Sights on Atlantic City

Above all else, organizers of The Pool & Spa Show have one goal: to keep things fresh and engaging for show attendees. Each year, after poring over post-show surveys, the team makes changes and additions to keep people coming back.

"Everything's new and exciting," says Show Director Trish McCormick. "Our goal for this year moving forward is to make sure everyone has a great experience each and every year."

Concerned about getting more hands-on training? The Pool & Spa Show has you covered. Its biggest initiative this year is The Wall, a large-scale display that focuses on "water in motion." This area will host the greatest in pool hydraulics technology, with advice on designing for maximum performance, superior water quality, energy efficiency and consumer safety.

"There's not much out there for hands-on training in our industry," McCormick says. "This is something you can touch and feel and learn and see right on the show floor."

The Wall is intended to be as educational as it is striking, with three different areas to address various subjects. Demonstrations will be held there, but no appointments are necessary.

"It's going to be something that every person who walks through that building is going to see and be a part of," McCormick says.

In addition, the annual Welcome Party is moving to a new location: T Street, one of Atlantic City's newest nightlife destinations. Modeled after Music Row in Nashville, Sixth Street in Austin and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, T Street features six different venues under the same roof, including an Irish pub, a Texas roadhouse and a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

"This gives us more opportunity for networking, gives us more of an opportunity to cross generations," McCormick says. "There's something for everybody."

The sentiment applies to The Show's education lineup as well, which addresses a wide swath of subjects that affect retailers, builders and service professionals alike. (Check out the schedule on the next page for specifics.) And since The Show is powered by NESPA, there are a couple Northeast-specific seminars of note — Swimming Pool Licensing Facts for Connecticut, Long Island, Rockland County and New Jersey: Roundtable Discussions; and Wastewater Discharge Issues and Solutions (Connecticut Focus).

Education opportunities such as these and an enthusiastic and diverse exhibitor base have made The Pool And Spa Show a top industry attraction for decades. And to celebrate its 35th anniversary this year, The Show will be commemorating the milestone with games and prizes.

The secret to The Show's longevity, McCormick says, is simple: a passion for the industry it serves.

"It's a show that's put on by the industry, for the industry," she says. "There's no one that profits from this show other than the industry."

Sunday, Jan. 24:

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NSPF Certified Pool Operator (2 Day Event S & M)

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
APSP Certified Maintenance Specialist (2 1/2 Day Event S, M & T)
APSP Certified Service Technician (CST) (3 1/2 Day Event S, M, T & W)
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course (3 1/2 Day Event S, M, T & W)

Monday, Jan. 25:

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
APSP Certified Maintenance Specialist (Day 2)
APSP Certified Service Technician (Day 2)
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course (Day 2)

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NSPF Certified Pool Operator (Day 2)

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
National Plasterers Council Start-Up Certification

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
APSP Certified Building Professional Review Course

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
QuickBooks in the Cloud
Spa Pack Diagnostics: Advanced Troubleshooting and Repair Skills

12:30 - 2 p.m.
Email Marketing: The Workhorse of Online Communications
Trends in Outdoor Design
Salt Chlorine Generators: Just the Facts
Salt Chlorine Generators: Just the Facts (Spanish)
The Heat Pump Demystified

12:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Sales Coaching - A Customized Approach
Time Management and Productivity Techniques
A Service Tech's Practical Guide to Electricity
Basic Water Chemistry
Vinyl Liner Replacement Techniques

2:15 - 3:45 p.m.
Profiting From Homeowners' Online Buying Habits: Five Homeowner Buying Personas and How to Effectively Sell to Each
Compu Pool Salt Chlorine Generators: Operation, Installation and Troubleshooting
Energizing Your Service Company for Today's Consumer
Wastewater Discharge Issues and Solutions (Connecticut Focus)

7 - 10 p.m.
2016 Welcome Party at T Street

Tuesday, Jan. 26

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
APSP Certified Maintenance Specialist (Day 3)

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
APSP Certified Service Technician (Day 3)
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course (Day 3)

8:30 - 10 a.m.
Fighting Back: How To Compete and Win In Today's Market
When Your Management Style Isn't Working and Your Employees Aren't Either
Automatic Controls: From Simple to Complex
Codes, Liability and Safety Issues for Pool Companies: 6 Steps to a Legal Check-up
Model Aquatic Health Code: Guidelines for Facility Design and Construction
Pentair Salt Chlorine Generators: Operation, Installation and Troubleshooting
Workplace Safety for Pool and Spa Technicians (Spanish)

8:30 - 11:45 a.m.
ASA-ACI Nozzleman Certification Education (Part 1)
National Plasterers Council Start-Up Recertification and Exam
Fundamentals of Successful Project Management
Social Media: The Do's and Don'ts for Pool Companies
Basic Tile, Coping and Glass Tile Installation
Construction, Hydraulics and Energy: Coordinating the ANSI/APSP 5, 7 and 15 Pool Standards
Hard to Find Leaks: Techniques to Get to the Bottom of Things
Intermediate Water Chemistry
Safety Covers: Measuring for Success
Soils: What to Know Before You Build

10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
The Pool and Spa Industry's Role in Assisting the FBI: What Bad Guys Won't Tell You
About Bulk Chemicals
How To Maximize Value in Selling Your Business
Increase Profits Through Customer Loyalty
Algae: The Ugly Truth
Excavation Safety for the Pool Builder
Pump Motor Troubleshooting (Spanish)
Zodiac Salt Chlorine Generators: Operation, Installation and Troubleshooting

Wednesday, Jan. 27

8 - 11 a.m.
APSP Certified Service Technician (Day 4)
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course (Day 4)

8:30 - 10 a.m.
Swimming Pool Licensing Facts for Connecticut, Long Island, Rockland County and New Jersey: Roundtable Discussions
Strategies To Win In A Challenging Economy
Water Testing Services: The Ugly Side Of Your Store
Hayward Salt Chlorine Generators: Operation, Installation and Troubleshooting
Heaters: Safe Installation Methods
Hot Water: Application Considerations
UV Technology and Residential Installations

8:30 - 11:45 a.m.
ASA-ACI Nozzleman Certification Education (Part 2)
Hire Tough, Manage Easy: Recruiting, Selecting and Retaining the Best
Secrets To Creating Effective Sales Communications
Basic Water Chemistry (Spanish)
Major Renovation of Pools - Design and Construction Considerations
Model Aquatic Health Code: Water Chemistry Operation and Maintenance
Parameters
Pool Inspections: Tips and Techniques for Success
Solar Panel of Experts: Operation, Energy Savings, Installation and Marketing
Swimming Pool Bonding: Recognition and Identification
Water Management and Pool Construction

10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
A Pool For All Backyards: Hybrid Designs
Field Service Management: Now More Than Ever
How To Survive (And Thrive) with E-Commerce
Advanced Forensics for Plaster Surfaces
Automatic Pool Covers: Sales, Installation and Code Considerations
AutoPilot Salt Chlorine Generators: Operation, Installation and Troubleshooting
Conducting Energy Efficiency Pool Audits
Water Testing Methods, Interferences and Techniques

12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
APSP Certification Exam Session

Thursday, Jan. 28

8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Are You Hot And Bothered? It's All About Emotions
Dealing With Difficult People
Stains, Scale and Discolorations: Identification and Troubleshooting
Torching Techniques for Cementitious Pool Surfaces
Two Misunderstood Chemistry Topics Clarified: Salt Water Chlorine Generators and Cyanuric Acid
Vinyl Liner Pools: Why Polymer Panels