Fresh website, more videos
We are deep into the process of selecting our 30 Under 40 winners for 2025. But every year when the list comes out, we hear the same complaint.
The Art of Immersion
In an industry where technical function can overshadow artistry, Allison Gouterman, Livtec designer for Continental Surface Solutions, has carved a niche as a pool liner designer whose work speaks both to aesthetic elegance and engineered excellence.
At the Heart of It All: Stories
What I’ve always loved most about this job is the privilege of telling stories — real stories, rich with nuance, full of grit and heart.
Hats off to the one-polers
For a couple of years, we’ve printed the mentors of our 30 Under 40 recipients on the last page of the magazine (page 70). We do this for a few reasons, and I’m not sure we’ve ever highlighted those. For one, it never hurts to reflect on the people who helped you get where you are today. It’s so easy to feel alone, and remembering that people are willing to help and support you is a great comfort. One of the purposes of 30 Under 40 is to encourage young professionals to grow their careers and stay in the pool industry. Having mentors in the field can help keep people around longer. Showcasing these relationships in PoolPro hopefully will encourage others to seek mentors or become one.
A sustainable workforce through mentoring
For a couple of years, we’ve printed the mentors of our 30 Under 40 recipients on the last page of the magazine (page 70). We do this for a few reasons, and I’m not sure we’ve ever highlighted those. For one, it never hurts to reflect on the people who helped you get where you are today. It’s so easy to feel alone, and remembering that people are willing to help and support you is a great comfort. One of the purposes of 30 Under 40 is to encourage young professionals to grow their careers and stay in the pool industry. Having mentors in the field can help keep people around longer. Showcasing these relationships in PoolPro hopefully will encourage others to seek mentors or become one.
That’s a Wrap
It’s 30 Under 40! Congratulations to all the 2024 recipients — and if you entered this year and didn’t make the list, please try again next year. Each year we have more entries, and it gets harder to whittle it down to 30. Don’t see this as a rejection but more like being put on a waitlist. For those on the 2024 list, I encourage you to take full advantage of this honor by posting about it and sharing it with your customers, friends and the industry. Part of the reason we do this program is to help recruit a new generation of potential pros — and showing off this accolade is one way we can demonstrate how awesome it is to work in the pool industry!
Yes, You Are a Salesperson
I have never considered myself a salesperson, and I’m guessing many of you feel the same. There are plenty of negative connotations connected to the word and field.
Heritage and The Home Depot
Distributor Heritage Pool Supply Group had already shaken up the industry with its aggressive entrance in 2021 and subsequent growth, acquiring 20 independent companies in the past three years with more reported to come. But on March 28, it shocked not only the pool industry but the stock market as well, when The Home Depot announced its intent to buy SRS Distribution, parent company to Heritage Pool Supply Group, for $18.25 billion. The sale was completed June 18.
HASA’s Texas Expansion
HASA Inc., a provider of water treatment solutions, is poised to transform the pool industry with its expansion into Texas .
Be a Professional in All Aspects
This year has flown by, partly because I’ve spent so little of it in my office. In addition to attending various trade shows, I had the honor of speaking at the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s San Diego Chapter’s Service Symposium and sharing my story on the Pool Nation Podcast.
An Industry of Powerful Women
I lead a team of amazing women, which is one of the reasons it is such a great, personal joy to highlight other women in the industry each year.
What Aren’t You Doing that You Should?
A few pool service companies invest in paid marketing, and there are concerns about training and resources for technicians handling sales tasks.