Joshua Ogden, 38
Many in the pool industry get their start thanks to a family business, but few are fourth-generation pool pros like Joshua Ogden.
Ogden Pools began with Ogden’s great-grandfather and grandfather, who established the business over six decades ago in Memphis, Tennessee. Growing up, Ogden was immersed in the world of pools, learning the trade from a young age. He recounts riding on a backhoe with his grandfather, mastering the art of finishing concrete and understanding the intricacies of pool machinery.
“I spent my childhood watching my father and grandfather labor and sacrifice in order to build a well-respected pool company in Memphis,” he says. “I wasn’t forced into the pool business by my family, but I decided I wanted to carry on the legacy.”
Ogden received a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Memphis, equipping himself with the capabilities to run the company effectively.
Ogden’s career has covered nearly every facet of the industry. Now as a co-owner, Ogden focuses on innovation and team leadership, cultivating both personal and professional growth among his employees.
“The best part of my job is seeing and hearing the stories of my clients enjoying the outdoor experience they’ve entrusted us with providing and/or maintaining for them,” he says. “This proves to me that we are helping to bring people together.”
Ogden aspires to see more professionalism and excellence in the industry, where people recognize the pool business as a serious career path, not just a seasonal job.
“This starts when we, as pool companies, begin to see our people are more than just employees,” he says. “Instead, we must see them as valued partners, teammates and family members. Without them, there is no success in business or in life.”
