GREAT BAY--Stephanie Somersall, Managing Director of St. Maarten-based Steflogix, is encouraging more women to explore careers in pest management while strengthening professional standards in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
Somersall has completed several specialized international training programs aimed at expanding her technical expertise and promoting responsible, science-based pest management practices in St. Maarten.
Her professional development includes the Leerling Bestrijdingstechnicus training program at the Dutch Pest & Wildlife Expertise Centre (KAD) in the Netherlands, along with the General Household Pests (GHP) Foundations and Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDO) Foundations courses through Pest Management University.
She has also successfully completed the advanced GHP Masters program, an intensive three-day course covering the identification, behavior and management of various household and structural pests.
The advanced training addressed stored-product pests, stinging insects, mites, lice, ticks, bed bugs and other common household pests. It also covered pest biology, pesticide modes of action, product labels and formulations, effective product rotation strategies and the development of comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans.
These skills are important to improving the effectiveness and safety of pest control services, particularly in environments where protecting public health, food safety and property is essential.
For Somersall, however, the training represents more than personal professional advancement. She believes business leaders must demonstrate the same commitment to continuous education and improvement that they expect from their employees.
"I believe leadership starts with setting the example. If I expect my team to continuously improve their knowledge and skills, I must be willing to do the same. Pest control is a profession built on science, responsibility, and protecting public health. I also want other women to recognize that there is a place for them in this industry, whether in the field, in technical roles, or in leadership. What matters most is the willingness to learn, grow, and excel."
Somersall's emphasis on professional development also reflects the evolving nature of pest management, which increasingly requires specialized scientific knowledge, environmental awareness, problem-solving skills and preventive approaches.
Integrated Pest Management, in particular, focuses on understanding pest behavior, identifying the conditions that allow infestations to develop and selecting appropriate control measures as part of a coordinated strategy.
Through her leadership, Steflogix continues to emphasize professional education, responsible pest control practices and the application of Integrated Pest Management principles across residential, commercial, hospitality and food service environments.
The company also provides food safety training and certification, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) consulting and disinfection services.
Somersall hopes her example will encourage other women to recognize the opportunities available in pest management, including technical fieldwork, specialized services and business leadership.
Her message is that professional success in the industry should be determined by knowledge, training, commitment and the ability to deliver quality service rather than gender.
Through continued investment in technical expertise and employee development, Somersall aims to strengthen Steflogix's services while contributing to higher professional standards and greater recognition of pest management as an important component of public health protection in St. Maarten.
