Recognizing Leadership, Innovation, and Lasting Impact in Pest Management
In March, at the Annual Awards Dinner held in conjunction with Spring Training, the New England Pest Management Association (NEPMA) honored ohDEER founder Kurt Upham with one of the industry’s most respected recognitions. The award recognizes outstanding leadership, innovation, and contributions to the pest management profession.
Kurt Upham Professional of the Year Award from NEPMA highlights nearly two decades of work advancing environmentally responsible pest management and helping shape the growing category of All-Natural deer, rabbit, tick and mosquito control services.
The NEPMA Professional of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the pest management industry through work performance, service to their company, industry leadership, and community involvement.
Nominations are submitted annually and evaluated through a rigorous double-blind judging process, where all identifying information is removed before scoring. Candidates are evaluated based on several criteria, including:
The top-scoring nominee receives formal industry recognition along with a commemorative award honoring their contributions to the pest management profession.
For Upham, the recognition reflects a career built on innovation, education, and a commitment to advancing sustainable pest management practices.
Kurt Upham, founder of ohDEER, built the company on a foundation of curiosity, scientific understanding, and respect for both landscapes and families.
His interest in insects, wildlife, and plant health began early in life and led him to study horticulture and entomology. After entering the landscaping industry, he saw firsthand the damage deer feeding could cause to carefully designed properties. At the same time, he observed how many conventional repellents relied on harsh chemical approaches that were not ideal for residential environments.
In 2006, Upham began experimenting with all-natural ingredients in his basement with the goal of creating a safer, more effective deer repellent. The breakthrough came when he successfully protected a customer’s apple trees from deer feeding using his own formulation. That early success eventually became the foundation of what would grow into ohDEER.
Over time, the company expanded beyond natural deer control to include all-natural tick and mosquito control, creating a comprehensive system designed to help families safely enjoy their outdoor spaces. Today, Upham continues to operate the original ohDEER MetroWest and ohDEER Nashoba Valley locations, while also personally training new franchise owners entering the system.
His training focuses on real-world knowledge, including:
Rather than relying solely on manuals, Upham trains franchisees directly in the field, helping them understand the science and strategy behind effective environmentally friendly pest control services.
Even as the company has grown, he remains highly accessible to franchise owners, offering guidance on everything from field operations to formulation questions.
Upham’s leadership extends beyond company operations into the communities ohDEER serves. Each Thanksgiving, he provides free turkeys to technicians as a gesture of appreciation for their work throughout the year. The tradition reinforces a culture of gratitude and respect for the professionals who perform pest management services in the field. Through the MetroWest and Nashoba Valley locations, Upham also participates in local initiatives such as annual coat drives that collect winter coats for families in need.
Additionally, ohDEER supports public health through the T.I.C.K. and T.I.C.K9 programs, which provide complimentary tick and mosquito control services to preschools and doggy daycares. These programs help reduce exposure to tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases in environments where children and pets spend time outdoors.
Within the pest management industry, Upham is widely recognized for pioneering professional all natural deer control services in the Northeast. At a time when chemical-based treatments dominated the industry, he demonstrated that natural pest management solutions could be both effective and sustainable when applied correctly. By combining scientific knowledge, field testing, and years of real-world application, Upham helped build credibility for eco friendly pest control solutions.
His work contributed to a broader shift in the industry as homeowners increasingly sought environmentally responsible pest management options that protect families, pets, and pollinators. Through franchising, Upham expanded this approach to multiple states, bringing consistent training standards, ethical practices, and proven treatment methods to new markets.
Today, ohDEER continues to promote sustainable pest management innovation through education, technician training, and environmentally conscious service methods.
With nearly two decades dedicated to advancing pest management practices, Upham’s career reflects both longevity and continued innovation. What began as basement experimentation eventually grew into a nationally recognized brand focused on natural deer, rabbit, tick, and mosquito control services.
The New England Pest Management Association Pest Professional of the Year award recognizes professionals whose contributions extend beyond business success to include leadership, mentorship, and industry advancement.
Because the judging process removes all identifying information before scoring, winners are selected solely on the strength of their accomplishments. Upham’s recognition reflects the long-term impact of his work across the pest management industry.
Many founders eventually step away from daily operations as their companies grow. Upham has taken a different approach.
He continues to:
His leadership style emphasizes education, accessibility, and continuous improvement. The franchise owners he mentors carry those standards into their own communities, expanding the reach of natural pest management solutions across the country.
One of the driving motivations behind Kurt Upham’s work has always been helping families feel comfortable spending time outside. In many parts of New England, increasing deer populations and rising tick activity have made it more challenging for homeowners to fully enjoy their yards.
Tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease continue to rise across the region, making prevention and education more important than ever. By focusing on preventative services like deer control, tick control, and mosquito control, Upham has helped provide homeowners with practical ways to reduce risk while protecting their outdoor spaces.
The goal behind these services goes beyond pest management. It’s about helping families safely enjoy their landscapes, gardens, and backyards throughout the year. That mission continues to guide the work of ohDEER and the broader effort to make outdoor living safer and more accessible for communities across the Northeast.
Industry organizations like the New England Pest Management Association play an important role in advancing professionalism, education, and collaboration within the pest management field.
NEPMA brings together pest management professionals across the region to share knowledge, participate in training and continuing education, and recognize leaders who contribute to the advancement of the industry. Programs such as the Professional of the Year Award highlight individuals who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and dedication to improving pest management practices.
For companies like ohDEER, participation in NEPMA reflects a commitment to staying engaged with the broader pest management community while continuing to push the industry forward through new ideas and responsible practices.
Recognition from peers within the industry underscores the impact that innovation and leadership can have, not only on individual companies, but on the direction of pest management as a whole.
The NEPMA Professional of the Year Award is one of the most respected recognitions in the New England pest control industry. It honors individuals whose contributions strengthen their companies, support their communities, and advance the profession as a whole.
For ohDEER founder Kurt Upham, the award reflects years of dedication to innovation, training, and environmental stewardship. From early experimentation with natural repellents to building a franchise system focused on sustainable pest management, Upham’s work has helped shape the future of eco-friendly pest control.
For the ohDEER community, the recognition reinforces a simple but powerful idea: when a company is built on science, integrity, and service, its impact extends far beyond the business itself.
