POOL TECH WINNER
CRISTINA FORCIONE
Seychelles Pools & Spas | Lasalle, Quebec, Canada
βIt was very easy for me to fall in love with this line of work,β says Cristina Forcione, one of two grand finalists in this yearβs Pleatco Pool Tech Search.
She remembers her first day on the job, an acid wash during peak summer, as if it was yesterday. Forcione was recovering from a concussion when she was asked to lend an extra hand at Seychelles Pools & Spas β her mother has mutual friends with owner Helmut Heckersbruch β as the company was short staffed and super busy.
βIt was very stimulating, in the best way,β says Forcione. βI love manual labor, working with my hands. I was looking for something not too mentally tasking, having been recovering from a head injury at the time, but that was also good for me physically.β
She had always found working outside to be very good for her mental health. βIt certainly beats being at a desk and trying to figure out some sort of computer issue,β says Forcione. βSo after lending a hand that day, Helmut said he was looking for another maintenance tech, and I was brought on staff the very next week.β
In her first year, Forcione serviced anywhere between seven to 10 pools a day. βNow, a few years in, I work more on troubleshooting problems, whether with salt systems or logic boards or pumps,β she says, βbut given our short season, itβs still primarily weekly service.β
Forcione recently traveled to Atlantic City to attend the 2024 Pool & Spa Show (the roundtrip was awarded by Pleatco), where she was recognized for this prestigious award. The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, who sponsors the competition alongside GENESIS and AQUA, also gifted Forcione free enrollment in PHTAβs Certified Service Technician Course (CST).
Having only been in the industry for a few years, the show, along with the class, was eye-opening, she says. βTo see all of the innovation that goes behind improving service, whether thatβs through pool equipment or the accessory equipment, was exciting. Itβs awesome to see how much further I can go in the industry.β
βThis award is an incredible honor,β says Forcione. βIβve been recognized for all the hard work Iβve put into my career. I was honestly gobsmacked when I got the call. Iβm very appreciative of my boss, who secretly nominated me. My life has come down this path and brought me here, alongside this great community, and Iβm excited for what is to come.β
POOL TECH WINNER
WES KANE
Pools Unlimited Incorporated | Ellicott City, Md.
Wes Kane of Maryland-based Pools Unlimited Incorporated started in the pool and spa industry at just 14 years old, before he could even drive. With it being his family business β Kaneβs grandparents started the company over 40 years ago β it was always his summer job.
βIt was like, βYouβre going to work today,ββ says Kane, βwhether I liked it or not. So, I was riding around with someone until I could drive my own truck, building and servicing inground swimming pools.β
Now, over 15 years later with a lot of experience under his belt, Kane goes where heβs needed.
βMy role changes all the time,β he says. βIβm the guy who wears all the different hats, and Iβm willing to do anything and everything within the company β whether it be behind the phones, cleaning pools, repairing equipment or new construction. The majority of my time, I would say, is spent in the field repairing and replacing equipment, and talking to customers a lot.β
Kane says, like anything, the job comes with its good days and bad days. βBut our whole industry has a good vibe,β says Kane. βI was first told this when I got started, and I can say itβs true from what Iβve seen from many people, and itβs that once you start in the pool and spa industry, itβs very hard to get out of it. Itβs very rewarding, the kind of work we do.β
Kane has worked hard to build a great company culture among his staff and to nurture lasting customer relationships. βIβm lucky to be surrounded by really good people, a good-working atmosphere and great customers,β he says. βThe customers I come across keep me going. The companyβs end goal is always the same thing β leave the customer happy and feeling good about having done business with us.β
And itβs his customers and staff, Kane says, he has to thank for this esteemed award, a grand finalist in Pleatcoβs Pool Tech Search. βThe award means a lot to me,β he says. βA lot of the votes came from our customer base, which says a lot not only about me but the service weβre providing. This award reassures me that weβre out there doing the right things. And itβs just very humbling to hear that people are satisfied.
βSo thank you to Pleatco and Pentair, too. I feel very honored to have won, especially out of all the great candidates that were out there.β