Community: Business Briefs

by AQUA Editors January 2019

The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals is rolling out a new online, self-paced course for pool and spa retailers called Certified Pool & Spa Retail Professional (CRP).

Designed for those interested in running a successful swimming pool and spa business, the eight-hour interactive course introduces the core principles of pool and spa operations and best practices for sales and customer service. Topics covered in the course include retail housekeeping, retail environment...

by AQUA Editors January 2019

Hearth Products Controls Company, a Dayton, Ohio-based manufacturer of indoor and outdoor residential hearth products, announced that it has partnered with a Dayton investment group, which will hold majority interest in the company and bring the company professional management services and access to financial capital. Sean Steimle, an operating partner in...

by AQUA Editors November 2018

The National Swimming Pool Foundation has announced the election of a new president, vice president, treasurer and secretary of its board of directors. Additionally, in January 2019, Michelle Kavanaugh will assume the role of executive director of The Pool Spa & Aquatics Alliance and The California Pool & Spa Association. NSPF has named Andrew Roberts as its new mission development manager.

The new officers are experienced...

by AQUA Editors November 2018

Master Spas announced plans to invest $15.3 million to expand its operations, creating more than 100 new jobs. The expansion includes the purchase of a larger facility, which grows Master Spas' total facility space to 460,000 square feet on 33 acres, an increase of 55 percent. The new building, expected to be the largest swim spa manufacturing facility in the world, will be fully operational by January 2019.

The new space...

by AQUA Editors November 2018

The Florida Swimming Pool Association has selected Converge Government Affairs of Florida, Inc., a Miami-headquartered government affairs firm with offices in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, to represent the association’s interests before the legislative and executive branches of Florida government.

Converge will support the association’s interest in...

by Cailley Hammel October 2018

In a significant shift in business strategy, LPI announced it is ending its domestic dealership program to focus on its direct-to-consumer retail division, Aqua Living Factory Outlets. The move, effective Jan. 1, 2019, will impact about 200 spa retailers who carry LPI portable spas, which includes the Catalina, Signature and Pinnacle brands. Aqua Living currently operates 35 stores, with 110 more expected to open over the next two years.

LPI CEO Dave Hatley says the change is the...

by AQUA Editors October 2018

NESPA inducted its 2018-2019 Board of Directors at the Association’s Annual Membership Meeting this past September. 

The following members of the Executive Committee for the association were sworn into office:

President
Barry Kenny, Bel-Aqua Pool Supply, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Vice President
Mitch Katz, ELITE Landscaping, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Treasurer
Amy Rullo, Premier Pool Renovations/Aquatic...

by AQUA Editors August 2018

The Outdoor GreatRoom Company hosted its fourth annual Outdoor GreatRoom Conference on Aug. 22-23 at its corporate headquarters in Burnsville, Minn. Staff, sales representatives and some customers from across the U.S. and Canada were brought together for this two-day event.

One highlight of the conference included a Light the Night event featuring hands-on product training and food trucks as well as showroom, manufacturing and engineering tours.

Paul Nigon, director of...

by AQUA Editors August 2018

Photo courtesy of Tony Frederick Photography

Automatic Pool Covers Inc., a manufacturer of a complete line of automatic pool covers for new and existing swimming pools and spas located in Westfield, Ind., is pleased to announce it has doubled the size of its...

by AQUA Editors August 2018

Hasa, a leading producer and distributor of high-quality water treatment products, has entered into an agreement with Meissner Mfg. Co. (otherwise known as Unicel) to support and promote Unicel replacement cartridges and grids to the swimming pool and hot tub industries in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.

“We are very excited to have Unicel represented by the Hasa sales force,” says Christine Schaeffer, vice...