Pool & Spa News articles from April 2006

Pool & Spa News archives from April 2006

New treatment for 'hot tub lung'.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... Klearsen Corp., a manufacturer of natural healthcare products, announced it has developed a therapy that may be significantly more effective than traditional methods currently used to treat mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The new...

IPSSA moves into Florida.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... Officials of the Independent Pool & Spa Service Association have established three chapters in Florida, and three more are scheduled to open soon. "It works in four other states, so why wouldn't it work in Florida?" asked Jim Romanowski,...

Fantasy teams.(REFLECTIONS)
April 10, 2006... My old boyfriend, Dave, was obsessed with fantasy baseball. I'd walk into his apartment and find him hunched over a desk, carefully compiling stats for his team. "Want to go catch a movie?" I'd ask hopefully. Dave would look up at me...

Response to Greg Smith profile.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 10, 2006... I have been a local pool builder in the Austin, Texas, area for 41 years now, so it was with great interest that I began reading the article on Greg Smith, another local pool builder ("Lone Star," March 13, 2006 issue). You can imagine my...

Ships ahoy: leisure pools and aquatic amenities make a splash on family-friendly luxury liners.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... It used to be, you sailed the high seas. But with cruise ships offering more leisure-pool amenities, you can also surf it. Along with surf machines, water slides, spraypads, play features, surfing rides and other leisure-pool amenities are...

Wexco's new president unveils his vision.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... The newly appointed Wexco Inc. president/CEO, Jeff Kurth, has a plan to grow sales and integrate operations for the York, Pa.-based company, which is parent to Marquis Spas and several other pool industry brands. "I'm very excited," said...

N.Y. bill aims at inflatable pool dealers.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... A bill requiring all retailers and installers of inflatable pools to post in-store signage alerting consumers about state barrier codes at the points-of-sale was introduced in the New York State Assembly in January. The legislation...

Home building cools down.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... The housing market cooled down, with the total new-home starts dropping 7.9 percent compared with 2.28 million in January. The seasonally adjusted rate stood at 2.12 million in February. "The underlying market fundamentals remain solid," said...

WPSS weathers the storm.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... The skies were leaden, the rain fell and the usually balmy Southern California temperatures plummeted. It was exactly what the organizers of the 28th Annual Western Pool & Spa Show were hoping for. The atypical wet and chilly weather may...

Leading economic index slips.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... The U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Index dropped 0.2 percent in February, to a reading of 139.0, based on revised data. This decrease follows four consecutive increases. The negative contributors included building permits, vendor performance,...

Master Pools Guild meeting impresses attendees.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... Nearly 320 people turned out for the Master Pools Guild's spring meeting, enjoying a program that included the group's annual awards dinner and live technical demonstrations. Attendance was the highest in guild history, according to officials....

Small-business owners' confidence up.(MAKING NEWS)
April 10, 2006... Owners of small companies continue to show signs of a positive attitude, with the Small-Business Optimism Index increasing to a 101.5 reading in February. "First-quarter growth will be strong," predicted William Dunkelberg, NFIB's chief...

Water Pik sells Canadian business.
April 10, 2006... Water Pik Technologies Inc. completed the sale of its Canadian pool accessories business last month. A new corporation formed by Canadian Buttons Ltd. and The Brantley Group Inc. purchased Olympic Pool Accessories for $1.9 million, with $1.5...

SVABO to offer seminar.
April 10, 2006... "Anatomy of a Swimming Pool" is a one-day seminar to be presented April 26 and again April 27 by the Sacramento Valley Building Officials Held in Sacramento, Calif., the sessions will be led by Rob Holmer, P.E., and John Taecker, P.E., and will...

Aqua Products named Vendor of Year.
April 10, 2006... Anthony & Sylvan Pool Corp. has awarded Aqua Products with its "2005 Vendor of the Year" honor. The annual award is given to the manufacturer or supplier considered the best overall in support, sales turnover, profitability, on-time delivery...

Plastimayd moves headquarters.
April 10, 2006... Plastimayd Corp., a manufacturer of inground vinyl pool liners and safety covers, has moved its corporate offices and West Coast manufacturing to Oregon City, Ore. The plant was previously located in Clackamas, Ore, The new address is 14151 Fir...

Thermodynetics nabs large order.
April 10, 2006... Thermodynetics Inc., a manufacturing subsidiary of Turbotec Products Inc., has received a $1.6 million order for titanium coaxial heat exchangers. The order covers a 12- to 15-month period whereby Windsor, Conn.-based Thermodynetics will be the...

Recall alert.
April 10, 2006... Following are four companies that recently have issued recalls: Company:. American Biophysics Corp. Item: "L"-Shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapters used with Mosquito Magnet Insect Traps Details: Maintenance accessory can leak or break...

WinEstimator promotes Watt to president.
April 10, 2006... WinEstimator Inc. of Kent, Wash., has named Steve Watt as its new president. Istvan Szabo will remain as CEO and chairman of the board. Watt formerly served as vice president of marketing and sales for the provider of cost-estimating solutions....

Hydro Spa brings in Mills.
April 10, 2006... Julie Mills has joined Hydro Spa Inc. as the new national account sales representative. She will be responsible for inside and outside sales for the Clearwater, Fla., spa manufacturer, and will focus on new business development for the western...

Baystate promotes Piereman.
April 10, 2006... Baystate Pool Supplies has promoted Laura Piereman to branch manager of the Baltimore Distribution Center. She will be responsible for managing the center's day-to-day operations. Piereman has 10 years' experience in sales and management....

Water Tech hires Shaughnessy, Checkett.
April 10, 2006... Water Tech, LLC, a manufacturer of pool and spa products, has hired Danny Shaughnessy as logistics manager, and Brian Checkett as associate director of marketing. Shaughnessy will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of trafficking the...

Pentair promotes Childress.
April 10, 2006... Pentair Water Pool and Spa has promoted Mike Childress to the position of technical trainer. As a member of the Technical Training Team, he'll be responsible for developing, documenting and presenting technical seminars in the eastern and...

Million-dollar man: with his new book, Charles Baird wants to help industry members reach their potential.(PEOPLE)
April 10, 2006... Charles Baird, president of National Pool Route Sales Inc., has never serviced a pool, but he claims his new book can help anyone in the industry become a millionaire. "The swimming pool industry offers the most opportunity for the...

Skimming the surface.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 10, 2006... Big Sky Trading cc introduces the Gator inline pool skimmer; connects to the hose sections of automatic suction pool cleaners and is propelled in a random fashion around the pool surface, drawing in surface debris, which is deposited into the...

Ride the Dragon.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 10, 2006... Intex Recreation Corp. presents the Happy Giant Dragon ride-on; the inflatable has three air chambers; seats two children; heavy-duty handles; repair patch; measures 78-by-42-inches; made of 12-gauge (30 mm) vinyl; for ages 3 and up ...

Stylish shade.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 10, 2006... FiberBuilt Umbrellas introduces two umbrella models: Augusta and Bridgewater; both feature the new FiberTeak simulated wood pole construction and solid wood hubs, fiberglass ribs and stainless steel hardware; textured wood-grain finish is made...

Neat and tidy.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... Pool-Pockets has created a new pool toy storage device; designed to accommodate all pool and swim toys, from rafts and floaties to inflatable boats and noodles; made from fishnet and all-natural hemp rope; light brown color; stretches to store...

New for the pool.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... Intermatic presents the I-Pure stand-alone salt chlorine generator, which has simple controls and is made for easy operation; for pools holding up to 25,000 (PE625) or 40,000 gallons (PE640); self-adjustable control dial increases or decreases...

The protector.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... Gladon Co. has developed the CoverSaver for spas; it floats on the surface, protecting the cover from chemicals in the water and extending its life; reduces water evaporation and the loss of spa chemicals; made from closed cell insulating foam,...

A textured look.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... Replications Unlimited presents new textures for spa skirts, walls and backdrops; textures include high profile (shown), medium and low profile; available in rigid and flexible versions, which can be wrapped around and fastened or glued to any...

A step above.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... The Opera is InnovaPlas Products' new 36-inch-wide Harmony step for aboveground pools; adjusts for decks with 48-, 52- and 54-inch pools; textured anti-slip surface; stackable stairs; flips up and secures with a padlock; installs in flat or...

Store helper.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... King Technology has new point-of-purchase materials that can be placed near products in a store; available resources include banners, mobiles, counter displays, 5-foot stand-up FROGs and literature; company will send materials free of charge;...

Outdoor comfort.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... HC, the contract division of Homecrest, introduces the new Divano cushion collection; combines Mission style with modern flair; the transitional collection is suited for various outdoor spaces and includes a lounge chair, ottoman, sofa and...

Weld on.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... The DLW-300ES is Multiquip's new welder/generator combination; midsize 300-amp welder and 10kW generator with a 100 percent duty cycle at 280 amps; made to deliver premium productivity at half the rpms, while using half the fuel of its...

Custom enclosure.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... Plastimayd Corp.'s Space Arena pool enclosure now is available in custom shapes to follow any pool and backyard configuration; unit has been upgraded with an improved, all-clear, durable, ultraviolet-resistant vinyl specially formulated, so it...

Loungin' around.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... Swimline Corp. presents the SofSkin Floating Mattress; the buoyant mattress never needs to be inflated; has crack-resistant, ultrasoft, dipped vinyl coating, according to the maker; made to roll up easily for convenient storage Contact:...

Take a soak.(New Products)
April 10, 2006... PDC Spas offers the Antero SE Series spa; 31 therapeutic jets operate at 4hp (peak); circulates 187 gpm; jet action with calibration that provides a choice of deep or soft massage; standard features include TemperLok heat saving, which is made...

Unpopping a pool: structural engineers undo some of Mother Nature's roughest work--and save a pool in the process.(CASE STUDIES)
April 10, 2006... This case study follows the re-leveling of a popped pool. THE PROBLEM An inground, free-form, shotcrete pool was under construction in a slightly sloping yard. At the pre-decking stage, a heavy rainstorm occurred, causing a temporary...

Going to pot: potted plants reinforce backyard design with an ornamental touch.(DESIGN CORNER)
April 10, 2006... Incorporating potted plants into a backyard design isn't just a matter of scattering around a few varieties from The Home Depot. There's a science to choosing and placing them. "Pots are a great way to add some sort of artistic touch into...

Leak seeking: a leaking pool or spa can be costly, with devastating consequences. Here's how service technicians can spot them early.(TECHNICALLY SPEAKING)
April 10, 2006... Nothing causes more anxiety for a pool owner than having a leak in his vessel. Aside from the monthly water bills, which can exceed more than $800, the leak can cause a lot of property damage. It's especially frustrating if the pool owner uses...

Dare to dream: in our special Dream Team issue, the industry's best managers share the secrets to their success.(The DREAM TEAM)
April 10, 2006... If you could create the ideal pool company, who would you choose to serve on your management team? Would you pick your own employees or those of a competitor whom you respect? Perhaps you would want the financial expertise of a...

Bruce Dunn: thinks big: using his formal education and on-the-job experience, he has made Mission Pools one of the most well-respected companies in the industry.(CONSTRUCTION: CEO)
April 10, 2006... Harvard-educated Bruce Dunn has a long-standing reputation as an astute businessman. He grew Mission Pools, which he bought as a young man, into a Pool & Spa News Top Builder (No. 10). The Escondido, Calif.-based company brought in nearly $35...

Ed Gibbs: moves forward.(CONSTRUCTION CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Under Ed Gibbs' stewardship, Toronto-based Gib-San Pools Ltd. by Master Pools went from earning $1 million annually to $13 million, growing $1 million each of the past 10 years. He has taken the company to the Caribbean and Middle East to build...

Paul Porter: preaches ownership.(CONSTRUCTION CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... With business partner Keith Harbeck, Paul Porter transformed his original company, Premier Pools & Spas in Rancho Cordova, Calif., from a two-man garage act into a Pool & Spa News Top Builder (No. 7). In January, it became a $100 million,...

Bruce Holmes: invests wisely.(CONSTRUCTION CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Bruce Holmes developed a checklist for his goals: Reduce paper trail by 80 percent. Check. Enter fiberglass pool market. Check. Jump-start plan to grow sales by 40 percent in 2006. Check. At Pools of Fun Inc. in Plainfield, Ind., success...

Debra Smith: focuses on procedures, people and publicity: she helped Pulliam Aquatech Pools grow into one of the biggest builders in Texas.(CONSTRUCTION: GENERAL MANAGER)
April 10, 2006... When Debra Smith came on board in 1992 as office manager, Pulliam Aquatech Pools had 10 employees and built approximately 170 projects annually. Her job: Help prime the Fort Worth, Texas-based firm for growth. Today, she's the vice...

Gregg A. Whitley: sets guidelines.(CONSTRUCTION GENERAL MANAGER: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Gregg A. Whitley, co-owner and board member of Aqua Pool & Spa, has helped turn the company into a central California giant. In the 10 years since he joined the Manteca, Calif.-based firm, it has grown from 10 full-time employees to 500, and...

Ron Coker Jr.: spurs communication.(CONSTRUCTION GENERAL MANAGER: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... After graduating with a degree in speech communications, Ron Coker Jr., gradually moved up the ranks at Master Pools by Artistic Pools Inc. in Atlanta. He went from digging to selling before becoming an officer in the firm and its vice...

Dave Allen: tells the story.(CONSTRUCTION GENERAL MANAGER: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Dave Allen brought a fresh perspective to Erickson Custom Pools & Spas Inc., after more than 15 years working in retailing. He contributed to a business plan that grew the Clermont, Fla.-based company from a six-employee operation with revenues...

Don Gwiz: profits with profiles: Lewis Aquatech's astute marketing honcho declined tempting job offers to jump-start the family business.(CONSTRUCTION: SALES & MARKETING)
April 10, 2006... About six years ago, Don Gwiz was at a wealthy client's home when he began to sense discontent. "Their facial expressions were obvious," he says. "The clients wanted to feel special, and we were whipping out a pool design in a matter of minutes...

Debbie Runnels-Pendley: knows her market.(CONSTRUCTION SALES & MARKETING: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... At River Oaks Pools, salespeople come from unlikely places. Take Debbie Runnels-Pendley. When she joined the San Antonio-based builder in 1999, the mother of three was recently divorced and had zero sales experience. Yet by 2001, she raked in...

Kathy Purkey: took control of the books: to prepare California Commercial Pools for bigger and better things, she brought the finances in-house.(CONSTRUCTION: CFO)
April 10, 2006... Kathy Purkey, the business manager of California Commercial Pools, helped safeguard the firm's finances. The Calif.-based company grew four or five commercial approximately $500,000 to bringing in about 30 full-scale aquatics centers and $22...

Mark Henderson: strikes partnerships.(CONSTRUCTION CFO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Though he's the general manager, Mark Henderson also is in charge of Pool World's finances. He's well-equipped for the task. Besides being a 30-year industry veteran, he holds degrees in management and accounting. The key to his Spokane,...

Brian Quint: won't settle for the status quo: the president of Aqua Quip runs his business ahead of the curve.(RETAILING: CEO)
April 10, 2006... The president of Aqua Quip might as well have been born with chlorine in his veins. Sure, Brian Quint had a head start by inheriting the business from his father, who started the company in 1959. But with eight retail locations currently in the...

Alice Cunningham: gambles big to win big.(RETAILING CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... A good CEO needs to be optimistic and dynamic--trademarks of true leadership. Without those qualities, this businesswoman and her company wouldn't be where they are today. When Alice Cunningham and her husband, Blair Osborn, decided to...

Rita Rowlen: believes changes is progress.(RETAILING CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... In 1999, Ultra Modern Pool & Patio Inc. set out on a mission to systematize its business. Ultimately, the Wichita, Kan., retailer produced five standard procedure manuals on finance, marketing, operations, field service and training--a project...

David Ghiz: shapes consumer expectations: the head of Paddock Pools' Retail Division took the pool shopping experience to the next level by thinking outside the big-box store concept.(RETAILING: GENERAL MANAGER)
April 10, 2006... Since 1958, Paddock Pools has been synonymous with the backyard living market--especially in the Southwest. However, some industry veterans would be hard pressed to connect the Paddock Pools of old with the unstoppable juggernaut it's become...

Kelly King: works in the trenches.(RETAILING GENERAL MANAGER: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Since 1988, Kelly King has been involved in the pool and spa business in various capacities. He started as a service manager at Warm Spring Spas in Boise, Idaho, working in the field and at the company's manufacturing facility. Later he opened...

Penny Johnson: puts her heart into it.(RETAILING GENERAL MANAGER: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... When you consider what it takes, to be a good general manager, the word compassionate probably doesn't come to mind. Yet it's vital to a business' health. Without it, how will you be able to understand your customers' problems, or if your...

Mike Peterson: became a marketing Maverick: the go-to sales whiz at Sonco Pools & Spas lives by three rules: Target, train and think big.(RETAILING: SALES & MARKETING)
April 10, 2006... For 18 years, Sonco Pools & Spas had stagnant growth. In 1998, Mike Peterson took over as director of sales and marketing. Within three years, sales doubled for the Loves Park, Ill.-based firm, which is now also a Pool & Spa News Top Builder....

Kelly Reed: understands people.(RETAILING SALES & MARKETING: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... When Contemporary Watercrafters Inc. lost its longtime retail manager last year, Kelly Reed stepped up to the challenge. The company's business manager switched hats within a matter of weeks and has reveled in her new role as retail manager at...

Kevin Prefontaine: made his mark as a selling machine: the general manager of Watson's of Indianapolis has led pool and spa sales teams around the country to new heights.(RETAILING: STORE MANAGER)
April 10, 2006... Think managing your 4,000-square-foot showroom can be a little overwhelming? Try operating a 130,000-square-foot superstore such as Watson's of Indianapolis. It takes a sophisticated, well-oiled machine working behind the scenes to make sure...

Steve Bludsworth: went back to the future: he turned All Pool Service & Supply into one of the most respected business in the industry partly by using electronic dispatching of service calls.(SERVICE: CEO)
April 10, 2006... Thirty years ago, Steve Bludsworth had no desire for his pool service company to be the biggest or flashiest when he took over the reins from his father. But his willingness to get involved in the industry and its issues, as well as embrace...

Doug Carlson: finds solutions.(SERVICE CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Doug Carlson needed to get creative. His Dolphin Pool Supply & Service in Dallas was getting bigger, and he had to find a better way to bill the growing list of clients. He also wanted to create a fair and efficient method to compensate the...

David Hawes: loves the details.(SERVICE CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... David Hawes has always been a stickler for the small things. The service industry veteran's attention to detail, which he talks about in the seminars he teaches at trade shows, comes in handy at the office and job site. "One detail that...

Steve Gorlin: follows his passion.(SERVICE CEO: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Ask Steven Gorlin a question about the pool business and his eyes light up. The man talks passionately about the industry he clearly loves. "There are many words you could use," says Gorlin about his attitude. The president of Gorlin Pools &...

Matt McWilliams: knows how to work it: the Keith Reuter's Pool Services general manager has a way with customers and employees.(SERVICE: GENERAL MANAGER)
April 10, 2006... Matt McWilliams doesn't have a lot of pool industry experience, which some consider a good thing. "It's what makes him look outside the box," says Keith Reuter, owner of Keith Reuter's Pool Services in Napa, Calif. McWilliams has served as...

Mike Santel: lives his vision.(SERVICE GENERAL MANAGER: AS GOOD AS IT GETS)
April 10, 2006... Mike Santel joined Easton Pools as a service tech in 1990. He proceeded to climb the Easton, Mass., company ladder until he became the general manager. Once there, Santel was quick to observe when the firm had a problem. "A lot of people...

Dan Davis: wrote the book on training: he needed to get all the service techs at Gallagher Pools & Spas on the same page--so he put it in writing.(SERVICE: SERVICE MANAGER)
April 10, 2006... Dan Davis' introduction to the pool and spa industry is a familiar one. He began doing summer work at the age of 15 and took a job at Gallagher Pools & Spas in Westminster, Md. He worked his way through the ranks by taking on a variety of...

Jason Taylor: masters multitasking.(SERVICE: WAREHOUSE MANAGER)
April 10, 2006... Jason Taylor owns a gas station, carwash and grocery store. For the past year, he's also been warehouse manager at Burton Pools & Spas Inc., a Pool & Spa News Top Builder based in Fort Smith, Ark. With virtually no industry experience, Taylor...

Operation: Iraq pools: when two GIs in Baghdad asked a Michigan store for a deal on a pool, they got a big surprise.
April 10, 2006... It's difficult to even imagine: The temperature hovers at a searing 125 degrees, and swirling clouds of sand sting the skin and permeate everything. Snipers lurk at each turn. Welcome to Iraq. Two American soldiers stationed in this war...