In June 2002, USDA funded the creation of the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) to coordinate the identification of insects, weeds and plant diseases. Two years prior to the creation of the NPDN, USDA funded regional IPM Centers to assist Land Grant Universities promote their pest management research and extension efforts. Coordination of integrated pest management and regulatory programs has provided new opportunities for partnerships to develop as a result of collaborative projects between government, industry and university systems. Identifying the common goals and recognizing the individual roles of participating groups is the first step in creating interactive teams to address the educational and outreach needs of pest management.