Terry Stark, who has guided the California Association of Pest Control Advisors over the last decade, plans to retire Dec. 31 and return to his home state of Texas with his wife Sylvia.

Stark's lessons learned in the Marines and politics primed him to lead CAPCA at the right time. He leaves CAPCA as a stronger and more influential organization, according to those who have worked with him.

Jackson Gualco of Sacramento, the organization’s contract lobbyist, says, "Terry has taken CAPCA to a whole new level with what he has accomplished in the years he's been there.”