
Melisa is an honors graduate of The University of Memphis receiving her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance summa cum laude and later her Juris Doctorate degree.
Rusty Prewett
Rusty Prewett is the CEO of Prewett Pest Control, based out of Auburn, Alabama, with offices located throughout Alabama. PPC was established on the principles of providing services that are modern, convenient and effective thus giving its customers a truly unique experience. Rusty has a background in real estate and insurance and began his pest control career with no industry experience in 2020, during a world wide pandemic. His company served its very first customer in July 2020 and within its first 24 months expanded into the Gulf Coast and West Alabama markets. Rusty and his leadership team established its core values which are known as PEACO and stands for Passion, Excellence, Creativation and Ownership. PPC’s core focus is to strive to create value with every customer, team member, and partner interaction. Additionally, Rusty is a graduate of the NPMA Executive Leadership Program (class of 2021) and serves on various committees within the pest control industry.
“After being introduced to the foundation, I jumped on the opportunity to serve to help grow this wonderful organization with a goal of making a positive impact. Throughout Georgia and Alabama there are so many great people and families in the pest industry and I’m honored to be a part of a group that is looking out for those in the communities we live and serve.”
Wally Holden
I have just over 42 years of experience as a pest management professional. I have worked from the ground up beginning as a Termite Field Technician Assistant to an Owner/Operator of a Franchise Pest Control Company. I began working for Terminix International in 2001, where I currently serve as a Technical Manager. In my position, I provide field technical support for our commercial accounts with difficult pest issues, consult on termite treatments, and work with our training department in development of practical field training. I am a certified training facilitator conducting field, in-person, and on-line virtual training, I am an industry-trained Board-Certified Entomologist and hold licenses in Georgia & Louisiana.
As one of the co-founders of Hands United Foundation it is more than an opportunity to serve, it is a passion to see it grow to serve others as my family has been served by our industry in our time of need. In January of 2017 my granddaughter drowned in a boating accident while night-fishing with her father and as we watched search teams, helicopters, and divers seek to recover her body on a frigid Sunday on into Monday night when her body was recovered. During that night and the rest of the week as we prepared for the funeral our pest control family embraced us with their loving support financially and prayerfully lifting a load of burdens from our shoulders when we needed it the most. My vision in co-founding this foundation with others who have had similar experiences is that every member of our pest control industry feel the warmth and security that they are not alone when life happens.
Van Wagner
A founding member of Hands United Foundation. Currently a SR. Service Center Manager with Arrow Exterminators with 40 plus years of industry experience and believe strongly in giving back to the Pest Management Industry, and to the communities where we do business.
Currently live in Evans GA. with wife Nannette. We have three grown children, and three grandchildren in Florida and N. Carolina. I am an avid sports fan and enjoy cheering for the Florida Gators and Miami Dolphins. I love bass fishing with my grandson in Boca Raton, and spending time hiking in the N. Georgia mountains with my wife and our dog Chipper Jones.
Julie Fogg
Julie began her career in the pest management industry at Van Waters and Rogers in 1986. Over her 39 years in the business, she held various positions before retiring from Veseris in 2021. However, her passion for the industry brought her out of retirement in 2022 when she joined Missquito Mosquito then joined Siteone but Now Julie is with Forshaw where she has found her forever work Family. Julie is deeply passionate about the pest management industry, and she thrives on building strong connections with people and delivering high-quality service.
She is a proud member of the CPCO , GPCA, has been on the board of the GMCA and now is a member of the TPCA. She also serves on the board of Hands foundation that supports the Pest management professional during difficult times.
Julie is a proud mom of 2 beautiful daughters, 1 beautiful grand daughter and 1 grand son. She has been married to her husband Russ for 33 years.
Johnny Jury
Johnny Jury is the Chief Financial Officer of Jury Pest Services, a family-owned business with a proud legacy of serving Georgia and South Carolina for decades. Founded by Charles Jury and Curtis Kneece, the company originally focused on architectural coatings and chemicals before the Jury family transitioned their expertise into the pest control industry.
As a second-generation leader working alongside his brother Paul, Johnny has played a key role in the company’s growth while upholding its longstanding commitment to exceptional customer service. Now operating exclusively as Jury Pest Services, the company provides comprehensive residential and commercial pest management solutions, including treatment for termites, rodents, and mosquitoes.
Under Johnny’s leadership—and with active involvement from the third generation—the company continues to expand its reach while maintaining a reputation for reliable, professional service across both states.
In addition to his role within the company, Johnny has contributed to the industry at large by serving on state pest control associations in both Georgia (GPCA) and South Carolina (SCPCA), as well as the local CSRAPCA chapter.
Brandon Sartain
Brandon Sartain is the Southeastern Senior Technical Sales Representative for Bell Laboratories, covering Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. He Graduated from Carson-Newman University in East Tennessee where he was an Offensive Lineman on the Football team and is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. He is also an Eagle Scout and an Ordeal level member of the Order of the Arrow in the Scouts of America. Brandon started in the Pest Control industry with Bell Laboratories in 2018 and has been a part of Hands United since 2021, he is passonate about people helping people and sees the good that Hands United can affect not only in the world but in the Pest Control Industry.
Marty L. Roberts
Marty L. Roberts is Vice President of Rid-A-Bug Exterminating Co. Inc. and a second-generation pest management professional with over 41 years of experience. He currently serves as Chair of the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce, President of the Buck Shoals Volunteer Fire Department, and a Board Member of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. Marty is also a Past President of the North Carolina Pest Management Association and a former At-Large Board Member of the National Pest Management Association. He enjoys serving through Mercy and Truth Ministries as Vice President and his church, Thanks to Calvary Baptist. Marty and his wife Angel have three daughters—Faith, Jaelin, and Anna-Grace—a son-in-law, Hayden, and a granddaughter, Everleigh.
Ron Combs
Ron is a 29-year veteran of the industry. He’s worked for 4 other companies before starting his own business in 2002. Ron is licensed in categories 29, 30 & 41. Ron is married to Amy, has 3 children and an amazing daughter-in-law, as well as 5 grandsons. He is currently the Board President of CPCO of GA and serves on the Legislative Committee.