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How I Got Here: Russ Ives

By Marty Whitford
Published on
Russ Ives

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Russ Ives
“CPS, known to the industry as PestSure, is a fantastic 35-year-old story about PMPs getting together to secure their future by insuring themselves. It has been an honor to follow industry legends such as Dick Keenan, Bob Sameth and Victor Hammel to help lead this organization.”

Russ Ives, president, Rose Pest Solutions and president-elect, National Pest Management Association, Troy, Mich.

HOMETOWN

Born in Detroit, still there

Russ Ives
Russ, Harlem and Bill Ives, circa 1980.

EDUCATION

Class of 1974

B.A., Economics, Amherst College

Class of 1976

MBA, Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management

WORK EXPERIENCE

1976-78

Russ Ives
Ives sings the national anthem at a Detroit Tigers game in 2011: “I’ve sung there five times, and the Tigers are undefeated when I have sung.”

CPA, Coopers & Lybrand

1978-present

President, Rose Pest Solutions

1989-2013

Photo: Russ Ives
“I started working in our company’s warehouse at age 16. I mixed rat bait, and filled prepack bottles of diazinon, perthane, chlordane and Dursban (none of which are
still part of our arsenal), which could be poured into a 1-gal. B&G sprayer. It was important then, and remains so today,
to create efficiencies for service personnel, so they can concentrate on solving problems.”

Director, Copesan Services

2003-present

President, CPS Insurance Co. Ltd.

2009-present

Director, United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC)

2010-present

Photo: ©istock.com/StockPhotosArt
“It has been enlightening and fulfilling to be part of an organization that provides secure and affordable housing and innovative healthcare solutions for seniors in Southeast Michigan.” Photo: ©istock.com/StockPhotosArt

Director, UMRC Foundation

THE IVES HAVE IT

When Ives is installed as president of the National Pest Management Association in October, he will be the third generation in his family to hold this position. His grandfather, Harlem Ives, served 1954-55, and his father, H. William Ives, served 1977-78.

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