Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. is excited to announce it has purchased the assets of Emperor Aquatics, Inc., a leading supplier of UV disinfection and water filtering solutions.
With the addition of EAI, Pentair is well positioned to address the growing concerns over biosecurity in aquaculture and the increased use of UV disinfection in the pool industry.
“This acquisition provides entry into the growing UV market and is the perfect complement to our existing commercial sanitization products,” says Karl Frykman, president of Pentair Aquatic Systems.
As Marc Jensen, Byron Originals’ marketing manager for 30 years, is set to retire at the end of the month, the company announces a replacement: Joe Nicholson.
Nicholson brings 18 years of creative, marketing and advertising experience to Byron Originals. For the past nine years, Nicholson has managed his ownmarketing and advertising firm, O Thirty-Two Companies in Des Moines, Iowa, which assisted in the growth of numerous local and national companies.
Joe, his wife Megan, and his two children, Macy and Weston, will soon be relocating permanently to Ida Grove, Iowa, where Byron Originals is headquartered.
Hayward Raises Money, Launches New Marketing Campaign in Arizona
At Hayward Pool Products’ recent global sales meeting in Itasca, Ill., a team-building exercise turned into a dream-building reality for 30 children. At the conclusion of the four-day event, Hayward’s global sales team presented the WeGo Together for Kids organization with 30 bicycles that were actually built by Hayward’s team of sales, marketing and tech service personnel from eight different countries.
“Team building always plays an important role in our sales meetings. But this may have been the first time where the exercise resulted in so much pure joy,” says Vice President of Sales Mike Massa.
In addition, Hayward announces an innovative marketing campaign to hopefully win more inground pool sales for Arizona-based dealers. If the temperature at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on July 4 reaches or exceeds 118 degrees Fahrenheit — a record set in 1989 — pre-qualifying pool buyers will receive a $10,000 rebate from Hayward Pool Products.
The aptly titled “Beat the Heat” campaign is open to qualifying new in-ground pools purchased in Arizona from participating Hayward dealers between February 10 – 28, 2014. Purchases must also include a new Hayward pump, filter and at least one additional new Hayward branded product, such as a heater, heat pump, controller, salt chlorinator or two LED lights.
“Many Arizona residents rely on their swimming pools to beat the summer heat as temperatures rise well above 100 degrees each summer. This promotion is Hayward’s way of potentially rewarding those optimistic new pool owners with another great bonus,” Massa says.
Follow this link for more information on “Beat the Heat” and for the complete rules.
Earn CEU's through NSPF 
Members of nine leading organizations — including the Aquatic Exercise Association, Florida Community Association Managers and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, among others — can earn continuing education units (CEUs) through a partnership with the National Swimming Pool Foundation. CEU’s are required by many organizations in order for their professionals to maintain their certification or licenses.
In 2008, the NSPF was approved as an authorized provider of CEUs by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. As a result, all of NSPF courses, including the Certified Pool/Spa Operator certification course qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standards.
CEU credits are earned by completing NSPF classroom and online education and providing required documentation, depending on the course and the professional organization’s requirements. “IACET certification signifies the hallmark for quality in educational training,” says Alex Antoniou, NSPF director of educational programs. “Having IACET credentials illustrates our continuing commitment as the leading educator for those who work to keep pools and spas safer, and open."
Professionals can find the submission guidelines and the approved courses online at www.nspf.org. Those who are not members of the nine partner organizations can contact the NSPF to learn how they can earn CEUs by emailing [email protected].
BioGuard Kicks off 2014 Pool Season with Dealer Conference
Close to 500 BioGuard dealers gathered for the 2014 BioGuard Enrichment Conference held in early January at the Hard Rock Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was four days of spectacular events, including top-notch business education seminars focused on helping dealers move the needle in their business.
Two keynote speakers provided the highlights of the programming. Internationally recognized graffiti artist, author and entrepreneur Erik Wahl's on-stage painting seamlessly became a visual metaphor to the core of his message, encouraging BioGuard dealers toward profitability through innovations and superior levels of performance.
Bill Kennedy, President/CEO of P.K. Data market research firm, gave an informal live chat that looked beyond the data, pie charts and graphs to get to the heart of what is really driving the industry and where the opportunities truly lie.
